Sam Peckinpah shows a gentler side in this character study of Steve McQueen’s hardcore rodeo champ, now in decline and dealing with family issues over a week’s worth of bigtime riding events as he passes thru his old Arizona hometown. One of the best works of SouthWest Americana ever filmed (and beautifully by Lucien Ballard), the depth of subject empathy, for a class and way of life, is in such striking contrast to what’s usually offered in this area, tough, loving, without condescension, the slight story rushes up on your emotions without seeming to make a play for them. Often very funny, too. Even a barroom brawl with signature Peckinpah slow-mo lensing laid against Robert Wolfe’s rapid-fire/splintered editing, feels freshly thought out. A truly great film, miraculously cast with Ida Lupino & Robert Preston, both off the big screen for a decade or more, perfect as the estranged parents (each only 12 years older than McQueen in real life); and Joe Don Baker as the big wheel sell-out younger brother. Note our second poster, with the sexy babe tacked on in the hope of bringing out the regular McQueen fans who gave this work of art (for that’s what it is) the cold shoulder. They never did show up, but don’t let that stop you.
DOUBLE-BILL: Only Nick Ray’s THE LUSTY MEN/’52 (with Robert Mitchum & Susan Hayward, a great alternate choice for McQueen’s parents, no?) and Carroll Ballard's calling-card documentary RODEO/’69 (available as an extra on some editions of his THE BLACK STALLION/’79) compare.
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