History Film / TheCowboys

A 1972 Western film directed by Mark Rydell and starring Creator/JohnWayne.

Wil Anderson (Wayne), the grizzled proprietor of the Double O Ranch, has a herd of cattle he needs to [[CattleDrive get to market before winter]]. Unfortunately, all the able-bodied and available men have run off to join a nearby gold rush. His friend, Anse Peterson (Slim Pickens) convinces him that he could hire local schoolboys. Initially reluctant, Anderson is eventually forced to go with the idea. He ends up with 11 boys between the ages of 9 and 15. Joining them on the drive is Jebediah "Jeb" Nightlinger (Roscoe Lee Browne), their CampCook, and the first black man the boys have ever seen.

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/TheCowboys_8436.jpg]]
Wil Anderson (JohnWayne) of the Double O Ranch has a herd of cattle he needs to [[CattleDrive get to market before winter]]. Unfortunately, all the able-bodied and available men have run off to join a nearby gold rush. His friend, Anse Peterson (Slim Pickens) convinces him that he could hire local schoolboys. Initially reluctant, Anderson is eventually forced to go with the idea. He ends up with 11 boys between the ages of 9 and 15. Joining them on the drive is Jebediah "Jeb" Nightlinger (Roscoe Lee Browne), their CampCook, and the first black man the boys have ever seen.

%%* TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior: * PlayedForLaughs when the boys sneak off with a bottle of whisky from the chuck wagon and get drunk. The youngest cowboy, by the way, is nine years old. Anderson and Nightlinger find them when they start drunkenly singing "Home On the Range". Wayne and the cook keep quiet about it. Next day, Nightlinger gives them a remedy for their "cold". John Wayne rides by, ordering the cook to make a heavy meal for dinner. The nearest boy runs off to throw up!

%%* TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior

* BittersweetEnding

* CattleDrive
* ComingOfAgeStory
* DroppedGlasses
* ImprobableAge

* PayEvilUntoEvil

* TroublingUnchildlikeBehavior

* [[spoiler:MentorOccupationalHazard]]: [[spoiler:Andersen.]]

* SacrificialLion: [[spoiler:Andersen.]] [[spoiler:Charlie too, though it's Andersen's, actually brought about by Watts, which motivates them to take action.]]

* AnyoneCanDie: Including children and [[spoiler:John Wayne]].

* StutterStop

* BadassBoast: This, from Jebediah Nightlinger:

-->'''Nightlinger:''' "I regret trifling with married women. I'm thoroughly ashamed at cheating at cards. I deplore my occasional departures from the truth. Forgive me for taking your name in vain, my Saturday drunkenness, my Sunday sloth. Above all, forgive me for the men I've killed in anger..." (looks directly at Asa Watts) ...and those I am about to."

* CompleteMonster: Asa Watts (Bruce Dern).

* CompleteMonster: Long Hair (Bruce Dern).

* [[spoiler:PayEvilUntoEvil]]

* WouldHurtAChild: He doesn't actually follow through, but Long Hair, the leader of the rustlers, makes it pretty clear he has no qualms about it.

* CompleteMonster: Long Hair.

Wil Anderson (JohnWayne) of the double-O ranch has a herd of cattle he needs to [[CattleDrive get to market before winter]]. Unfortunately, all the able-bodied and available men have run off to join a nearby gold rush. His friend, Anse Peterson (Slim Pickens) convinces him that he could hire local schoolboys. Initially reluctant, Anderson is eventually forced to go with the idea. He ends up with eleven boys between the ages of nine and fifteen. Joining them on the drive is Jebediah "Jeb" Nightlinger (Roscoe Lee Browne), their CampCook, and the first black man the boys have ever seen.

The boys learn to do a man's job quickly, but the group is being followed by a gang of ruthless rustlers....

* MissKitty: At one point the boys encounter a group of what Nightlinger refers to as [[SoiledDove "soiled doves"]]. Naturally, they have their madam with them.

* ARealManIsAKiller: One of the more controversial bits of the movie. Though it does seem a bit cynical about it.

* WouldHurtAChild: He doesn't actually follow through, but Long Hair (the leader of the rustlers) makes it pretty clear he has no qualms about it.

* MissKitty: At one point the boys encounter a group of what Nightlinger refers to as "[[SoiledDove "soiled doves"]]. Naturally, they have their madam with them.

Wil Anderson (JohnWayne) of the double-O ranch has a herd of cattle he needs to [[CattleDrive get to market before winter]]. Unfortunately, all the able-bodied and available men have run off to join a nearby gold rush. His friend, Anse Peterson (Slim Pickens) convinces him that he could hire local schoolboys. Initially reluctant, Anderson is eventually forced to go with the idea. He ends up with eleven boys between the ages of nine and fifteen. Joining them on the drive is Jebediah "Jeb" Nightlinger (Roscoe Lee Browne), their camp cook, and the first black man the boys have ever seen.