The Missouri Breaks (1976)
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83% of critics liked it
(18 reviews) -
58% of users liked it
(3,697 ratings)
A rancher, a rustler, and a regulator face off in Arthur Penn's eccentric western. As a cover for their horse thievery, a gang of Montana rustlers, led by the laid-back Tom Logan (Jack Nicholson), buys a small farm adjacent to the ranch of their latest target/nemesis, Braxton (John McLiam). When… More A rancher, a rustler, and a regulator face off in Arthur Penn's eccentric western. As a cover for their horse thievery, a gang of Montana rustlers, led by the laid-back Tom Logan (Jack Nicholson), buys a small farm adjacent to the ranch of their latest target/nemesis, Braxton (John McLiam). When the gang leaves Tom on the farm and heads to Canada for another score, Tom takes a shine both to farming and Braxton's rebellious, strong-willed daughter, Jane (Kathleen Lloyd). The slightly loco Braxton, however, hires the psychopathic regulator Lee Clayton (Marlon Brando) to root out the rustlers. With a series of unorthodox methods (and costumes), Clayton hunts down Logan and his gang one by one, even after Braxton fires him, but Logan isn't about to let Clayton (or Braxton) make him obsolete. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi
- Directed By
- Arthur Penn
- Written By
- Thomas McGuane
- Genres
- Western, Drama, Action & Adventure
- In Theaters
- May 19, 1976 Wide
- Studio
- MGM
Critic Reviews
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Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice
A Western-as-capitalist-critique piece shanghaied by Marlon Brando's eccentric bounty hunter trying on brogues, mumus, and buckskin Nudie suits.
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, Variety
As a film achievement it's corned beef and ham hash.
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Derek Adams, Time Out
One of the few truly major Westerns of the '70s, with a very clear vision of the historical role played by fear and violence in the taming of the wilderness.
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Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Enjoyable, if forgettable, New Hollywood shtick.
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Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Interesting, even if not cohesive, Brando & Nicholson western.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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Marlon Brando
as Lee Clayton
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Jack Nicholson
as Tom Logan
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Kathleen Lloyd
as Jane Braxton
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Randy Quaid
as Little Tod
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Frederic Forrest
as Cary
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Harry Dean Stanton
as Calvin
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John McLiam
as David Braxton
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John P. Ryan
as Si
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Sam Gilman
as Hank
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Steve Franken
as Lonesome Kid
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Richard Bradford
as Pete Marker
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James Greene
as Hellsgate Rancher
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Luana Anders
as Rancher's Wife
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Danny Goldman
as Baggage Clerk
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Hunter von Leer
as Sandy
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Darrell Zwerling
as Nelson
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Dan Ades
as John Quinn
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R.L. Armstrong
as Bob
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Virgil Frye
as Woody
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Dorothy Neumann
as Madame
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Charles Wagenheim
as Freighter