With his bronco-busting career on its last legs, Junior Bonner heads to his hometown to try his luck in the annual rodeo. But his fond childhood memories are shattered when he finds his family torn apart by his greedy brother and hard-drinking father.
Directed by Sam Peckinpah
rodeo
arizona
jeep
womanizer
truck
Trailer
IMDB
N/A
Cast
Steve McQueen
Junior Bonner
Robert Preston
Ace Bonner
Ida Lupino
Elvira Bonner
Ben Johnson
Buck Roan
Joe Don Baker
Curly Bonner
Barbara Leigh
Charmagne
Mary Murphy
Ruth Bonner
Bill McKinney
Red Terwiliger
Dub Taylor
Del
Don 'Red' Barry
Homer Rutledge
Charles H. Gray
Burt
Toby Michaels
Dudette
Crew
Sam Peckinpah
Director
Jerry Fielding
Original Music Composer
Lucien Ballard
Director of Photography
Lynn Stalmaster
Casting
Loren Janes
Stunt Double
Newt Arnold
Assistant Director
Steve McQueen
Associate Producer
Popular Reviews
9 reviews
Candela
8.0★ · 02/25/25
el perro se metía en la pelea del bar, en el rodeo… needed to be the main character
el perro se metía en la pelea del bar, en el rodeo… needed to be the main character
Lucas
7.0★ · 08/20/23
One of Peckinpahs shorter features which was quite nice. Very much just a ~vibes~ kinda movie. But I love Steve McQueen so I'm all for it
One of Peckinpahs shorter features which was quite nice. Very much just a ~vibes~ kinda movie. But I love Steve McQueen so I'm all for it
This just wasn’t for me. I expected that going in and while the first 20 minutes might’ve seemed to surprise me, the film ultimately turned out to be what I expected it to be. Not for me.
By its premise alone, “Junior Bonner” is the least interesting Peckinpah film and that’s why I pushed-back watching it for a long time.
I honestly don’t think the performances are particularly worth mentioning and I’ve seen McQueen better in pretty much every other film of his I’ve seen, juts thinking of “The Towering Inferno”, which I watched yesterday. The plot didn’t do anything for me either.
And while there is some stylish editing with freeze frames and such, this definitely is the least Sam Packinpah film out of all of his films. It completely lacks any violence and action. Although it’s got some scenes that I’d judge as violent in their nature. By that I mean the bull-riding and rodeo scenes, as rodeo is nothing more than animal cruelty and abuse under the guise of sports. Didn’t enjoy seeing those animals being abused at all.
In the end, “Junior Bonner” isn’t a bad film, but a low-light in both Sam Peckinpah and Steve McQueen’s filmographies. For me, a completely uninteresting, albeit decently made film.
This just wasn’t for me. I expected that going in and while the first 20 minutes might’ve seemed to surprise me, the film ultimately turned out to be what I expected it to be. Not for me.
By its premise alone, “Junior Bonner” is the least interesting Peckinpah film and that’s why I pushed-back watching it for a long time.
I honestly don’t think the performances are particularly worth mentioning and I’ve seen McQueen better in pretty much every other film of his I’ve seen, juts thinking of “The Towering Inferno”, which I watched yesterday. The plot didn’t do anything for me either.
And while there is some stylish editing with freeze frames and such, this definitely is the least Sam Packinpah film out of all of his films. It completely lacks any violence and action. Although it’s got some scenes that I’d judge as violent in their nature. By that I mean the bull-riding and rodeo scenes, as rodeo is nothing more than animal cruelty and abuse under the guise of sports. Didn’t enjoy seeing those animals being abused at all.
In the end, “Junior Bonner” isn’t a bad film, but a low-light in both Sam Peckinpah and Steve McQueen’s filmographies. For me, a completely uninteresting, albeit decently made film.
Chip
7.0★ · 12/15/20
This was a neat follow up to The Lusty Men that I watched earlier. Similar stories in a way but definitely different moods and endings.
Would love to rewatch in good quality one day!
This was a neat follow up to The Lusty Men that I watched earlier. Similar stories in a way but definitely different moods and endings.
