The Cowboys Poster

The Cowboys (1972)

"All they wanted was their chance to be men... and he gave it to them."

7.1/10 2h 14m Jan 13, 1972
Western Adventure Drama Action

When his cattlemen abandon him for the gold fields, rancher Wil Andersen is forced to take on a collection of young boys as his cowboys in order to get his herd to market in time to avoid financial disaster. The boys learn to do a man's job under Andersen's tutelage, however, neither he nor the boys know that a gang of cattle thieves is stalking them.

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Movie Details

Original Title The Cowboys
Original Language EN
Budget $6,000,000
Revenue $7,500,000
Status Released
Popularity 1.6

Cast

John Wayne
John Wayne
Wil Andersen
Popularity: 1.8
Roscoe Lee Browne
Roscoe Lee Browne
Jebediah Nightlinger
Popularity: 0.6
Bruce Dern
Bruce Dern
Long Hair
Popularity: 3.5
Colleen Dewhurst
Colleen Dewhurst
Kate
Popularity: 7.1
Alfred Barker Jr.
Alfred Barker Jr.
Cowboy Fats
Popularity: 0.5
Nicolas Beauvy
Nicolas Beauvy
Cowboy Dan
Popularity: 0.4
Steve Benedict
Steve Benedict
Cowboy Steve
Popularity: 0.6
Robert Carradine
Robert Carradine
Cowboy Slim Honeycutt
Popularity: 3.5
Norman Howell
Norman Howell
Cowboy Weedy
Popularity: 2.6
No Photo" alt="Stephen R. Hudis" class="cast-photo">
Stephen R. Hudis
Cowboy Charlie Schwartz
Popularity: 0.4
No Photo" alt="Sean Kelly" class="cast-photo">
Sean Kelly
Cowboy Stuttering Bob
Popularity: 0.2
A Martinez
A Martinez
Cowboy Cimarron
Popularity: 3.8

Key Crew

Screenplay Irving Ravetch, William Dale Jennings, Harriet Frank Jr.
Director Mark Rydell
Producer Mark Rydell
Editor Neil Travis

Production

Sanford Productions (III)
Warner Bros. Pictures
US

Videos & Trailers

Andersen is Shot Down
Andersen is Shot Down
Clip
Original Theatrical Trailer
Original Theatrical Trailer
Trailer
Josh Olson on THE COWBOYS
Josh Olson on THE COWBOYS
Featurette

Image Gallery

Backdrops
Backdrop Image
Backdrop Image
Backdrop Image
Backdrop Image
Backdrop Image
Backdrop Image

Keywords

based on novel or book montana ranch beef cattle drive underage drinking gun battle cattle schoolboy cattleman cattle rustling kids on their own cattle stampede

Reviews from TMDB

John Chard 8/10
May 29, 2019

The Breaking of Boys and the Making of Men. The Cowboys is directed by Mark Rydell and adapted from the novel written by William Dale Jennings; who co-writes the screenplay with Irving Ravetch & Harriet Frank Jr. It stars John Wayne, Roscoe Lee Browne, Bruce Dern and Colleen Dewhurst. John Willi ... Read more

CinemaSerf 7/10
Feb 26, 2025

“Anderson” (John Wayne) is left short-handed by a gold rush and with his herd to get to market has to resort to engaging the services of a class of school boys who are offered $50 each if they help out. None of those lads are much over fifteen and few have any experience wrangling, so it’s goi ... Read more

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Based on 252 votes

Details
Release Date January 13, 1972
Runtime 2h 14m
Budget $6,000,000
Revenue $7,500,000
Language EN
Status Released
Popularity 1.6
Links
IMDb
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