One of my all time favorites.

Brilliant and touching

Best movie ever!

I didn’t really have many expectations going into the movie (good or bad), but I actually really enjoyed it. I really liked the characters and the banter between them.

I caught this film at 5 am one morning, and was so glad I did. The story was simple: city slicker joins hardened cowboys for cow drive. Typical "fish out of water" ? Not by a long shot.Jack Lemmon is his usual excellent. He has the ability to undergo character metamorphosis so subtly the viewer hardly notices, yet his transformations drive the films (see, i.e., "Mister Roberts").One thing I want to point out is the photography: it is really outstanding. The camera angles are not intrusive, yet every scene was made a little more interesting than it could have been. There was one shot, right before the Indian confrontation, in which the camera focused on Reese walking left to right, then followed his back as he went down a knoll, called to another man. The camera then followed this man on his horse as he rode up, then met up with Reese. They then had a conversation: this was all one beautiful shot!In all, if you like cowboy movies with scant amount of shoot-'em- ups and a lot of character interaction, growth and conflict, you will enjoy this memorable film.

There wasn't the good-guy-bad-guy conflict in this outstanding Columbia Movies western, but it was one of those movies which held my attention and interest well. Glenn Ford, (who portrayed the real-life cowboy Tom Reese) though slightly built, was the same tough guy he always was in any movie in which he acted. Jack Lemmon (who played the real-life cowboy Frank Harris) actually played two distinct roles; he was a dude in a Chicago hotel, but later a different type person as a cowboy on the range, though in the latter role it was a challenge for him to assimilate himself to the totally different life style to which he had been accustomed. Anne Kashfi, who played a young lady from Mexico, was someone who made it hard to keep your eyes off of her. (Can Jack Lemmon be blamed for strongly wanting to marry her?)Bryan Donlevy, an experienced actor who played tough guys and cowboys, was right for the role he played as a retired sheriff who wanted to go on the round-up. Dick York was accomplished as a young, almost-mean, tough cowboy. And though his role was minor, Buzz Henry, who had played in westerns in his pre-teenage years, was also a good actor in this movie. Again, there was little conflict: there was, along this line, only a brief Indian attack. More than anything else there was character study. While not allowed to include any spoilers, there was a change in each of the major character, but the viewer will have to decide whether it was for better or worse. Because of all the major elements already mentioned, I have added this movie to my repertoire.

I don't know what it is exactly, but in 'Cowboy' some elements just don't agree with me. First of all, the soundtrack: it sounds sort of jolly to me, too jolly (luckily it was absent some of the time), when the film obviously wants to be a little darker than usual. Just like Tom shooting bugs in the bathroom; it feels over the top. I read a review here by a real rider for the cattle association (donkrahn) who stated that this film is realistic, and as far as some characters go, I could believe that, but to me the dramatic side of the film was at times undermined by misplaced comedic elements (the jolly music, shooting bugs, learning to ride a horse) and a rather poor 'development' of the characters; the ending with Frank in the bath next to Tom shooting a bug and both of them laughing it up was particularly awkward.The relationship between Tom and Frank seemed at times realistic enough, but there were plenty of (too) contrived moments, for instance when they take their time to shoot the breeze while being in a wagon full of wild cattle, and their randomly being an asshole when the other one is the nice guy and vice versa. I'm not sure how I feel about Lemmon in this role. He had his moments, but I couldn't get convinced of him being a hardened cowboy.And, finally, the scene of the horse being attacked by the red-horned bull was just off-putting. Kudos to Tom for facing it without one.All in all, I liked where it was trying to go at times, but it never really got there; 5 out of 10.

I find this movie neither as wonderful as its advocates say, nor as lousy as its detractors maintain. This is a decent, well-made Western with a good story line that keeps you involved. It is rather episodic, the story line lacking a smooth continuity. And there are some weaknesses in the relationships among the characters. As one viewer said, the love relationship between Lemmon's character and the Mexican girl is not really credible. Also, the hostility between Tom and Frank is a bit too intense for us to accept their eventual bonding. And the ending seems rather contrived and abrupt. But the action propels the movie along, and the western scenery is beautifully filmed. I think Glenn Ford's presence really carries the movie. I don't think his work gets the credit it deserves; he was a truly great actor. This is no "My Darling Clementine" or "Red River" but it's entertaining enough. A footnote: the character "Frank Harris" is the name of the screenwriter, who was the author of the scandalous book "My Life and Loves." Who knew?! That book, when I was growing up, was kept hidden by my father in the house along with Lady Chatterly's Lover, Peyton Place and other raunch of the day. Evidently the Welshman actually spent some time working as a cowboy, so the movie is partly autobiographical.