The Cowboys poster

The Cowboys

All they wanted was their chance to be men... and he gave it to them.

7.1(278)19722h 14m4

When his cattlemen abandon him for the gold fields, rancher Wil Andersen is forced to take on a collection of young boys as his cowboys in order to get his herd to market in time to avoid financial disaster. The boys learn to do a man's job under Andersen's tutelage, however, neither he nor the boys know that a gang of cattle thieves is stalking them.

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Status
Released
Budget
$6M
Box office
$7.5M
Language
English
  • based on novel or book
  • montana
  • ranch
  • beef
  • cattle drive
  • underage drinking
  • gun battle
  • cattle
  • schoolboy
  • cattleman
  • cattle rustling
  • kids on their own

Top billed cast

Behind the camera

Director

Mark Rydell

Produced in

United States of America

Where to watch

All options

Availability for India. Provided by JustWatch through the TMDB API.

Gallery

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Videos

Release dates

  • United StatesUS

    • TheatricalPG13 Jan 1972
  • DenmarkDK

    • Theatrical1126 Mar 1972
  • FranceFR

    • TheatricalU22 Mar 1972
    • TVArte29 Dec 2025
  • GermanyDE

    • Theatrical1627 Jan 1972
  • IrelandIE

    • Theatrical1214 Apr 1972
  • ItalyIT

    • Theatrical26 Feb 1972
  • JapanJP

    • TheatricalPG1229 Apr 1972
  • NetherlandsNL

    • PhysicalALDVD26 Jul 2000

Frequently asked questions

The Cowboys was released on 13 January 1972.

Audience reviews

2
  • J

    John Chard

    5/29/2019

    8/10

    The Breaking of Boys and the Making of Men. The Cowboys is directed by Mark Rydell and adapted from the novel written by William Dale Jennings; who co-writes the screenplay with Irving Ravetch & Harriet Frank Jr. It stars John Wayne, Roscoe Lee Browne, Bruce Dern and Colleen Dewhurst. John Williams scores the music and Robert Surtees is the cinematographer. Plot sees Wayne as tough cattleman Wil Andersen, who aft…

  • C

    CinemaSerf

    2/26/2025

    7/10

    “Anderson” (John Wayne) is left short-handed by a gold rush and with his herd to get to market has to resort to engaging the services of a class of school boys who are offered $50 each if they help out. None of those lads are much over fifteen and few have any experience wrangling, so it’s going to be a tough challenge. Fortunately the veteran “Nightlinger” (Roscoe Lee Brown) happens by and agrees to bring along his …

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