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A Movie A Day: Quint sees THE COWBOYS (1972)
You goddamned sonuvabitch! You goddamned, mean sonuvabitch!

I loved the cowboys by moondoggy2u	Jul 5th, 2008 05:58:06 PM
Or, at least, the big dukeroo between Wayne and Dern. Thats still one of my favorite death scenes to this very day...
Bruce Dern by the goose	Jul 5th, 2008 05:58:41 PM
Is just about my all-time favourite character actor. No-one does "unhinged" like Bruce. BLACK SUNDAY: "Who took the picture???!!!"
Most Violent Kids Film I Done Did See by georges garvaren	Jul 5th, 2008 06:08:27 PM
The seventies kicked bloody ass. Glad you've had the chance to see this flick, Quint.
I've been meaning to see this forever by hegele	Jul 5th, 2008 06:09:50 PM
i'll rent it and post some views later
Told Ya' So by Rebeck2	Jul 5th, 2008 06:37:50 PM
Just a classic from start to finish.
First John Wayne film I ever watched. by liljuniorbrown	Jul 5th, 2008 06:57:36 PM
A real classic. At 11 years old I was pissed when my dad brought that movie home from the video store instead of what ever Steven Segal classic that I really wanted to see. Thirty minutes in I was a fan of John Wayne and decided that was the only movies I wanted my dad to rent on the weekends from that point forward.My dad also made me go see Back to the future when I was about 9,I wanted to see Masters of the Universe, i guess the son of a bitch knew his movies if nothing else.
Quint: The river scene with the kid and Dern by mr dark	Jul 5th, 2008 06:59:01 PM
In the extras they talk about filming that scene while the boys parents were on set. The take was done without telling the boy exactly what Dern was going to do. That river scene has so much impact because the element of shock and surprise was for real.. I am willing to bet that kid had to clean out his drawers after that scene..As for the scene were Dern kills the Duke it took me a few years to like Dern again after seeing it. Even though I knew it was all an act.
DAMN YOU M NIGHT SHYAMALAN! by --- Emperor ---	Jul 5th, 2008 07:12:29 PM
Damn you to hell!
I hate John Wayne by disfigurehead	Jul 5th, 2008 07:13:57 PM
Anyone who says he was a "Real American" is full of shit. Chain smoking macho shithead.
I Love The Shots by Rebeck2	Jul 5th, 2008 07:19:42 PM
Of all the boys faces after they've gotten revenge. All of them like stone, suddenly aged beyond heir years. I've actually heard some PC bullshit lately how the climax and the way it equates violence with growing up makes some people "uncomfortable". Oh shut the fuck up!! It's the Old West, what were the boys supposed to do: file a police report? Write a letter to their congressman?? Maybe express their feelings in a letter they don't send... Gimme a break. Some men deserve killing. End of story. If nothing else, John Wayne movies taught us that.
Disfigurehead by Rebeck2	Jul 5th, 2008 07:22:57 PM
I'm a diehard Liberal Democrat - you don't have to agree with Wayne's politics to enjoy his movies. And anyway, if Wayne had lived to see the last couple decades, I think he would have undergone the same moving to the center/left as Clint Eastwood.
Don't bother with The Black Hole by jaymrobinson	Jul 5th, 2008 07:26:03 PM
This is one of the only films that I saw as a child that I thought even then was really bad.
one good thing about this column..... by rben	Jul 5th, 2008 07:26:44 PM
is that it's getting me to spruce up my movie collection (i have mostly tv series collections pretty much). Recent additions: Caddyshack, Blazing Saddles, Lawrence of Arabia, The Terminator (cool lenticular cover), Superman The Movie and Body Double, mostly picked up from Target, Wal-Mart and Borders for between 7-10 bucks, although i dragged my heels re: picking up day the earth stood still and cool hand luke at Target also at low prices and when i came back, sure enough they were gone. probably gonna order them from amazon when my government moola comes in next week as i also saw low prices on some other movies at w-mart today and thought: geez, i gotta cool it with the spending. sux to have a job that barely cracks the 30s range. also supposed to be receiving season 1 of The Invaders by friday (coinciding with the release of hellboy 2) how much cinefantstic can i stand? (and hey, what ever became of that magazine anyway? always blew starlog right out of the water!)
