Junior Bonner

Summary

Introduction by scholar Garner Simmons, author of Peckinpah: A Portrait in Montage – The Definitive Edition: 50 Years After “The Wild Bunch” from the Writer Who Knew Him Best:

Following the completion of principal photography on Straw Dogs, Sam Peckinpah had intended to remain in England in order to take advantage of certain UK tax breaks before returning to the U.S.  However, when producer Joe Wizan sent him a screenplay by Jeb Rosebrook called Junior Bonner, Peckinpah was so taken with the story that he abruptly changed his mind. Set against the backdrop of the annual 4^th of July rodeo in Prescott, AZ, the script reminded him of his own youth growing up in the San Joaquin Valley along with its themes of loyalty, commitment, and family.  To make it, however, Peckinpah would have to return to America immediately in order to capture on film the actual Prescott Rodeo Days, which occurs only once a year.  With Steve McQueen already cast as Junior, a one-time champion bull rider nearing the end of his career, Peckinpah surrounded him with an impressive cast including Robert Preston as his former rodeo star father, Ida Lupino as Junior’s mother and Joe Don Baker as his younger brother Curly, now a real estate  developer looking to cash in on the family name.  To round out the cast, he added Ben Johnson as the owner of the rodeo and six-time world champion rodeo rider Casey Tibbs to coordinate the many stunts.  If Wild Bunch defined Peckinpah’s unique abilities as an action director, Junior Bonner shows a sensitivity towards the ironies of the human condition that touch us all.  A complex weave of emotional entanglements, Junior Bonner is the film that demonstrates Peckinpah’s incredible range while proving his critics wrong.  

Review

“You just might as well face it – you’re just not the rider you was a few years back.”

In 1972, Sam Peckinpah was at the helm as director for two films starring Steve McQueen. One was The Getaway, which paired McQueen with Ali McGraw, and the other picture was a family drama on a small scale called Junior Bonner. The Getaway was a success at the box office and the film eventually even spawned a remake starring Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin. Unfortunately, Junior Bonner was largely dismissed at the time by critics and did middling numbers at the box office. The film was ironically not given a chance because it showed a much softer tone from the “master of violence” Sam Peckinpah. This is after Peckinpah had received backlash on the violent content in his films The Wild Bunch and Straw Dogs. Having seen both The Getaway and Junior Bonner, I undoubtedly prefer Junior Bonner out of the two films. It’s honestly a low-key masterpiece that I feel is ripe for rediscovery. The film is touching in a way that feels very honest. Kino Lorber have presented the film in a well-produced Blu-ray that features some excellent supplemental materials.

Steve McQueen plays professional rodeo rider Junior Bonner. Bonner drives his Cadillac from town to town dragging his trailer behind him with his horse. Junior is essentially broke, despite having been a top talent a few years before. Junior arrives in his hometown of Prescott, Arizona for the rodeo competition that is in town and all the festivities that surround it. He decides to stop in to see his old man Ace Bonner (Robert Preston,) but there is no sign of him at his house and the house sits empty. Junior arrives just in time to see the house bulldozed. His dad sits in a hospital bed talking to Junior’s brother Curly (Joe Don Baker.) Ace is always involved in schemes to make money and always looking for a partner to financially back him. Curly rejects his offer out of hand. Near the rodeo grounds, Junior has a discussion with rodeo owner Buck (Ben Johnson.) He wants to have Buck allow him to ride a brahma bull. Buck is against this, thinking that Junior’s time has passed, but Junior is willing to do the ride for a chance at half the prize money. Junior goes to visit his mother (Ida Lupino.) She is estranged from Ace and let’s Junior know that Ace has sold all of his land for $15,000 to Curly and then promptly lost it all trying to find silver and gambling. Curly has become a prominent business man through his ownership of the Bonner Trading Post and his real estate holdings that are largely in mobile homes. Junior reaches out to his brother Curly and finds him at the Reata Rancheros where Curly’s theatricality helps draw in folks to live in his mobile homes. Over the weekend, Junior will reconnect with his family. There will be arguments and disappointments along the way, but Junior will also get to spend time with his father and compete in the rodeo with hopes of holding on for eight seconds.

