''Cry Macho'' is a 1975 American novel by
N. Richard Nash
Nathan Richard Nusbaum (June 8, 1913 – December 11, 2000), known as N. Richard Nash, was an American writer and dramatist best known for writing Broadway shows, including '' The Rainmaker''.
Early life
Nash was born Nathan Richard Nusbau ...
published in the United States by the
Delacorte Press
Dell Publishing Company, Inc. is an American publisher of books, magazines and comic books, that was founded in 1921 by George T. Delacorte Jr. with $10,000 (approx. $145,000 in 2021), two employees and one magazine title, ''I Confess'', and ...
. The story was originally written as a screenplay under the title ''Macho'', but was later adapted into a novel after Nash failed to sell the script. The book follows Mike Milo, a Texas
rodeo
Rodeo () is a competitive equestrian sport that arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain and Mexico, expanding throughout the Americas and to other nations. It was originally based on the skills required of the working va ...
star tasked with kidnapping an eleven-year-old boy in Mexico named Rafo. The story centers around the themes of loss, love, and redemption, all surrounding Mike's journey alongside Rafo.
Following its publication, ''Cry Macho'' was met with mixed to positive reviews from novel critics. Since its release, multiple filmmakers attempted to adapt the novel into a feature film. After previously rejecting the role in 1988,
Clint Eastwood
Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western TV series '' Rawhide'', he rose to international fame with his role as the "Man with No Name" in Sergio Leone's "''Doll ...
produced, directed, and starred in an
adaptation of the novel that was released by
Warner Bros. Pictures
Warner Bros. Pictures is an American film production and distribution company of the Warner Bros. Pictures Group division of Warner Bros. Entertainment (both ultimately owned by Warner Bros. Discovery). The studio is the flagship producer of ...
on September 17, 2021. The film was met with mixed reviews from critics and also underperformed at the box office.
Plot
Michael "Mike" Milo is a divorced alcoholic and experienced
rodeo
Rodeo () is a competitive equestrian sport that arose out of the working practices of cattle herding in Spain and Mexico, expanding throughout the Americas and to other nations. It was originally based on the skills required of the working va ...
star in
Galveston, Texas
Galveston ( ) is a coastal resort city and port off the Southeast Texas coast on Galveston Island and Pelican Island in the U.S. state of Texas. The community of , with a population of 47,743 in 2010, is the county seat of surrounding Galvesto ...
. Suffering from
tennis elbow
Tennis elbow, also known as lateral epicondylitis or enthesopathy of the extensor carpi radialis origin, is a condition in which the outer part of the elbow becomes painful and tender. The pain may also extend into the back of the forearm. Onse ...
and severe headaches, Mike arrives late to the rodeo stadium he works at, run by Howard Polk. Participating in an event where he attempts to "ride out" a horse, Mike is trampled and hospitalized with a broken leg.
At the hospital, Mike reflects on losing his parents at the age of five, dropping out of college after his grandparents died in a house fire, working alongside his first employer who once tasked him with
putting down a dozen horses, and his eventual path into becoming a rodeo cowboy.
A few weeks later, Mike is discharged from the hospital with a weak leg. Upon returning to the stadium, Mike is surprised to find out that he has been laid off. The next day, Mike finds out that his ex-wife Donna has remarried. Saddened by the news, Mike sells most of his awards and prized possessions at a local bar.
Following his divorce five years ago, Howard lost custody of his only son, Rafael "Rafo" Polk, who was then sent to Mexico to live with his mother. Howard meets with Mike and attempts to persuade him into kidnapping Rafo and transporting him back to Texas, promising $50,000 through
ransom money from Rafo's mother. Initially rejecting the offer, Mike remembers the time he unsuccessfully defended a prostitute named Cissy Brewer from Ewell Macmillian, the former owner and co-founder of the rodeo stadium, who forced a horse onto Cissy. Ewell was given a
suspended sentence, and he was replaced by Howard shortly after. Cissy, who had been traumatized by the event, became homeless and mentally ill. In the present, Mike decides to help Howard retrieve his son.
After being given a
Chevrolet Suburban
The Chevrolet Suburban is a series of automobiles built by the Chevrolet division of General Motors. The name started in 1934 for the 1935 U.S. model year, making it the longest continuously used automobile nameplate in production. It has tra ...
, Mike drives down the
Pan-American Highway
The Pan-American Highway (french: (Auto)route panaméricaine/transaméricaine; pt, Rodovia/Auto-estrada Pan-americana; es, Autopista/Carretera/Ruta Panamericana) is a network of roads stretching across the Americas and measuring about in to ...
and arrives in
Mexico City
Mexico City ( es, link=no, Ciudad de México, ; abbr.: CDMX; Nahuatl: ''Altepetl Mexico'') is the capital and largest city of Mexico, and the most populous city in North America. One of the world's alpha cities, it is located in the Valley o ...
