Cliff Robertson who was four years away from his Oscar winning performance in Charly, wrote, produced, directed and starred in this independent film that Columbia Pictures released, J.W. Coop. For the most part he produced a really gritty picture of life on the rodeo circuit.
J.W. Coop is a driven man. A promising rodeo cowboy for some youthful indiscretions he did an almost 10 year prison stretch where he did keep his rodeo skills honed in penal rodeo competition. He's out now, determined to make it back and pick up the promising career he abruptly left.
Of course 1962 to 1972 were years of seismic cultural shifts in America so Coop's in for quite a few surprises. I particularly like the scene with the officious highway patrolman who writes him a ticket for the bad emissions and lack of muffler on the 49 Hudson he was driving. It belonged to his father and Geraldine Page his Mom had just kept in the garage.
Lots of changes in social behavior as well. Robertson falls for Cristina Ferrare a hippie chick who's just out for a good time. Big sexual revolution in the sixties that he missed out on.
Of course the big scene is Robertson who is number 2 in the standings and winner of a lot of prize money gets back on a brahma bull AFTER he's broken his leg and he rides it while in a cast. Sheer unadulterated craziness as his doctor tries to tell him. But he's determined to be number one. That ending shot after the bull has thrown him and he's probably now permanently injured of Robertson sitting by the fence of an empty rodeo arena is unforgettable.
It makes no sense to most of us, but being in your early thirties in rodeo would make you a Methuselah. Just check the cowboys ages if you happen to be watching rodeo. Robertson knows this might be his last shot. But he should have settled for second.
J.W. Coop is a fine look at rodeo and belongs right up there with films like The Lusty Men and 8 Seconds as a realistic look at rodeo life.
J.W. Coop is a driven man. A promising rodeo cowboy for some youthful indiscretions he did an almost 10 year prison stretch where he did keep his rodeo skills honed in penal rodeo competition. He's out now, determined to make it back and pick up the promising career he abruptly left.
Of course 1962 to 1972 were years of seismic cultural shifts in America so Coop's in for quite a few surprises. I particularly like the scene with the officious highway patrolman who writes him a ticket for the bad emissions and lack of muffler on the 49 Hudson he was driving. It belonged to his father and Geraldine Page his Mom had just kept in the garage.
Lots of changes in social behavior as well. Robertson falls for Cristina Ferrare a hippie chick who's just out for a good time. Big sexual revolution in the sixties that he missed out on.
Of course the big scene is Robertson who is number 2 in the standings and winner of a lot of prize money gets back on a brahma bull AFTER he's broken his leg and he rides it while in a cast. Sheer unadulterated craziness as his doctor tries to tell him. But he's determined to be number one. That ending shot after the bull has thrown him and he's probably now permanently injured of Robertson sitting by the fence of an empty rodeo arena is unforgettable.
It makes no sense to most of us, but being in your early thirties in rodeo would make you a Methuselah. Just check the cowboys ages if you happen to be watching rodeo. Robertson knows this might be his last shot. But he should have settled for second.
J.W. Coop is a fine look at rodeo and belongs right up there with films like The Lusty Men and 8 Seconds as a realistic look at rodeo life.