I was really struck by Junior Bonner. Written by Jeb Rosebrook, the film has a real air of authenticity that can’t be faked. Rosebrook grew up in Prescott and understands that city and its relationship to rodeo riding. The film is a really gentle look at characters that have complicated relationships with one another but also deep affection towards each other. I really like the way that the characters interact with one another because none of their actions in the film at any point feel forced. There is not a moment in the film where I felt like these characters had not lived a life that stretched out well before the story picked up. They all feel alive and every character looks worn in like a comfortable pair of jeans. I’m a Southerner and people tend to write characters in the South with an eye towards looking down on them intellectually or with a lack of understanding as to why people would enjoy hard work. Junior Bonner never looks down on the family and instead celebrates their eccentricities.

Peckinpah draws amazing performances from every member of the cast. McQueen gives one of his most tender performances as the down on his luck rodeo champ. He rarely showed his vulnerable side like it is on display in this film. It’s one of his very best roles. Robert Preston is similarly well cast, and very believable as the lovable scamp of a father. Preston is damn good in the film and a great counterpart to McQueen. The scene at the train station with the two men is wonderful. Ida Lupino is very good as the mother of the group, even though her casting would not have probably been my first thought. It works. The casting of Ben Johnson as Buck makes great sense considering Ben’s background in rodeo and long working relationship with Peckinpah. Joe Don Baker rounds out the cast well as Curly.

The film features cinematography by Lucien Ballard and to my eyes the film has a really great look. Ballard brings the very best out of the town of Prescott and makes the film come to life with some really pretty blue skies. You can’t help but feel like you have traveled out West after watching the film. Jerry Fielding provides the score and while it is not as iconic as his other work, it fits the film well. The score is paired with some songs by Rod Hart that also work to the film’s benefit in creating the ambience of the film.

At the end of the day, it is a shame that Junior Bonner was not better celebrated upon its release. The film is certainly a minor masterpiece of realistic family drama that never veers into caricature. It stands as one of the better films depicting the South West. This film was such a pleasant surprise and deserves to be seen by more folks.

Video

This transfer of Junior Bonner in 1080p with an aspect ratio of 2.35:1 looked fantastic to me. The picture has a great filmic look and Lucien Ballard’s cinematography shines as it brings to life the American West of the Seventies. The blue skies pop and the rodeo town of Prescott looks great. Fans of the film will be very happy to see the way this film looks.

Audio

Junior Bonner features a DTS-HD MA 2.0 track that sounds great. Dialogue is clear and the score by Jerry Fielding gets a nice boost from the track. While the score on this film is not as iconic as some of Fielding’s other collaborations with Peckinpah, fans should be pleased.

Supplements:

• Audio Commentary – scholars Nick Redman, Paul Seydor, Garner Simmons, and David Weddle discuss the film’s production and the numerous aspects of the film they enjoy. As expected given the pedigree of the participants, this is another fantastic track.
• “Passion & Poetry: Rodeo Time” – this fantastic archival documentary details thoroughly the process of making Junior Bonner. Interviews with Jeb Rosebrook, Katy Haber, Garner Simmons, L.Q. Jones, and Ali Macgraw are featured. This is a really great feature that tells competently the entire story of the production.
• “Passion & Poetry: Peckinpah Anecdotes” – Kris Kristofferson, L.Q. Jones, Ernest Borgnine, James Coburn, Ali McGraw, and Bo Hopkins all share memories of working and socializing with Peckinpah.
• “Junior Bonner Trivia”
• “Junior Bonner Remembered”
• Animated Image Gallery
• “Junior Bonner on the Set”
• “Junior Bonner Posters”
• U.S. Radio Spots
• U.S. T.V. Spot
• And a Theatrical Trailer

Overall Scores:

Video – 4.5/5

Audio – 4.5/5

Supplements – 4.5/5

Overall – 4.5/5

Junior Bonner is a surprisingly tender and very realistic family drama from director Sam Peckinpah. The film was largely ignored upon its release which is an absolute shame. I was caught off guard by how wonderful the film was. Steve McQueen and Robert Preston are absolutely perfect in the film. The film shows off a rarely seen vulnerable side of the brave and tough Steve McQueen. The script by Jeb Rosebrook is very well written and gives an accurate portrayal of the South West. Kino Lorber’s Blu-ray release features a great looking transfer and some fantastic supplements. This release comes highly recommended. I hope that more people discover this film in the future.