When I was visiting my grandparents, my dad's brothers were going on and on about Bruce Dern. I think it's funny when my dad's brothers get a hair up their butts about something. So one uncle lent me The Cowboys to watch. Best John Wayne movie I've ever seen. And my uncles were right: Bruce Dern is the Ultimate Bad Guy. Heaven help the boy who encounters Bruce Dern.
I couldn't help but think about the responsibilities and rewards given to these boys. They were all 12-15 years old and were gone from home all summer to drive cattle 400 miles. How many parents let their sons go four miles from their house these days without knowing exactly where they are? Heck, the first thing John Wayne did to test their courage was to make them all ride an untamed bucking horse. Imagine sending your 13-year-old son off for summer work with your family's best horse and pistol.
I also couldn't help but imagine my uncles watching this movie. They all would've been a little younger than the boys on the cattle drive when the movie came out. I wonder how it shaped them. Goodness knows their family followed the John Wayne School of Parenting.
A long trailer to the movie can be found here. Highly recommended.
Posted by Sarah at August 3, 2008 09:14 AM | TrackBack I was always amazed to hear the stories of my
grandfather driving wagon loads of hay to market
when he was EIGHT years old. He came from a nice
family that valued education and art,but they were
farmers. It simply had to be done. Apparently no
one thought much about it. "Here's a sandwich and
a *gun,see you in a few hours.."
At eight,my big thrill was I was old enough
to be allowed to ride my bike to the library!
*for wild animals,not bandits.
I must know more about the John Wayne School of Parenting...I think I need a crash course!
Posted by: Kate at August 4, 2008 08:09 PMI love all John Wayne movies. It's amazing when you're raised on all those old westerns how you see discipline a little differently. *smirk* and for an old guy JW was pretty good looking. Not quite Steve McQueen but than who is?
Posted by: Darla at August 9, 2008 10:10 AM