Bronco Billy (1980)

80% of critics liked it
(15 reviews)
37% of users liked it
(6,953 ratings)

Bronco Billy stars Clint Eastwood (who also directed) as the impresario of a seedy wild west show. Going along for the ride is spoiled socialite Sondra Locke, who is "initiated" by being pressed into service as the wrong end of a knife-throwing act. The rest of the troupe, like Eastwood himself, are… More Bronco Billy stars Clint Eastwood (who also directed) as the impresario of a seedy wild west show. Going along for the ride is spoiled socialite Sondra Locke, who is "initiated" by being pressed into service as the wrong end of a knife-throwing act. The rest of the troupe, like Eastwood himself, are losers in life who yearn for the freedom and opportunity of the long-gone Old West. Despite its raucous ad campaign, Bronco Billy is at base a wistful character study, avoiding the usual trappings of car chases and redneck villains and offering quiet chuckles instead of belly laughs. Unfortunately it failed to click with the public, compelling Eastwood to temporarily return to his old crash-bang-pow formula in his next few films. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: PG, 1 hr. 56 min.
Directed By: Clint Eastwood
Genres: Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1980 Wide
On DVD: Aug 8, 2000
Studio: Warner Bros. Pictures

Critic Reviews

Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
One of Clint Eastwood's most enjoyable films.
Nick Schager, Lessons of Darkness
An affectionate ode to the fading myth of the American West.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Entertaining Eastwood, unusual subject matter.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
Bronco Billy depicts a genuine screen hero who incarnates the place that cowboys occupy in our slow moving dreams.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
This movie clearly means a whole lot to Clint Eastwood, and he does a darn good job of showing why.
John J. Puccio, Movie Metropolis
The movie comes perilously close to the ridiculous at times but never oversteps its bounds.
Ed Gonzalez, Apollo Guide
Eastwood, much like Burt Reynolds' character in Boogie Nights, welcomes everyone into an unconventional but strangely warm environment.

Read all 7 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

danny d

a modern tale with a western feel, bronco billy tells an incredibly unique story with solid direction and a perfect blend of humor and drama. i REALLY want to know how billy got his rangler out of jail, but its obvious that eastwood left that one question unanswered to build on the… More
a modern tale with a western feel, bronco billy tells an incredibly unique story with solid direction and a perfect blend of humor and drama. i REALLY want to know how billy got his rangler out of jail, but its obvious that eastwood left that one question unanswered to build on the effectiveness of billy's character. overall a solid film.
xGary X

Clint Eastwood as an anachronistic cowboy in a modern day western that typically pines for the days when men were men etc. etc. Clint's likeable enough, Sondra Locke isn't.
Dean M

Good-natured and likeable, funny and touching of the Bronco Billy Wild West Show.
Christopher O

Eastwood made a nice little comic gem which was fairly family friendly and he looked like he was enjoying every moment of being in it. He plays a aging cowboy struggling to keep his travelling wild west show a float. He has a loyal staff full of characters but the bills are not… More
Eastwood made a nice little comic gem which was fairly family friendly and he looked like he was enjoying every moment of being in it. He plays a aging cowboy struggling to keep his travelling wild west show a float. He has a loyal staff full of characters but the bills are not getting paid. He gets stuck with a spoiled heiress and may even find love. It is a true tribute to the nostalgia of the wild west.

Cast

            Clint Eastwood as Bronco Billy

            Sondra Locke as Antoinette Lily

            Geoffrey Lewis as John Arlington

            Scatman Crothers as Doc Lynch

            Bill McKinney as Lefty LeBow

            Samuel Bottoms as Leonard James

            Dan Vadis as Chief Big Eagle

            Sierra Pecheur as Lorraine Running Water

            Walter Barnes as Sheriff Dix

            Woodrow Parfrey as Dr. Canterbury

            Beverlee McKinsey as Irene Lily

            William Prince as Edgar Lipton

            Tessa Richarde as Mitzi Fritz

            Tanya Russell as Doris Duke

            Pam Abbas as Mother Superior

            Edye Byrde as Eloise Maid

            Douglas Copsey as Reporter at Bank

            John Wesley Elliott Jr. as Sanatorium Attendant

            Chuck Hicks as Cowboy

            Bobby Hoy as Cowboy

            Doug McGrath as Lt. Wiecker

            Lloyd Nelson as Sanatorium Policeman

            Michael Reinhold as King

            Valerie Shanks as Sister Maria

            Sharon Sherlock as License Clerk

            James Simmerhan as Bank Manager

            Jenny Sternling as Reporter at Sanitorium

            Chuck Waters as Bank Robber

            Jerry Wills as Bank Robber

            Hank Worden as Gas Station Operator

            George Orrison
            
            Sam Bottoms
            
See full cast