Junior Bonner

Junior Bonner is a male melodrama and contemporary western movie, focusing on the relationships between two brothers and their father. It is sometimes considered the warmest and most humanist of director Sam Peckinpah's films.

Story

The central character, 'Junior' (Steve McQueen) is rodeo rider, just 'over the hill' and returning home to Prescott, Arizona for the Independence Day parade and rodeo. He arrives to find the family home being bulldozed - by his younger brother Curly (Joe Don Baker), the entrepreneur and real estate developer, building 'ranch homes'. His father 'Ace' (Robert Preston) is estranged from Junior's mother (Ida Lupino). Ace wants to emigrate to Australia to rear sheep and attempts to borrow the airfare from Junior. The story explores Peckinpah's favourite theme - the end of the honour in the West and the arrival of modern capitalism. In a memorable scene, Ace and Junior escape from the parade on Junior's horse, ending up at the deserted railway station where they drink and despair at the state of the world.

Related Topics:
Steve McQueen - Prescott, Arizona - Independence Day - Joe Don Baker - Robert Preston - Ida Lupino - Australia - Capitalism

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