Grimerlana Plenty to Like, Plenty to Dislike

Greenes Please don't spend money on this.

Konterr Brilliant and touching

Dana An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

tohu I've just watched this remarkable movie for the first time in years, and loved every minute of it. I remember seeing it when I was a boy of similar age to those in the film, and I got a lot out of it - but didn't really understand some scenes. Now as an adult, those are the scenes I like best! Many of the reviews here talk about the performance of Roscoe Brown, and rightly so, but for me Bruce Dern steals the show. One of the best movie villains, who meets with one of the most satisfying movie comeuppances. And while other reviewers praise the cameo performance of Colleen Dewhurst - again rightly - I want to mention the other woman in the film, Sarah Cunningham as Annie Andersen, the wife of John Wayne's character. It's a much more subtle performance and she doesn't have much screen time, but the gentle chemistry between the couple is so good; and we find out so much about them, and about their marriage. Wayne's own performance is terrific. . . Overall the film is full of surprises. You think it is going to be fairly predictable but it repeatedly takes a different turn. Very dark in places, moving in others and then laugh-out-loud funny too. At 2hrs 11 minutes it could perhaps have been trimmed a little, but still it's an under-rated gem of a movie.

npdeo18 It was a great pleasure to see Duke enacting such a role than the usual roles of a cowboy. The supporting cast by Roscoe Lee Browne as a part of the crew and the schoolboys to drive the cattle drive were amazing and fun to watch. The way John Wayne guided those schoolboys were worth watching and funny as well especially the stutter scene. Meanwhile the role enacted by Bruce Dern as criminal/bandit is definitely praise worthy and it was encouraging to see him in a duel with the Duke. It would have been great to see him enacting the role of Bond Villain. At the same time of the scenes were quite emotional especially the scene before Duke's death was quite emotional and touching. Overall the film along with The Shootist is one of the best films of John Wayne in his career end. Even if a remake is made no one would be able to match up Duke in this role.

SnoopyStyle Rancher Wil Andersen (John Wayne) needs to bring his cattle to market. Only all his ranch hands have run off to chase the latest gold rush. He has no choice but use a bunch of boys to do a man's job. He, the boys, and the cook Jebediah Nightlinger (Roscoe Lee Browne) have to face obstacles including bandits led by Long Hair (Bruce Dern).It's late in the Duke's career, but he still has his swagger. There are a few too many boys. Some of them tend to blend together. It's a minor problem. As for the villain, Bruce Dern is great as both a weasel and a menace. Sometimes we don't get both. This time we get a good portion of both.There is some good cattle driving action. The final fight is a little bit hokey. I wish for some dirty gritty action. But it's good enough. The best scene occurs a little earlier with Bruce Dern facing off against the Duke. That is a classic scene.

WandrinStar (7.5/10) Along with the Shootist, ranks as the best of the latter day John Wayne films. After his Oscar win in True Grit wrapped up his legacy as an American icon, his dozen or so films he did afterwards were more celebratory to his career as a whole. The theme of passing the torch to a younger generation is echoes in The Cowboys, and is a welcomed change to the typical Duke Western. Roscoe Lee Browne has an extremely memorable performance as the chef, and the Cowboys themselves were charming including the debut performance by Robert Carradine. Bruce Dern has never really impressed me, but he does a great job portraying the film's villainous coward. Director Mark Rydell did a fine job, but would have liked to see a marque director at the helm. Loved the ending and the movie in general.