the audience applauded

Highly Overrated But Still Good

It's entirely possible that sending the audience out feeling lousy was intentional

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Ebert was needlessly harsh in reference to Coburn's scene hogging, and gave the film 2 stars. He loved a few performances, and Picken's certainly played well the loyal "mascot" - a perfect term for his character. The performances are fine - and the rodeo scenes are well done and executed. Yes there are a few inserted pointless plot devices but overall, I think it a terribly underrated film. Coburn plays the "rake" well enough, and I found his character more sympathetic than most. Most of his downfall is attributable to making a stand for the sake of his wife's "honor". knowing full well he is not good enough for her. Another reason to watch would be Anne Archer. in what was her first role. She isn't much of an Indian of course, despite her head band (nice try) but oh so lovely in a De Tomaso Pantera nonetheless.

The Hookers was to me a great everyday people story, Like someone you might have known. Just trying to make it, my big shot is right around the corner. Then Life's little temptations creep in, the spoiler, stumbled again. How much, can your love take, and give, to the guy who's really not so bad, after all, just Human. I liked it, I was also a paid extra in the movie. Played the drums in the bar shots, with the band, did several walking shots, my green 66' corvette was in the motel party shots. Wonderful cast and crew, first rate people, down to earth movie. I had lunch with James Coburn, on Mother's Day, what a wonderful man, just like I've known him for years, I'll never forget him. My father spent the day with Slim Pickens, and swapped horse stories, Slim also was really down to earth, love those guys, we really miss them. Real people making movies about real people, Thanks Levy, Gardner, and Laven.

I was living in Sri Lanka when I saw The Honkers (in 1975, three years after its release). Great rodeo movie. Pity it's not available on DVD or VHS. It had the same real-people feel as Sam Peckinpah's Junior Bonner (a movie I saw six times when it first came out). I remember Steve Ihnat's performance in Madigan and Fuzz. Too bad he passed away so young.

I saw the Honkers in the early 70s and loved it and remembered it. I also saw both JW.COOP & JUNIOR BONNER - both excellent. The reason I had to catch Honkers was that Mr.Inhat deeply impressed me in Madigan as Barney - an enduring psycho performance - which I can still quote verbatum. I also made a note of him in Hour of The Gun. I felt grim when he died (just after the Cannes screening?) But rest assured he, and the film, are recalled fondly. .