Search/Recent Changes
DBTropes
...it's like TV Tropes, but LINKED DATA!

The Cowboys

 The Cowboys
type
TVTItem
 The Cowboys
label
The Cowboys
 The Cowboys
page
TheCowboys
 The Cowboys
comment
A 1972 Western film directed by Mark Rydell and starring John Wayne, with Roscoe Lee Browne, Bruce Dern, and Colleen Dewhurst in supporting roles.Wil Anderson (Wayne), the grizzled proprietor of the Double O Ranch, has a herd of cattle he needs to get to market before winter. Unfortunately, all the able-bodied and available men have run off to join a nearby gold rush. His friend Anse Peterson (Slim Pickens) convinces him that he could hire local schoolboys. Initially reluctant, Anderson is eventually forced to go with the idea. He ends up with 11 boys between the ages of 9 and 15. Joining them on the drive is Jebediah "Jeb" Nightlinger (Browne), their Camp Cook, and the first black man the boys have ever seen.The boys learn quickly to do a man's job, but the group is being followed by a gang of ruthless rustlers led by "Long Hair" Asa Watts (Dern)...
 The Cowboys
fetched
2023-06-06T16:59:05Z
 The Cowboys
parsed
2023-06-06T16:59:05Z
 The Cowboys
isPartOf
DBTropes
 The Cowboys / int_1237828f
type
Anyone Can Die
 The Cowboys / int_1237828f
comment
Anyone Can Die: Including children and John Wayne
 The Cowboys / int_1237828f
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_1237828f
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_1237828f
 The Cowboys / int_1d18887f
type
Pay Evil unto Evil
 The Cowboys / int_1d18887f
comment
Pay Evil unto Evil: The boys' vengeance on Asa in particular gets downright brutal.
 The Cowboys / int_1d18887f
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_1d18887f
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_1d18887f
 The Cowboys / int_39315ffe
type
Stutter Stop
 The Cowboys / int_39315ffe
comment
Stutter Stop: One of the boys on the cattle drive wasn't able to warn them of danger due to a stuttering problem. Wil Anderson (Wayne's character) proceeds to give him a brutal tongue-lashing, and the boy stutteringly calls Anderson a "s-s-s-s-s-son-uh-uh-uh-of-a-buh-buh-bitch". Anderson then continues to antagonize the boy until the youth explodes into a verbal tirade of completely stutter-free profanity. Anderson then calmly congratulates him on getting over his stutter, and warns the boy to not get used to cursing at him like that. The boy never stutters once for the rest of the film.
 The Cowboys / int_39315ffe
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_39315ffe
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_39315ffe
 The Cowboys / int_3cb1d38d
type
Bad Boss
 The Cowboys / int_3cb1d38d
comment
Bad Boss: Asa Watts shoots one of his own men in an attempt to get away in the end.
 The Cowboys / int_3cb1d38d
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_3cb1d38d
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_3cb1d38d
 The Cowboys / int_40cc0c7e
type
Bittersweet Ending
 The Cowboys / int_40cc0c7e
comment
Bittersweet Ending: Wil Anderson is dead, leaving a widow behind. But the kids avenge him, complete the drive, and make sure to honor his memory.
 The Cowboys / int_40cc0c7e
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_40cc0c7e
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_40cc0c7e
 The Cowboys / int_4781adbb
type
Jerk with a Heart of Gold
 The Cowboys / int_4781adbb
comment
Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Cimarron, whose first scene features him picking a fight with the rest of the boys—and second is rescuing Slim from drowning.
 The Cowboys / int_4781adbb
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_4781adbb
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_4781adbb
 The Cowboys / int_479d4e5a
type
Would Hurt a Child
 The Cowboys / int_479d4e5a
comment
Would Hurt a Child: He doesn't actually follow through, but Asa Watts, the leader of the rustlers, makes it pretty clear he has no qualms about it.
