''J. W. Coop'' is a 1972 American Western film set in the world of the modern American rodeo circuit. It stars and was directed by Cliff Robertson who also co-produced and co-scripted the film. Featuring footage from actual rodeo events, it was made with the cooperation of the Rodeo Cowboys Association (which became the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association in 1975).

Plot

J.W. Coop is an ex-convict making up for lost time. His dream is to be the best

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 ...

cowboy A cowboy is an animal herder who tends cattle on ranches in North America, traditionally on horseback, and often performs a multitude of other ranch-related tasks. The historic American cowboy of the late 19th century arose from the '' vaquer ...

, and the film follows his competitions on the circuit. He drives a converted ambulance and sleeps outdoors. Along the way, he meets a

hippie A hippie, also spelled hippy, especially in British English, is someone associated with the counterculture of the 1960s, originally a youth movement that began in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to different countries around ...

girl named Bean, who joins him on the rodeo circuit. As Coop's winnings grow, he and Bean are able to start sleeping in hotels, and Coop starts dreaming about settling down on a ranch. Bean is too independent to share his domestic dreams, but she loves sharing in Coop's journey. At the national competition, Coop places second and breaks his leg. To Coop, second place is as good as last. The film ends with him riding a particularly vicious bull with his leg still in a cast. Coop stays on for the full 8 seconds, but his hand remains caught in the rope, preventing him from dismounting. The bull tosses him around and gores him. The film ends with Coop bleeding heavily on the side of the arena.

Cast

* Cliff Robertson as J.W. Coop *

Geraldine Page Geraldine Sue Page (November 22, 1924June 13, 1987) was an American actress. With a career which spanned four decades across film, stage, and television, Page was the recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a British Acade ...

as Mama * Cristina Ferrare as Bean *

R. G. Armstrong Robert Golden Armstrong Jr. (April 7, 1917 – July 27, 2012) was an American character actor and playwright. A veteran performer who appeared in dozens of Westerns during his 40-year career, he may be best remembered for his work with director ...

as Jim Sawyer * R. L. Armstrong as Tooter Watson * John Crawford as Rancher *

Wade Crosby Wade Crosby (August 22, 1905 – October 2, 1975) was an actor in American films. He was also part of radio programs. He was in several Republic Pictures films. Filmography * ''Ride a Crooked Mile'' (1938) as George Rotz * ''Wagon Train (f ...

as Billy Sol Gibbs * Marjorie Durant Dye as Big Marge * Paul Harper as Warden Morgan * Son Hooker as Motorcycle Cop * Richard Kennedy as Sheriff * Bruce Kirby as Diesel Tanker Driver * Larry Mahan as Himself * Lowell D. Smith as Flankman (Golden State Rodeo Co.)

Critical reception

Stanley Kauffmann of The New Republic described ''J. W. Coop'' as "poor." Writing in the New York Times, Vincent Canby found the film to be "very fine, almost elegiac."

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:J. W. Coop 1972 films 1972 Western (genre) films American Western (genre) films Films directed by Cliff Robertson Rodeo in film Columbia Pictures films 1970s English-language films 1970s American films