I saw this on the big screen when I was by Sparhawk38	Jul 5th, 2008 08:25:14 PM
8. It is beautifully shot. Great and unusual Wayne movie.
Banish pigphart..... by chromedome	Jul 5th, 2008 08:38:12 PM
no useful contribution to ANY TB, just his lame-ass cut/paste attempt
Eastwood Would Cry Before The First Punch Landed by georges garvaren	Jul 5th, 2008 09:01:13 PM
and continue crying till he was knocked the fuck out. Seriously, Son, pull 'yer dang head out your bum. Also, being proud of never seeing "The Searchers" is just silly; see the films before you run your ignorant mouth off.
"Even on my worst day I could beat the hell out of you" by Big Jim	Jul 5th, 2008 09:14:10 PM
A lot of great lines in the movie, many delivered by Roscoe Lee Browne. This movie has replaced The Searchers as my favourite John Wayne movie. Thanks Quint - probably would never have taken the time to check it out if it weren't for this column (a lot to see, limited time). Anyone else find, even nearing 50, Colleen Dewhurst very sensual in her one scene? I cringe to think there is probably some studio exec. trying to get this remade, but more like "Bad News Bears on Horseback" type film.
Williams' Cowboys score also has the Smallville music... by Nasty In The Pasty	Jul 5th, 2008 09:58:49 PM
...from Superman. It's embryonic stages, anyways. Great score.
GIVE ME THE AMULET, YOU BITCH!!!! by DRACULA_WANTS_THE_AMULET	Jul 5th, 2008 10:45:10 PM

You goddamned sonuvabitch by theredtoad	Jul 5th, 2008 11:27:30 PM

You goddamned MEAN sonuvabitch! by theredtoad	Jul 5th, 2008 11:28:32 PM
The Cowboys of the creature world? The Gremlins!
Bacci40, You Sure As Shit Did. by georges garvaren	Jul 5th, 2008 11:58:04 PM
"i am proud to say that i have never watched a john wayne movie all the way through". That statement implies that you have NOT seen The Searchers. Five minutes perhaps, however the entirety of the film is slightly longer. Nice try, Bud.
pigphart5000 isnt banned yet?? by Groothewarrior	Jul 6th, 2008 12:12:51 AM
well i will help banish pigphart5000 boy on porch playing banjo music gooodbye mister "Ill be pig fucked" squeal like a pig boy!!!!!!
Remember the Alamo, Quint! by Boba Fat	Jul 6th, 2008 01:26:26 AM
Sorry - couldn't resist.
I was born in 72 by Orionsangels	Jul 6th, 2008 01:42:49 AM
and so was pong on the magnovox odyssey. best year ever!
THE BLACK HOLE by palimpsest	Jul 6th, 2008 02:01:42 AM
There's some fascinating stuff in that, though it's by no means a good film. And John Barry's score is an awesome piece of work. As for THE COWBOYS, that's a great little movie. Keep this stuff coming, Quint.
Cowboys and Black Holes by HyphenatedWords	Jul 6th, 2008 02:42:26 AM
Tally ho, Quint! Keep 'em coming. I visit the site daily, and this is a highlight. I had nearly forgotten about The Cowboys. I wouldn't have been able to think of the name until I read it here — it was that John Wayne flick where something happens that never happened in a John Wayne flick, the one with all of the kids. I think we saw it in gradeschool for some odd reason. I remember loving it. By the way, how old are you? Just for context's sake. I've missed most of the films on your list, too, and wonder if it's a commonality. I'm just old enough to remember the death of the westerns on television and when the idea of playing "cowboys and indians" was still around. I think the kids play "European liars and Native Americans" today. Another reason I asked was for context with The Black Hole. I know it's not a lot of people's favorite movie. Heck, it certainly not my favorite. But it holds a great place in m heart. I was seven when it was released. It was before Star Wars had fully taken hold for me. I was watching Carl Sagan and Nova and National Geographic on public television and always had a mind for science, so this movie about "the most destructive force in the universe" sucked me right in. I loved it. Parts of it scared the shit out of me. In retrospect, there is of course no shred of hard science in the film. But it's moody as hell. It's ambitious for a Disney film. It's as though they thought, "Shit. We should have been the ones who made Star Wars... let's make our own space movie but make it creepy." So, if I have any advice, put yourself in that mindset when watching it and let yourself be blown away by what it does have to offer. A cool score, the amazing (and amazingly simple) opening credits, VINCENT, and some fantastic images.
