The Cowboys

When his regular hands desert the ranch for a gold rush, seasoned cattleman Wil Andersen is stuck with a looming deadline to get his herd to market. Short on time and options, he recruits a ragged group of local boys and turns them into a makeshift crew, teaching them the basics of riding, roping, and responsibility. The boys respond with grit and humor as they meet the hardships of the trail, unaware that a ruthless band of thieves is shadowing their progress. The film focuses on the evolving relationships between Andersen and the youngsters, and the raw realities of life on the range without giving away later twists.

Directed by Mark Rydell, the screenplay credits Irving Ravetch and Harriet Frank Jr., with story roots tied to William Dale Jennings. Released in 1972, it paired John Wayne with a younger supporting cast and leaned into a classic Western framework while highlighting character work.

At the box office the picture performed respectably for its era, helping to sustain John Wayne's status as a reliable draws. It wasn't a record-breaker, but it found an audience among traditional Western fans and moviegoers interested in more character-driven tales.

Over time The Cowboys has lodged itself in pop culture largely because of its unusual ensemble of children cast as cowhands and Wayne's stern but mentoring presence. Scenes of the boys learning to act like cowboys and the contrast between innocence and harsh frontier life tend to be the images people recall, and the film often pops up in discussions of Westerns that feature coming-of-age elements.

Critical reaction was mixed to positive, with many reviewers noting Wayne's performance and the film's moral clarity as strengths, while some critics found the pacing uneven. Contemporary viewers tend to rate it favorably, with a roughly 7.1/10 average from audience polls. Major themes include leadership, responsibility, and the passing of a traditional way of life to a younger generation.