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John Wayne, Roscoe Lee Browne, Bruce Dern, Colleen Dewhurst, Slim Pickens ... see more see more... , Lonny Chapman , Alfred Barker Jr. , Nicolas Beauvy , Steve Benedict , Jim Burk , Robert Carradine , Chuck Courtney , Sarah Cunningham , Richard Farnsworth , Kent Hays , Norman Howell Jr. , Stephen R. Hudis , A Martinez , Allyn Ann McLerie , Clay O'Brien , Charles Tyner , Henry Wills , Joe Yrigoyen , Matt Clark , Gary Epper , Larry Finley , Jerry Gatlin , Larry Randles , Walter Scott , Margaret Kelly , Tap Canutt , Sam O'Brien , Mike Pyeatt , Sean Kelly , Mark Rydell

In one of John Wayne's more interesting late Westerns, "The Duke" plays Will Anderson, a crusty veteran cattleman preparing a 400-mile drive to get a herd of steers to market. Shortly before the trip ... read more read more...is scheduled to begin, Will's crew quits when they get word of a nearby gold strike. With little time and few alternatives, Will recruits eleven boys, ages nine through 13, and teaches them the basics of herding cattle and riding the range. Bruce Dern plays a memorably foul villain and cattle rustler named Long Hair, while Roscoe Lee Browne portrays Jebediah, the cattle drive cook, and Colleen Dewhurst is Kate, a madam. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

86% liked it

9,127 ratings

Critics

73% liked it

11 critics

PG, 2 hr. 14 min.

Directed by: Mark Rydell

Release Date: January 1, 1972

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DVD Release Date: October 6, 1998

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Stats: 572 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (572)

  • jamers2011
    October 23, 2010
    jamers2011
    A great John Wayne movie!
  • deano
    September 17, 2009
    deano
    This is the best John Wayne's latter-day Westerns. He's more like grandfatherhood at his age to a group of young school boys as his drivers in order to get his cattle to market, but the kids learn well. Bruce Dern is on hand as the outlaw leader who fights our hero in one of the ... read moregenre's most memorable (and violent) scenes since Red River.
    Along as a second role model is Roscoe Lee Browne. Possessor of one of the greatest speaking voices in the English speaking world, Browne is the first black man they've ever met. In fact one of the kids uses the "N" word when first meeting him, out of ignorance more than racism. Browne sets them straight by example more than preaching.
    The oldest two kids, A Martinez and Robert Carradine, have gone on to some considerable adult careers which they are still enjoying. All the kids are a winning bunch however.

    Most quote: "We're burning daylight."
  • fb20312798
    October 23, 2007
    fb20312798
    A John Wayne film that was brave enough to kill him before the film was over. The film seems like it could be a lighthearted affair. An old cowboy hires a bunch of near-do-well boys to help on a cattle drive. While the film produces some comedic moments, it never hides the harsh ... read morerealities of the west. One of the boys is killed at the beggining while caught in a stampead. And the boys watch as John Wayne is gunned down trying to protect them from some cattle rustlers. The boys seek revenge and do some killing of their own. Much darker and better than I expected it to be.
  • chadroesti
    June 23, 2007
    chadroesti
    I've broke my back once, and my hip twice. And on my worst day I could still beat the hell out of you.
  • broadwaymo
    April 6, 2007
    broadwaymo
    My favorite John Wayne movie... Bruce Dern is awesome as a dirtbag, too!
  • thoms51
    July 4, 2011
    thoms51
    Unforgettable performances by the Duke and Bruce Dern. Dern comes off as the absolute most villanous villan of all time.
  • mcintyre157
    December 24, 2009
    mcintyre157
    #2 fave John Wayne movie...and, I believe, the ONLY film in which the Duke dies onscreen...for which Bruce Dern earns a coveted spot in the Western Scum Hall of Fame
  • ms50us
    July 25, 2009
    ms50us
    This is the best overall movie of them all. it shows how a big man can take on a bunch of boys and turn them into young men and teach they repsonsibilites.
  • gilbert1589
    June 7, 2009
    gilbert1589
    This flik is one of Wayne's best..Good message in this movie .you'll be rooting for the boy cowboy's...
  • Bluec45
    May 18, 2009
    Bluec45
    The cowboys was a super movie. I saw A Martinez for the first time in this film. Think it was his first movie,

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Critic Reviews

Christopher Smith
August 1, 2007
Christopher Smith, Bangor Daily News (Maine)

A coming-of-age film of the toughest sort. Far from Wayne's best, but nevertheless a movie whose ending ignites a heated discussion. Full Review

Walter Chaw
June 28, 2007
Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central

A forgotten masterpiece. Full Review

John J. Puccio
May 24, 2007
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis

Even with a closing that breaks with tradition, The Cowboys is not as eventful as one would have hoped for in a John Wayne movie. Full Review

Emanuel Levy
November 10, 2006
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

At the center of this picture, just as in Red River, is the passing of the Western mores and masculinity code from John Wayne to the younger generation. Rydell's Western is formulaic and familiar, but... Full Review

Dragan Antulov
October 11, 2005
Dragan Antulov, Draxblog Movie Reviews

how old Hollywood promoted conservative agenda with the skill and efficiency modern-day liberals and leftists can only dream about Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
September 16, 2005
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

An engaging late John Wayne Western, though the macho philosophy of the need to kill might turn off the more liberal viewer. Full Review

March 26, 2009
Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Vincent Canby
May 9, 2005
Vincent Canby, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Roger Ebert
October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Chuck O'Leary
October 9, 2005
Chuck O'Leary, Fantastica Daily

No review available.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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