I am curious, back when this was released in 1971, how did people react to the kids killing men? This topic has never been shown much in movies, especially in the 70s. Nowadays, such an action in cinema is common (ex: City of God). Just curious as to what the public reaction was.
shareI was only 10 years old, so take this for what it's worth, but I don't remember any controversy at the time. As a 10 year old, I found the movie empowering (I didn't know the word back then), and was happy to see it made into a TV series.
Nobody gets to be a cowboy forever.
I was in my early 20s, and I do not recall a big fuss about the boys taking revenge. However, many did find the scene in which Long Hair holds a knife to the boy's throat quite a shocker. The novel was extremely popular, so I imagine that it wasn't too surprising. I suppose they were relieved that they didn't have the scene with the prostitutes the way it is in the book.
"The Cowboys" was taught in our American novels class in college, along with another novel that was a best-seller and hit movie: "Summer of '42". I ran into it again later in the Seventies at another college; the course was Western Literature. We went in expecting the Greeks and were greeted with Zane Grey, Max Brand and others, with novels that included "The Cowboys" and "True Grit". I believe I was the only student in the class who had read Westerns! It was a graduate-level course, and I was the only underclassman allowed.
(W)hat are we without our dreams?
Making sure our fantasies
Do not overpower our realities. ~ RC
I was 12 when I saw it in the theater, and all I can recall is a feeling of pride that kids my age had won in the end. The bad guys killed The Duke! They deserved what they got.
shareI remember it as being a pretty novel and perhaps even shocking idea at the time, as well as a major selling point. The radio ad gave the misleading impression that the boys got all "shot up" at the end ("And do those boys get SHOT UP!") but it was really referring to the rustlers.
Literature, including some for children, contains examples of such things, some of which translated into play or movie versions. The play of "Peter Pan" with him stabbing pirates and crowing is disturbing as heck to small children.
share