2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:

Nice movie

nicoloco from london, 13th March, 2004

This movie may now seem a bit old-fashioned but its heart is in the right place and the cast is brilliant all along. It's a nice portrait of a man who's seen the best of his days but still carries on as usual on the rodeo road... Not the best of Peckinpah but far from the worst.

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

Bonner Boys bump Broncos and Bulls

Charles Brickley from Andover, Hampshire England, 19th January, 2009

This is another of Sam Peckinpah's tributes to the 'Old West', this time he is aided by Steve McQueen and Robert Preston. Here we see the Rodeo Show hitting JR (Jnr) Bonner's (McQueen) Home Town and of course the limping but not broken cowboy goes to look up his parents. His father is the legendary Ace Bonner (Preston) whose run down ranch house is now in the middle of a gravel pit, being flattened by bulldozers and diggers. Ace is in the local Hospital with cuts, scratches and alcohol poisoning. JR's mother Elvira (Ida Lupino) lives in town in modest comfort, whilst his brother Curley (Joe Don Baker) and his family are doing well selling mobile homes. The film shows how the old west, where men were men and cattle were tamed, is becoming settled and industrialised while the excitement it generated is sold as a side show. The cast are excellent, especially Steve McQueen, who won his spurs as a Stuntman by tackling the Rodeo rough riding himself. You should see the size of that Brahman Bull! This is another of Peckinpah's films that I had not seen for ages and the benefit of getting them out on DVD is that whilst each story is unique, you can spot the themes of masculinity, human frailty and the passing of time and the old values of yesterday. The stunts are good, you can follow the plot as it strolls through the sunny antics of the cowboys and the girls are gorgeous. It is a melancholy tribute to the Wild West that is no more, with such a realistic feel to it that it could almost be a documentary tribute. Well worth the money!

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1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:

True Steve Mc Queen

Larry Longton from Sunny Chorley, 31st January, 2005

A slow but touching story in true Steve Mc Queen style, he plays a cool character who deep down has a heart of gold. A good film for all his fans but the deep southern accents sometimes make it hard to understand dialogue.

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Drawn out male angst

DD from London, 4th January, 2006

There lots of male bonding and impressive horse stunts performed by McQueen himself, but these do not a good movie make. Individual scenes sparkle - this is Peckinpah flim after all - but its too drawn out and not enough happens. McQueen had a wonderful screen presence but a low key acting style which often worked well. But in this already low key movie, the result is a dull two or so hours.

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0 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:

steve

juradino from , 10th January, 2008

this was the last film i ever saw with my father in cinema, that's it really

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Yeehaw!

A Customer from Portsmouth, Hampshire, 6th December, 2005

I saw this in the cinema when it was first released so decided to hire it again. It was a charming and well acted film. To watch the old west disappear to make way for the new made it quite poignant. Steve McQueen brings a great pathos to his role of the tired cowboy and Robert Preston and Ida Lupino are great support. There is no showiness about this film, just a good story told to entertain. Worth a hire!

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