, where he finds Rafo living in a large house with his mother, Alexandra "Lexa" Muños de Santis Polk, in the
Lomas de Chapultepec
Lomas de Chapultepec ( en, "Chapultepec Hills") is a '' colonia'', or officially recognized neighborhood, located in the Miguel Hidalgo borough of Mexico City. It dates back to the 1920s, when it was founded with the name Chapultepec Heights. Home ...
. At midnight, while sneaking into the home, Mike becomes dizzy and suffers a fall that knocks him unconscious. Upon regaining consciousness, Mike finds himself being tended to by Lexa, who is aware of his intentions. Lexa reveals to Mike that Rafo does not live with her, and instead lives as a gambling thief out in the streets. Mike then departs from the home and begins his search for Rafo.
A few days later, Mike finds Rafo participating in a
cockfight
A cockfight is a blood sport, held in a ring called a cockpit. The history of raising fowl for fighting goes back 6,000 years. The first documented use of the ''word'' gamecock, denoting use of the cock as to a "game", a sport, pastime or ente ...
in
Tepito
Tepito is a barrio located in Colonia Morelos in the Cuauhtémoc borough of Mexico City bordered by Avenida del Trabajo, Paseo de la Reforma, Eje 1 and Eje 2. Most of the neighborhood is taken up by the colorful tianguis, a traditional open-air ...
. Before he can talk to him, the event is interrupted by a
police raid
A police raid is an unexpected visit by police or other law-enforcement officers with the aim of using the element of surprise in order to seize evidence or arrest suspects believed to be likely to hide evidence, resist arrest, be politicall ...
and Rafo runs away. Shortly after, Mike finds Rafo's white rooster, Macho, which he uses to bait Rafo into talking with him at a cafe. Once there, Rafo agrees to travel to Texas to reunite with his father Howard. The next day, following a short altercation, the pair begin their journey to
the southern border, where they plan
to pass illegally.
In
San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí (), officially the Free and Sovereign State of San Luis Potosí ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de San Luis Potosí), is one of the 32 states which compose the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 58 municipalities and i ...
, Mike has his panel truck, money, and Macho stolen by a group of thieves. Using a public bus as transportation, the pair arrive in Janasco, where Mike finds and recovers his stolen truck and Macho. The next day, the pair meet and befriend Marta, a poor widow with whom Mike becomes
intimate
Intimate may refer to:
* Intimate examination, a physical examination for medical purposes that includes examination of the breasts, genitalia, or rectum of a patient
* Intimate ion pair, the interactions between a cation, anion and surrounding sol ...
. After Marta suffers severe burns due to the burning of her
jacal
The jacal (həˈkɑːl; Mexican Spanish from Nahuatl ''xacalli'' contraction of ''xamitl calli''; literally "hut") is an adobe-style housing structure historically found throughout parts of the Southwestern United States and Mexico. This type o ...
, Mike and Rafo depart from Janasco.
Driving towards the border, the pair stop after noticing a patrol car following them. As they wait, a vulture snatches and flies away with Macho, to Rafo's dismay. That night, the pair are confronted by two officers from the
national patrol, who search the car and interrogate Rafo about his intentions of traveling to the
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. After Rafo lies about his plan to meet his father at the border, the officers follow the pair to a motel, with the intent of hearing the confirmation of the statement through a phone call.
At the motel, Howard refuses to admit his involvement with Mike, resulting in the arrests of both Mike and Rafo, for
kidnapping
In criminal law, kidnapping is the unlawful confinement of a person against their will, often including transportation/asportation. The asportation and abduction element is typically but not necessarily conducted by means of force or fear: the p ...
and
petty theft
Theft is the act of taking another person's property or services without that person's permission or consent with the intent to deprive the rightful owner of it. The word ''theft'' is also used as a synonym or informal shorthand term for some ...
, respectively. Allowed to stay at the motel until dawn, Rafo learns that his father wanted to be with him simply to battle Lexa in court for her money. In the morning, the pair go their separate ways, with Mike continuing his journey to Texas, while Rafo returns to Janasco. To ensure Rafo's safety, Mike has the officers pursue him to Texas. Realizing Mike has crossed the border into the US, the officers decide to dismiss the case to avoid punishment for their failures.
Despite suffering a
gunshot wound
A gunshot wound (GSW) is a penetrating injury caused by a projectile (e.g. a bullet) from a gun (typically firearm or air gun). Damages may include bleeding, bone fractures, organ damage, wound infection, loss of the ability to move part of th ...
to his shoulder during the chase, Mike decides to return to Mexico in the hopes of reuniting with Rafo.