Never seen this one. by Knuckleduster	Jul 6th, 2008 06:28:36 AM
Been looking for a good western I haven't seen yet. Hope this is it. It's kinda sad when you run out of Peckinpah's to watch.
Damn You Michael Bay by MCMLXXVI	Jul 6th, 2008 07:03:51 AM
Damn You Michael Bay
The Duke, Roscoe Lee Browne, Bruce Dern by Grammaton Cleric Binks	Jul 6th, 2008 07:18:52 AM
What's not to love. Although this movie made Dern one of the most hated actors for a while. People couldn't get over the fact it was just a movie.
Good comments Tom Bodet, plus you gotta by Grammaton Cleric Binks	Jul 6th, 2008 07:43:01 AM
respect the fact that Hanks, after Saving Private Ryan, got very involved in honoring WWII vets. I could be wrong, but I think he very active in promoting the WWII memorial that had yet to be built in the mall in DC.
Bruce Dern's best movie: Silent Running by Grammaton Cleric Binks	Jul 6th, 2008 07:43:58 AM
That movie just makes me want to cry like a girl. It's very appropriate for today.
Wayne and the military by vezner2007	Jul 6th, 2008 08:15:18 AM
Anyone who holds it against Wayne for not serving in the military is either a jackass or a fool…or maybe both. First of all, Wayne was under a great deal of pressure from Republic studios to not enlist. He was even threatened with a lawsuit by the head of Republic pictures if he enlisted, which would have forced him out of his contract with Republic. Sure, most likely the lawsuit would have never happened but this is just an example of the kind of pressure he was under. There’s also the fact that his age (34 in 1941) and family status made him exempt from serving. Sure, he could have tried to force the issue and get enlisted anyway but with the studio pressure going on, can you honestly blame him? And to his credit, he regretted not serving for the rest of his life and that’s why you saw him be so patriotic both on film and in his personal life. He was trying to make up for not serving his country in the military. As for him giving names to the House Un-American Activities Committee, the names he gave were shit bag anti-American commies and they deserved what they got. Deal with it.
That's my new favourite catch phrase! by sonofbronson	Jul 6th, 2008 08:20:09 AM
Thanks TomBodet for defending the Duke's work even if he was a racist bastard. I love the line "If Lee Marvin didn't give a shit, why should you?" That's a good line for everyday life.
Williams/Grusin by fxmulder35	Jul 6th, 2008 08:32:25 AM
Gotta agree with your assessment of THE COWBOYS, it's been a favorite for a long time. But I really don't see the Williams/Grusin connection. Have large chunks of both scores on CD, I can't see the connective tissue with CLONES and POND. The melodies are just so different. But great job on AMAD...look forward to all the rest!
The horse gave Bruce Dern his comeuppance by Redc40	Jul 6th, 2008 08:54:30 AM
"I will say that if I have any bones to pick… is that Bruce Dern doesn’t get a comeuppance equal to the evil he has done." WTF?!?! Unless we saw completely different movies, uh, yeah Bruce Dern gets his comeuppance in a pretty gruesome way.