 The Cowboys / int_479d4e5a
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_479d4e5a
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_479d4e5a
 The Cowboys / int_562abd51
type
Let's Get Dangerous!
 The Cowboys / int_562abd51
comment
Let's Get Dangerous!: The boys' reactions to the death of Wil Anderson.
 The Cowboys / int_562abd51
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_562abd51
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_562abd51
 The Cowboys / int_619985d7
type
Sacrificial Lion
 The Cowboys / int_619985d7
comment
Sacrificial Lion: Anderson. Charlie too, though it's Anderson's death, actually brought about by Watts, which motivates them to take action.
 The Cowboys / int_619985d7
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_619985d7
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_619985d7
 The Cowboys / int_663f35c0
type
Only One Name
 The Cowboys / int_663f35c0
comment
Only One Name: Cimarron is this, due to being a bastard.
 The Cowboys / int_663f35c0
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_663f35c0
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_663f35c0
 The Cowboys / int_6b6556ee
type
Mentor Occupational Hazard
 The Cowboys / int_6b6556ee
comment
Mentor Occupational Hazard: Anderson dies, leaving the boys to complete the run without him, then avenge his death.
 The Cowboys / int_6b6556ee
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_6b6556ee
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_6b6556ee
 The Cowboys / int_77ed6b7d
type
Troubling Unchildlike Behavior
 The Cowboys / int_77ed6b7d
comment
Troubling Unchildlike Behavior: Played for Laughs when the boys sneak off with a bottle of whiskey from the chuck wagon and get drunk. The youngest cowboy, by the way, is nine years old. Anderson and Nightlinger find them when they start drunkenly singing "Home On the Range". Wayne and the cook keep quiet about it. Next day, Nightlinger gives them a remedy for their "cold". John Wayne rides by, ordering the cook to make a heavy meal for dinner. The nearest boy runs off to throw up!
 The Cowboys / int_77ed6b7d
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_77ed6b7d
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_77ed6b7d
 The Cowboys / int_86b21114
type
Badass Boast
 The Cowboys / int_86b21114
comment
Badass Boast: This, from Jebediah Nightlinger (said while he's tied up and about to be lynched): Anderson, after Asa Watt bullies Dan:
 The Cowboys / int_86b21114
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_86b21114
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_86b21114
 The Cowboys / int_8b823b6e
type
Cattle Drive
 The Cowboys / int_8b823b6e
comment
Cattle Drive: The main scenario of the movie.
 The Cowboys / int_8b823b6e
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_8b823b6e
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_8b823b6e
 The Cowboys / int_b1dde8fd
type
Loophole Abuse
 The Cowboys / int_b1dde8fd
comment
Loophole Abuse: Wil draws a line on the school blackboard and says anyone shorter than it shouldn't come on the drive. What he doesn't know is that just before he came in, the teacher raised the board a few inches so the kids at the back could see it, and when he leaves they just lower it back down.
 The Cowboys / int_b1dde8fd
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_b1dde8fd
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_b1dde8fd
 The Cowboys / int_b1e8a3b3
type
Coming of Age Story
 The Cowboys / int_b1e8a3b3
comment
Coming of Age Story: For the boys.
 The Cowboys / int_b1e8a3b3
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_b1e8a3b3
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_b1e8a3b3
 The Cowboys / int_c82e751f
type
Unspoken Plan Guarantee
 The Cowboys / int_c82e751f
comment
Unspoken Plan Guarantee: the plan to avenge Anderson and recover the herd is not stated out loud.
 The Cowboys / int_c82e751f
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_c82e751f
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_c82e751f
 The Cowboys / int_d33456e7
type
Improbable Age
 The Cowboys / int_d33456e7
comment
Improbable Age: The boys are too young to be cowboys, but Anderson doesn't have any other options. After some rough starts and coming of age, they're able to ride, rope, and avenge their father figure.
