John Wayne is a rancher who needs to get his cattle to market. However, in the surrounding towns, there is a bad case of "gold fever" and no one wants to help out with the roundup. In fact, Wayne rides high and low for ranch hands only to come up with nothing. In desperation, he even considers recruiting a few teens from the local school. However, they are all a young and very sorry lot and the Duke gives up the search. However, the next day, a group of these boys are at his ranch looking for work--even though their average age is only about 11. In addition to these recruits are a hot-headed Mexican as well as a few ex-cons (led by Bruce Dern) who are also let go because they are more trouble than they're worth. So, it's Wayne playin' wet nurse to a gaggle of boys who don't have much experience in a man's world--certainly an unusual idea to say the least!
Naturally, the film is about the boys' ups and downs during this seemingly impossible drive as well as their progression to manhood. However, towards the end, there is a dandy plot twist and the boys manage to do so much more than would ever be expected of them. As a result, the film manages to take a very simple idea and make it work--though some might be appalled at the film's ultimate message about guns and death and all that (though I sure thought it was pretty cool).
Overall, it's a good later John Wayne flick, thanks to some excellent supporting performances by Roscoe Lee Browne and Bruce Dern---as well as the kids. Look for a young Robert Carradine as one of the boys here in his debut film.
Naturally, the film is about the boys' ups and downs during this seemingly impossible drive as well as their progression to manhood. However, towards the end, there is a dandy plot twist and the boys manage to do so much more than would ever be expected of them. As a result, the film manages to take a very simple idea and make it work--though some might be appalled at the film's ultimate message about guns and death and all that (though I sure thought it was pretty cool).
Overall, it's a good later John Wayne flick, thanks to some excellent supporting performances by Roscoe Lee Browne and Bruce Dern---as well as the kids. Look for a young Robert Carradine as one of the boys here in his debut film.