If Lee Marvin didn't give a shit, why should you? by moondoggy2u	Jul 6th, 2008 09:46:43 AM
An excellent point, Tom Bodet, and more, I totally agree with you. However, with prejudiced people like Bacci, I doubt you'll ever make much headway. People like him have no problem reading/respecting Shakespeare, whose Merchant of Venice was extremely prejudicial, Polanski, who is a rapist, Kubrick, who was something of a conniving bastard, George C. Scott, who was a wife-beating asshole, or the hundreds of other actords, directors, and writers that were liars, abusers, cheaters, and negative personalities. However, when it comes to John Wayne, who by all accounts was a good man whose one flaw was that he, like most of his generation, had some prejudices against blacks. Oh sure, he was married to a hispanic woman (more than once), but he still had reservations about a people he didn't understand and wasn't educated to understand. Well, gee, stop the press! Lord knows that Bacci, Mr. I've Never Seen One Wayne Movie Because I Disaprove of Wayne And Am Only Spouting Justifications That I Got From Wikipedia With Only 3 Minutes Of Study, the obviously more enlightened, more nuanced human being has ever been subject to prejudicial attitudes. Wayne's best friends were those that were unlike him. His wives were of completely different ethnicity. He was brave enough to debate with hordes of young, left-leaning minds in Berkley. He loved his country and its ideals. Now, I realize that there are a lot of people at this site that disagrees wtih the man's politics. I'm also sure that there are plenty of people who mostly agree with Wayne's basic views and vehemently disagree with the likes of Harry and the majoritive opinions on his website. The imperitive fact that people like Bacci have to get through their skulls is that just because someone disagrees with them doesn't mean that person is a demon, bad, or even wrong. First and formost, the majority of both sides, and everyone caught in the middle, are AMERICANS who want what is best for their family, their fellow man, and their country.
To put it in perspective.. by moondoggy2u	Jul 6th, 2008 10:02:07 AM
Washington, Jefferson, and a great many other historical figures believed in the ideals of our constitution and yet owned slaves. Does this mean they were evil men who were just fighting for the right to run rough-shod over others? In some cases, perhaps, but in most, no. Men are complicated creatures, full of positive characteristics, flaws, and some shadowy ideas that are often the product of half-realized idealogies or unintentionally contradictory notions. We're all a bunch of messes, and while there really are negative, nasty, mean-spirited people, there are also a lot of good people out there who do the best they can with what they have DESPITE their flaws, their mistakes.
I love this talkback. Further proof that by Grammaton Cleric Binks	Jul 6th, 2008 12:53:22 PM
there can be intelligent life on the AICN blog. By the way Tom Bodet I don't recall if that scene was in Silent Running or not. It's been ages, but I just don't recall. I know you're not talking about 2001. Another thing abot Silent Running is that I really don't care for Joan Baez, but her song in that movie was just so sad and haunting. As far as Dern being a villain in The Cowboys, the only actor I can think of who has been hated as much was The Scorpior Killer from Dirty Harry. I'm having a brain fart forgetting his name, but he actually had death threats. Trek haters aside, he added depth to the Cardassians in DS9.
And don't be dissin The Black Hole by Grammaton Cleric Binks	Jul 6th, 2008 12:59:05 PM
Ernest Borgnine is still alive, and still man enough to put you haters down.
Quint, do you like movies about gladiators? by Iowa Snot Client	Jul 6th, 2008 01:45:35 PM
If you have Netflix and a PC, Silent Running is available for streaming.
P.S. I hate John Wayne for being too liberal. by Iowa Snot Client	Jul 6th, 2008 01:57:40 PM
Yes, I'm a proud extra-chromosome right-winger (thanks Al). I don't recall doing anything evil today, but I must have, being a Republican and all. I scrubbed the deck with Oxy-Clean; perhaps that was part of my evil plan to, um, what again?
And for the hat trick... by Iowa Snot Client	Jul 6th, 2008 02:01:24 PM
The Black Hole really is crap, I hate to say. I remember it being the last movie I saw at the local single-screen theater before they remodeled and broke it up into four tiny screens. So I really did get to see it on the big screen. I dug the spaceship design, though.
this is a good movie... by Gungan Slayer	Jul 6th, 2008 02:03:03 PM
However, when I first saw this as a kid I hated, HATED this movie...because of what happens to you know who...which, as a young kid, well it's unthinkable that something like that would happen to you know who in a movie. But a great film, solid in every aspect, and demonstrating once again that yes indeed, John Wayne can act.
