From director Sam Peckinpah (Straw Dogs, The Getaway), this sounded like a worth-trying film, even if I didn't know the theme or concept, I guess the star tempted me. Basically it is a film spent in the company of professional rodeo rider Junior 'JR' Bonner (Steve McQueen) heading to his home town of Prescott. He has his gold-hunting father Ace (Robert Preston), his mother Elvira (Ida Lupino) is wandering by her husband's side, and his brother Curly (young Joe Don Baker) is making it big in real estate. But he is trying to hang on to a bucking bull for more than eight seconds to earn enough for another week's rodeo, and spend more time with love interest Charmagne (Barbara Leigh). There isn't a plot as such, but it is interesting to see Junior living his life, lonely,speaking few words and on the road, how he like's it, in the old West. Also starring Mary Murphy as Ruth Bonner, Ben Johnson as Buck Roan, William 'Bill' McKinney as Red Terwiliger, Sandra Deel as Nurse Arlis, Don 'Red' Barry as Homer Rutledge, Matthew Peckinpah (Sam's son) as Tim Bonner and Charles H. Gray as Burt. The bull riding scenes are of course highly watchable, and McQueen puts on a very cool, quiet but likable performance, and accompanied by some stylish music by Jerry Fielding it is quite an alright find. Very good!
Review of Junior Bonner
