My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys (released in theaters on March 1, 1991) is a quiet, contemplative neo-Western that eschews the bombast of Hollywood blockbusters for a soulful exploration of aging, family, and the fading American frontier. Directed by Stuart Rosenberg, the film serves as a heartfelt tribute to the rodeo lifestyle and the rugged stoicism of the modern cowboy.
H.D. Dalton (Scott Glenn) is a legendary bull rider whose body is a roadmap of past victories and painful injuries.
After a devastating accident in the arena nearly kills him, H.D. decides to hang up his spurs and return to his Oklahoma roots.
He arrives home to find his family life in shambles: his aging father, Jesse (Ben Johnson), has been placed in a rundown nursing home by H.D.’s sister, Cheryl (Tess Harper), who is overwhelmed by the burden of care.
Determined to restore his father’s dignity, H.D. breaks Jesse out of the facility with the help of a spirited resident played by Mickey Rooney and moves him back to the family farm.
As he works to repair the dilapidated property, H.D. reconnects with his former flame, Jolie (Kate Capshaw) and her son (Balthazar Getty), finding a second chance at the domestic life he once abandoned for the circuit.
However, his return is complicated by his sister’s husband Clint (Gary Busey) and the mounting debts threatening the land.
Needing quick cash to save the farm and provide for Jesse, H.D. contemplates one final, dangerous ride.
Supported by old friends and locals played by Clarence Williams III and Dub Taylor, H.D. must decide if he can conquer his physical limitations and the shadows of his past to secure a future for those he loves.
My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys is a character-driven drama that finds beauty in the mundane and dignity in the struggle, anchored by a weathered, deeply felt performance by Glenn.
Scott Glenn and Kate Capshaw in My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys (Photo/The Samuel Goldwyn Company)
Reception for My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys grossed $1.4 million on its opening weekend, finishing 11th at the box office. The top films of the week were The Silence of the Lambs ($10.6 million), The Doors ($9.2 million) and Sleeping with the Enemy ($8.1 million).
The film would gross $3.6 million in its theatrical run.
Roger Ebert gave the film two out of four stars in his review.
Legacy
The legacy of My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys is its status as a sincere, unpretentious “sunset” Western that resonated deeply with rural American audiences.
It is remembered as one of the final significant roles for the legendary Johnson, whose presence lent the film an undeniable sense of Western authenticity and gravitas.
The film is celebrated for its realistic portrayal of the grueling physical toll of the rodeo circuit and its honest treatment of the difficulties surrounding elder care and family estrangement.
The movie is also noted for its evocative cinematography, which captures the vast, golden landscapes of Oklahoma with a sense of melancholic beauty.
