The Honkers

This is one of those movies that was never publicized and therefore was missed when it originally played in the theaters.

I came across it while switching TV channels and was immediately engrossed in this story of an aging rodeo bum whose recklessness and lack of responsibility hurt everyone around him. I've often wanted to see the movie again but couldn't even remember its name, and have never seen it in the rental stores.

James Coburn and Slim Pickens were excellent in their roles, and the rodeo footage was first rate. While being an action movie and having a western setting and theme it could be enjoyed by anyone regardless of their taste in films.

1971's 'The Honkers' is a stablemate to other rodeo-themed modern westerns from '71-72: 'Pocket Money', 'Junior Bonner' and 'JW. Coop'. Lanky, silver-haired toothy actor, James Coburn plays an ageing rodeo rider making a hardscrabble living in Arizona and at the same time having fun with women, bars, clubs and booze. Coburn had incredible rhythm- '..that least neurotic of Hollywood leading men', wrote David Thomson while Andy Garcia described him as the -'epitome of class'. The film records the early-'70s well - those were pioneering years and has a tragi-comic and playful feel as it shows American individualism.

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.

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 Honkers" is probably Slim Pickens best performance of all time. When we were shooting, everyone connected with the production figured that Slim was Academy Award material. Unfortunately, United Artists had a James Bond picture in release at the same time and did not devote much attention to "The Honkers". I personally feel this film was under-rated by most critics. Sam Peckinpaw's "Junior Bonner" was out at the same time and seemed to impress the critics more than our film. Also, Cliff Robertson had a rodeo film out a few months before our release and that might have hurt us, too. The picture is worth watching, if just for the rodeo footage--some of the best ever filmed--shot by James Crabbe. The director and my co-writer, Steve Ianat, died a few weeks after the picture's release, cutting short a promising career and leaving behind his lovely wife Sally, his daughter, Gaby, and newborn son, Stefan. Please give this movie a shot. I'm betting that you'll say it was well worth while. I thank anyone who has taken the time to read this. Stephen Lodge