Major themes
The ''
Southwest Review
The ''Southwest Review'' is a literary journal published quarterly, based on the Southern Methodist University campus in Dallas, Texas. It is the third oldest literary quarterly in the United States. The current editor-in-chief is Greg Browndervi ...
''s Arthur Ramirez said the novel had various similarities to Nash's 1954 play ''
The Rainmaker'', among them "a dusty setting and spiritually and emotionally drained characters." Ramirez concluded that the major theme of the novel was the acceptance of loss, with Mike having to face his "fear, anxiety, and an
inferiority complex" while in Mexico.
Background
Originally written as a screenplay under the title ''Macho'', N. Richard Nash adapted the story into a novel after failing to sell the screenplay.
On June 11, 1975, ''Cry Macho'' was published in the United States by the
Delacorte Press
Dell Publishing Company, Inc. is an American publisher of books, magazines and comic books, that was founded in 1921 by George T. Delacorte Jr. with $10,000 (approx. $145,000 in 2021), two employees and one magazine title, ''I Confess'', and ...
, a publishing company in
New York.
In 1978, Nash specified to ''
The Boston Globe
''The Boston Globe'' is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes, and has a total circulation of close to 300,000 print and digital subscribers. ''The Boston Glob ...
'' that it was actually
20th Century Fox
20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...
who had rejected the original screenplay twice, before accepting it when he "only changed four pages."
Reception
Following its release, ''Cry Macho'' received mixed reviews from critics. Writing for the ''
Kirkus Reviews
''Kirkus Reviews'' (or ''Kirkus Media'') is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus (1893–1980). The magazine is headquartered in New York City. ''Kirkus Reviews'' confers the annual Kirkus Prize to authors of fic ...
'' magazine, an anonymous writer summarized the novel as "straight storytelling, perhaps a bit sentimental." Comparing the novel to
C. W. Smith's ''Country Music'', Henry L. Alsmeyer Jr. wrote: "''Cry Macho'' is more interesting, and, indeed, some fun," noting that there was "both story and character development." Furthermore, from the ''
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The ''St. Louis Post-Dispatch'' is a major regional newspaper based in St. Louis, Missouri, serving the St. Louis metropolitan area. It is the largest daily newspaper in the metropolitan area by circulation, surpassing the ''Belleville News-De ...
'', Dennis Brown wrote that the story was "neither so profound nor so compelling as its book jacket would suggest. But, once south of the border, the novel offers a consistently arresting adventure story."
Jonathan Rosenbaum
Jonathan Rosenbaum (born February 27, 1943) is an American film critic and author. Rosenbaum was the head film critic for ''The Chicago Reader'' from 1987 to 2008, when he retired. He has published and edited numerous books about cinema and has ...
submitted the film to the
Sight & Sound
''Sight and Sound'' (also spelled ''Sight & Sound'') is a British monthly film magazine published by the British Film Institute (BFI). It conducts the well-known, once-a-decade ''Sight and Sound'' Poll of the Greatest Films of All Time, ongoing ...
Poll as one of his "Ten Best Films of 2021".
Writing for the ''
El Paso Herald-Post'', Elory Bode said that ''Cry Macho'' was "a good novel by a writer who has a solid grasp of his craft." A journalist from ''
The Northwest Arkansas Times
''Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette'' () is a daily newspaper in Fayetteville, Arkansas owned by Northwest Arkansas Newspapers and has circulation of 17,807 copies.
History
''Northwest Arkansas Times'' was formerly owned by the Thomson Corpor ...
'' and Pattie Lambert from the ''
Rocky Mount Telegram
The ''Rocky Mount Telegram'' is an American, English language daily newspaper based in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
History
Adams Publishing Group, a family-owned company led by CEO, Mark Adams, bought the ''Telegram'' in 2018 from Cooke Communica ...
'' both described the novel as being able to combine "strong action with strong compassion". Additionally, C.L.L from the ''
South Bend Tribune
The ''South Bend Tribune'' is a daily newspaper and news website which is based in South Bend, Indiana. It is distributed in South Bend, Mishawaka, north central Indiana, and southwestern Michigan. It has been named as a "Blue Ribbon Newspaper" ...
'' wrote that "It seems likely that ''Cry Macho'' eventually will show up as an action motion picture with better-than-average plot and characterization."