 The Cowboys / int_d33456e7
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_d33456e7
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_d33456e7
 The Cowboys / int_d339924e
type
Camp Cook
 The Cowboys / int_d339924e
comment
Camp Cook: Nightlinger. Unlike most examples of this trope, Nightlinger's food is actually pretty good.
 The Cowboys / int_d339924e
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_d339924e
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_d339924e
 The Cowboys / int_e0a077fa
type
Miss Kitty
 The Cowboys / int_e0a077fa
comment
Miss Kitty: At one point the boys encounter a group of what Nightlinger calls "soiled doves". Naturally, they have their madam with them.
 The Cowboys / int_e0a077fa
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_e0a077fa
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_e0a077fa
 The Cowboys / int_e4c95972
type
Innocent Bigot
 The Cowboys / int_e4c95972
comment
Innocent Bigot: The boys have never seen a black man before, and ask Nightlinger several questions that range from insensitive to outright offensive. Nightlinger takes it in stride, having faced much worse.
 The Cowboys / int_e4c95972
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_e4c95972
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_e4c95972
 The Cowboys / int_f19e8a55
type
Bad "Bad Acting"
 The Cowboys / int_f19e8a55
comment
Bad "Bad Acting": the boys attempt to act casual prior to stealing a bottle of whiskey...fooling absolutely no-one.
 The Cowboys / int_f19e8a55
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_f19e8a55
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_f19e8a55
 The Cowboys / int_f5663a6f
type
Dropped Glasses
 The Cowboys / int_f5663a6f
comment
Dropped Glasses: What leads to Charlie's death.
 The Cowboys / int_f5663a6f
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_f5663a6f
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_f5663a6f
 The Cowboys / int_f5e59782
type
A Real Man Is a Killer
 The Cowboys / int_f5e59782
comment
A Real Man Is a Killer: One of the more controversial bits of the movie. Though the film does seem a bit cynical about it. The way Anderson recruits young boys to serve on the cattle drive reminded critics of how young men were getting drafted into The Vietnam War.
 The Cowboys / int_f5e59782
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_f5e59782
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_f5e59782
 The Cowboys / int_fb9e0265
type
Team Dad
 The Cowboys / int_fb9e0265
comment
Team Dad: Anderson is harsh, believes in Tough Love, and works to cultivate the boys' manliness.
 The Cowboys / int_fb9e0265
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_fb9e0265
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_fb9e0265
 The Cowboys / int_fb9e25e9
type
Team Mom
 The Cowboys / int_fb9e25e9
comment
Team Mom: Nightlinger acts as a gentler, more emotionally intelligent parental figure, and reprimands Anderson at least once for being too harsh on them.
 The Cowboys / int_fb9e25e9
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_fb9e25e9
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_fb9e25e9
 The Cowboys / int_name
type
ItemName
 The Cowboys / int_name
comment
 The Cowboys / int_name
featureApplicability
1.0
 The Cowboys / int_name
featureConfidence
1.0
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Cowboys / int_name
 The Cowboys / int_name
itemName
The Cowboys

The following is a list of statements referring to the current page from other pages.

 The Cowboys
hasFeature
Action-Hero Babysitter / int_4fa1f17b
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
Bovine Fiction / int_4fa1f17b
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
Camp Cook / int_4fa1f17b
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
Cast the Expert / int_4fa1f17b
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
Cattle Drive / int_4fa1f17b
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
Definite Article Title / int_4fa1f17b
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
Hand Cannon / int_4fa1f17b
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
Hollywood Spelling / int_4fa1f17b
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
In the Back / int_4fa1f17b
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
Job Title / int_4fa1f17b
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
Preemptive Apology / int_4fa1f17b
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
Say Your Prayers / int_4fa1f17b
 The Cowboys
seeAlso
The Cowboys
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
The Rustler / int_4fa1f17b
 The Cowboys
hasFeature
Troubling Unchildlike Behavior / int_4fa1f17b