JUNIOR BONNER, the story of an aging, dysfunctional, lonesome, past his prime rodeo pro who returns to his hometown. All he really wants is to stay on a bucking Brahma for 8 seconds. The character was a perfect fit for superstar Steve McQueen and for controversial director Sam Peckinpah. Sam wanted to show his versatility and McQueen wanted a soul searching character part. It’s a story that both wanted to make. Based on an article and script by Jeb Rosebrook, the story of how the film got made is recalled by Jeb’s writer son, Stuart, with producer Rob Word. Jeb happens to be the editor of “True West” magazine and the co-author (with his late father) of the book “JUNIOR BONNER The Making of a Classic.”
JUNIOR BONNER (1972) starring Steve McQueen and directed by Sam Peckinpah was not what audiences were expecting. The volatile Peckinpah had already smashed the traditional boundaries of western movies with his classic THE WILD BUNCH and was wrapping up another violent saga of rage, rape and frustration, STRAW DOGS. McQueen, star of BULLITT, THE GREAT ESCAPE and THE SAND PEBBLES, known for driving fast cars and hot bikes, was the number one box office star in the world. What sort of wild film would these two budding legends of mayhem concoct together? Not what you would think.
JUNIOR BONNER was an atypical film for McQueen and Peckinpah. It’s not R rated, nor loaded with action and violence. It’s a lyrical film blessed with a wonderful cast that included Robert Preston, Ida Lupino, Ben Johnson, Joe Don Baker, Dub Taylor and was all shot on location in Prescott, Arizona, some of it during the actual 4th of July parade for the town’s annual rodeo weekend.
Find out how the film came together, how it was met by McQueen and Peckinpah fans in the theaters, and how it has become a classic of the genre.
Stuart who grew up in Los Angeles hanging out with the likes of Ben Johnson and Casey Tibbs. He now lives in Prescott, joined Rob Word in Rapid City, South Dakota, during the Western Writers of American gathering and awards ceremonies, June 24, 2023, to talk about his Father, the making of JUNIOR BONNER and how came to be regarded with such acclaim.
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Негізгі бет Steve McQueen, Ben Johnson, Casey Tibbs! The Making of Sam Peckinpah’s JUNIOR BONNER
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