Quint -- These reviews are a great idea by Snookeroo	Jul 6th, 2008 02:36:25 PM
Thanks for sharing. But really -- don't waste two hours of your life on the Black Hole. It's excrement on celluloid. Really. Really. Awful. It has no film history value other than being a Star Wars wannabe. One of Disney's nadirs. Just sayin'.
Running Scared by PR1C3Y	Jul 6th, 2008 03:04:25 PM
I really dug the way they included this in Running Scared, I know that movie has it's haters but it was a cool ride to me.
The Amazing Gay by PR1C3Y	Jul 6th, 2008 03:24:11 PM
It's a holiday weekend
It's a holiday weekend? by Dark Knight Lite	Jul 6th, 2008 03:38:49 PM
Liberals don't celebrate 4th of July. They should have taken off May 1. Back to work assoles!!!
I've never seen Wake Of The Red Witch but... by Die_Hardest	Jul 6th, 2008 04:23:57 PM
Did anybody notice SPOILER FOR FUTURE EDITIONS TO THE LIST that Quint has three movies in a row where John Wayne dies at the end? Hahaha. Way to pick em.
Good points again Bodet, but I draw the line by Grammaton Cleric Binks	Jul 6th, 2008 04:44:57 PM
at supporting works by Woody Allen and Roman Polanski.
Fair enough Grammaton by Die_Hardest	Jul 6th, 2008 04:57:12 PM
But if your wife were stabbed 57 times by acid freaks trying to start a race war, i dunno, you might do something crazy like a fuck a 15 year old girl too. Just sayin.
Damn no edit button by Die_Hardest	Jul 6th, 2008 04:59:18 PM
that should say pregnant wife
Quint, don't forget The Shootist by Solomon Kane	Jul 6th, 2008 07:16:27 PM
Jimmy Stewart & John Wayne & Ron Howard as a kid looking for a hero... or a reason. It's one of the Duke's finest. Ahyup.
Musically I look at Ray Charles and BB by Grammaton Cleric Binks	Jul 6th, 2008 08:27:20 PM
both were terrible husbands, terrible parents. They were married to to their music. I can appreciate their musically contributions to the world, but not their family values or lack thereof.
A shame that tomorrow this will drop off the by Grammaton Cleric Binks	Jul 6th, 2008 08:40:14 PM
top ten as new articles pop up. Speaking of terrible movies, I picked up Tenacious D and the Pick of Destiny at the library. This is by far the worst movie I have ever seen. The intro should have told me how dumb this was. I know some people love Jack Black, but I'm not one of them. School of Rock was okay, as was Shallow Hal. I can't think of any movie of his I've loved. Tropic Thunder may work as it's an ensemble.
Anyone Else Hate These Retro Review Things ON Main News? by BojTrek	Jul 6th, 2008 08:55:27 PM
I am not being mean here... more power to the retro review thing... I have never read one of these... but I had to post... why not place them off CURRENT news? Create another section for this garbage? Now that was mean!
Bojtrek by Rebeck2	Jul 6th, 2008 09:10:09 PM
No curiosity about old movies, that's what I like in a movie geek. If you watched a movie made before 1980 once in a while, you might find your brain not turning into oatmeal quite so quickly as it clearly is now.
REMEMBER THE ALAMO! by chrth	Jul 6th, 2008 09:24:11 PM
I hope Quint did, I'd hate for him to miss a day
How hard is it by PumpyMcAss	Jul 6th, 2008 09:24:29 PM
to simply skip past the review if it bugs you so much? It is clearly marked as to what it is. Reminds me of the The Simpsons when Comic Book Guy has to wait a few seconds for his slow internet connection. "I'm a busy man." {Slurps soda).
I'm a huge Wayne fan. by PumpyMcAss	Jul 6th, 2008 09:26:19 PM
Thing is, though, that I usually just go for the ones he made with Ford and Hawks. This might be worth a look.