Adaptation attempts
In 1988,
Clint Eastwood
Clinton Eastwood Jr. (born May 31, 1930) is an American actor and film director. After achieving success in the Western TV series '' Rawhide'', he rose to international fame with his role as the "Man with No Name" in Sergio Leone's "''Doll ...
was offered the opportunity to star in an adaptation of the novel but instead opted out to reprise as
Dirty Harry
''Dirty Harry'' is a 1971 American neo-noir action thriller film produced and directed by Don Siegel, the first in the ''Dirty Harry'' series. Clint Eastwood plays the title role, in his first outing as San Francisco Police Department (SFP ...
in ''
The Dead Pool
''The Dead Pool'' is a 1988 American neo-noir vigilante action thriller film directed by Buddy Van Horn, written by Steve Sharon, and starring Clint Eastwood as Inspector "Dirty" Harry Callahan. It is the fifth and final film in the ''Dirty ...
''. Following a failed attempt by
Roy Scheider
Roy Richard Scheider (; November 10, 1932 – February 10, 2008) was an American actor and amateur boxer. Described by AllMovie as "one of the most unique and distinguished of all Hollywood actors", he gained fame for his leading and supporting ...
in 1991, ''
Vulture
A vulture is a bird of prey that scavenges on carrion. There are 23 extant species of vulture (including Condors). Old World vultures include 16 living species native to Europe, Africa, and Asia; New World vultures are restricted to North and ...
'' reported in 2011 that
Brad Furman
Brad Furman is an American film and music video director, producer, and writer.
Career
Furman grew up in Lafayette Hill, Pennsylvania, attended Friends' Central School, and went on to study at New York University (NYU) where he earned a BFA in ...
had been set to direct a ''Cry Macho'' adaptation produced by
Al Ruddy. The film, which had been announced at the
2011 Cannes Film Festival
The 64th Cannes Film Festival was held from 11 to 22 May 2011. American actor Robert De Niro served as the president of the jury for the main competition and French filmmaker Michel Gondry headed the jury for the short film competition. South Ko ...
and had cast
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger (born July 30, 1947) is an Austrian and American actor, film producer, businessman, retired professional bodybuilder and politician who served as the 38th governor of California between 2003 and 2011. ''Time'' ...
in the lead role, was cancelled shortly after Schwarzenegger's divorce with
Maria Shriver
Maria Owings Shriver (born November 6, 1955)
is an American journalist, author, a member of the Kennedy family, former First Lady of California, and the founder of the nonprofit organization The Women's Alzheimer's Movement. She was married to ...
. Nine years later, in 2020, it was announced that Eastwood would direct, produce, and star in an adaptation of the novel for
Warner Bros. Pictures
Warner Bros. Pictures is an American film production and distribution company of the Warner Bros. Pictures Group division of Warner Bros. Entertainment (both ultimately owned by Warner Bros. Discovery). The studio is the flagship producer of ...
and
HBO Max
HBO Max is an American subscription video on-demand over-the-top streaming service owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. Launched in the United States on May 27, 2020, the service is built around the libraries of HBO, Warner Bros., Cartoon Netw ...
. On October 27, 2020, it was reported that the film would be shot in
New Mexico
)
, population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano)
, seat = Santa Fe
, LargestCity = Albuquerque
, LargestMetro = Tiguex
, OfficialLang = None
, Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ker ...
, with production taking place for two months starting that November. Additional cast members include
Dwight Yoakam
Dwight David Yoakam (born October 23, 1956) is an American singer-songwriter, actor, and film director. He first achieved mainstream attention in 1986 with the release of his debut album ''Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.''. Yoakam had considerabl ...
as Howard Polk, Eduardo Minett as Rafo, Natalia Traven as Marta,
Fernanda Urrejola
Fernanda Loreto Urrejola Arroyo (born September 24, 1981) is a Chilean television, theatre and film actress.
The daughter of Francisco Urrejola and Francisca Arroyo, she has three sisters, Alejandra, Francisca and Isidora. She studied at the K ...
as Leta (Rafo's mother), and Horacio Garcia Rojas as Aurelio.
Clint Eastwood's ''Cry Macho'' was theatrically released by Warner Bros. Pictures on September 17, 2021.
References
{{Reflist
External links
''Cry Macho''on
Google Books
Google Books (previously known as Google Book Search, Google Print, and by its code-name Project Ocean) is a service from Google Inc. that searches the full text of books and magazines that Google has scanned, converted to text using optical c ...
''Cry Macho''at the
Open Library
Open Library is an online project intended to create "one web page for every book ever published". Created by Aaron Swartz, Brewster Kahle, Alexis Rossi, Anand Chitipothu, and Rebecca Malamud, Open Library is a project of the Internet Archive, ...
''Cry Macho''at the
Internet Archive
The Internet Archive is an American digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It provides free public access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, software applications/games, music, ...
1975 American novels
Novels set in the 20th century
American mystery novels
Novels set in Texas
Novels set in Mexico City
Novels about child abduction
Novels about horses
American adventure novels adapted into films
Delacorte Press books