Hey Rebeck2, I Was Born In 1970 And... by BojTrek	Jul 6th, 2008 09:51:17 PM
Hey Rebeck2, I was born in 1970 and became a geek because of Star Trek TOS reruns, Space Giants, Ultraman, Jonny Socko... but I also loved old westerns... I am just saying these retro reviews or whatever they are in the way of NEWS... they should a Retro Review section on the main page. By the way, I also flip through old black/white movies and give most movies a chance... SO... sorry for my bitchin' all!
monster2Bpitied by Grammaton Cleric Binks	Jul 7th, 2008 06:44:21 AM
Never heard of it. Maybe I'll give it a shot. Oh there is one Black performance I love: Bruce Willis getting him with the .50 cal in The Jackal.
Mr. Nightlinger taught me how to make apple pie by EriamJH	Jul 7th, 2008 09:41:19 AM
"...and a third slit because that's the way your mother did it." What a great film.
Great piece, Mori... by Roguewriter	Jul 7th, 2008 10:35:23 AM
My dad showed me THE COWBOYS in 1979, when I was 12, and it instantly became (and likely remains) my all-time favorite Western. Vicious, exhilarating, and perfectly cast and shot. And you're right -- Roscoe Lee Browne's prayer ranks right up there with Quint's "Indianapolis Story" for me as one of the 2-3 all-time greatest sides of dialogue ever written and delivered. Unbeatable. LOVE this movie!!
Bruce Dern owns every role he's had by ArcadianDS	Jul 7th, 2008 10:41:47 AM
What was that silly anti-mafia boxing movie with Lou Gossett Jr - diggstown? He was awesome in that. As for Wayne, some of you guys who are going on about how his movies are unwatchable because of his personal politics are the same deadbrained idiots who want us all to watch everything that Mike Moore has filmed, and to put his personal ego aside and see the film for what it is - you are, by the letter of the word, complete hypocrites.
This has always been one of my favorites! by zer0cool2k2	Jul 7th, 2008 12:25:12 PM
Saw The Cowboys when I was a kid. When I finally bought my Dad a DVD player, it was one of the first movies I bought for him. It's also the first thing I ever saw Bruce Dern in, and for years I hated him, no matter what role he was playing. (Guess that's the mark of a good actor). And Browne's confessionary prayer does contain one of my favorite lines ever!
Mariachi by Die_Hardest	Jul 7th, 2008 01:47:21 PM
Not excusing him, just sayin, people do fucked up shit for different reasons. And from all accounts the incident was suspicious at best.
One of Wayne's finest movies by Odgie	Jul 7th, 2008 03:09:48 PM
Quint: Thank you for writing about this one. It's about time "The Cowboys" got some love.
I just did a double feature of this and Running Scared by JediRob	Jul 7th, 2008 04:11:17 PM
Is kind of a fun juxtaposition. The Cowboys is one of my favorites and the last act make me cry every time.
Wayne & WWII by CondomWrapper	Jul 7th, 2008 10:44:26 PM
As others have mentioned, Wayne tried to enlist on multiple occasions but was blocked by the studio each time. He wanted to get into his pal John Ford's unit, apparently. But you're also forgetting another very important role John Wayne played in WWII: Allied propaganda pictures. His gung-ho pro-Allies war pictures like Back to Bataan were a crucial part of convincing the American public that the war was worth fighting and that the Allies would win. Don't underestimate the power of film, especially at a time when far more people went to the movies than they do today. And, after the war, Wayne did a lot for the US military. He went and visited the boys in 'Nam and was actually shot at by a VC sniper hoping to kill one of the biggest symbols of American might and right.
My bad, Quint... by Roguewriter	Jul 8th, 2008 09:58:08 AM
I wrote "Moriarty" instead of "Quint." The brain, she is rusty. Nice work, sir.

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A Movie A Day: Quint sees THE COWBOYS (1972)
You goddamned sonuvabitch! You goddamned, mean sonuvabitch!

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A Movie A Day: Quint sees THE COWBOYS (1972)You goddamned sonuvabitch! You goddamned, mean sonuvabitch!

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A Movie A Day: Quint sees THE COWBOYS (1972)
You goddamned sonuvabitch! You goddamned, mean sonuvabitch!