The Missouri Breaks (1976)

83% of critics liked it
(18 reviews)
59% of users liked it
(3,592 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 the… 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

Rating, Runtime: PG, 2 hr. 6 min.
Directed By: Arthur Penn
Written By: Thomas McGuane
Genres: Western, Drama, Action & Adventure

In Theaters: May 19, 1976 Wide
On DVD: Nov 8, 2005
Studio: MGM

Critic Reviews

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.
, Variety
As a film achievement it's corned beef and ham hash.
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
Enjoyable, if forgettable, New Hollywood shtick.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Interesting, even if not cohesive, Brando & Nicholson western.
, Empire Magazine
Slightly lacking in tension but with a striking performance from Marlon Brando
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.
Thomas Delapa, Boulder Weekly
If Penn failed to ride herd on his two superstars, he still was able to wrangle some sharp observations on the clash between the mythic old West and its reality
David Nusair, Reel Film Reviews
Brando's conversation with his horse, in which he notes that the animal has "the lips of Salome and the eyes of Cleopatra," must be seen to be believed...
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Brando admittedly improvised quite a bit in his over-the-top role.
, Film4
Although there are obvious flaws, there's a lot to recommend what turns out to be a dark, cynical work with some finely honed character acting from both men.
Tom Dawson, BBC
This appealingly eccentric revisionist western highlights the critical importance of violence in establishing 'civilized' society in the American wilderness.

Read all 11 critic reviews

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

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

Who would think that a movie with two of the greatest actors ever would be so horrible? I saw this one on TV, and it was so incredibly slow and boring, I couldn't watch the whole thing.
Conner R

This goes from being a very odd movie to a very good movie about half way in, which is actually why it's so interesting. Jack Nicholson really gives the better performance here, both his character and mannerisms are so natural and deeply thought out. Marlon Brando essentially… More
This goes from being a very odd movie to a very good movie about half way in, which is actually why it's so interesting. Jack Nicholson really gives the better performance here, both his character and mannerisms are so natural and deeply thought out. Marlon Brando essentially went crazy for his role, which ends up being more scary than funny in the end. I really like the twist sense of mortality and the way murder is such a big part of the story. When the characters meet their fate, it's hardly glorious. It reminds me of what Clint Eastwood later played with in Unforgiven.
Lanning :

Jane Braxton: Are you an outlaw? Tom Logan: I'm a jackpot farmer with one milk cow and a hundred-square-foot patch of vegetables. Jane: Then how come you have so many guns? Tom: Because I'm a sportsman. Jane: Why do you have a… More
Jane Braxton: Are you an outlaw? Tom Logan: I'm a jackpot farmer with one milk cow and a hundred-square-foot patch of vegetables. Jane: Then how come you have so many guns? Tom: Because I'm a sportsman. Jane: Why do you have a sawed-off shotgun? Tom: Because I'm a sawed-off sportsman. And speaking of Marlon Brando, I was just thinking about what I'd said with regard to On the Waterfront not being Brando's greatest movie, and I was thinking about The Missouri Breaks, and I flip the channel to Turner and lookie here: The Missouri Breaks is showing. I call it fate. The supremely gifted Brando plays the "eccentric" gunslinger frightfully well here. Reading cue cards because he didn't want to memorize lines anymore . . . Whatevahs. I don't know if he was on a chocolate and lasagne high when he was making this movie, or if he was just plain off his rocker, but he climbs to the heights of bizarre-dom in this plum role. And I definitely mean this in a good sense. The word "lurid" comes to mind, for some reason. Yeah, lurid, that's a great adjective, I think, and, well, he is so darn real as this psychotic killer, that he literally scares the chitterlins' outta me every time I watch this. The scene where he . . . executes Harry Dean Stanton is maximally spine chilling. Flixsters, I caution you in all seriousness, please make note to beware if anyone ever tries the old "round this time of year, Indian summer, you can see the star of Bethlehem" routine on you. Be prepared. Brando's own death scene, at the hands of Jack Nicholson, after expressing a fairly odd affection for his horse, that opening of the eyes to experience death, is un-freakin'-forgettable. Nicholson and Brando, eyeball to eyeball. Never ever to happen again in cinematic history. An amazing historical moment. Geez! Just the accents coming and going, Marlon Brando, you are extremely creepy. Creeeeepy . . . You know what woke yah up? You just had your throat cut.
Mike T

This is such a peculiar movie... it should have been great, considering the dynamic and powerful combination of actors under the direction of Arthur Penn. But it's a distant, sometimes tedious picture that I only enjoyed for the colorful, creative performances from Brando and… More
This is such a peculiar movie... it should have been great, considering the dynamic and powerful combination of actors under the direction of Arthur Penn. But it's a distant, sometimes tedious picture that I only enjoyed for the colorful, creative performances from Brando and Nicholson. As a huge fan of both actors, I liked watching the movie. I would assume that most viewers would not.
Brian R

"The Missouri Breaks" isn't as a good as Arthur Penn's "Little Big Man" and I could hint that while filming production must have been rather difficult. Nicholson and Brando give very good performances, Arthur Penn is a master at using violence during key… More
"The Missouri Breaks" isn't as a good as Arthur Penn's "Little Big Man" and I could hint that while filming production must have been rather difficult. Nicholson and Brando give very good performances, Arthur Penn is a master at using violence during key scenes but the length is way too long and sometimes one can get lost while trying to figure out what's going on. The landscapes is beautiful and all which leads me to question. Is "The Missouri Breaks" a bad film? It is but to me, it sort of get's a descent pass.
Jim W

The poster makes Jack Nicholson and Marlon Brando look like partners or friends in this western, but no they are bitter enemies. Brando stars as Lee Clayton, a creepy and strange gunfighter who's hired to kill Tom Logan (Jack Nicholson) and his gang. Tom just wants to settle down… More
The poster makes Jack Nicholson and Marlon Brando look like partners or friends in this western, but no they are bitter enemies. Brando stars as Lee Clayton, a creepy and strange gunfighter who's hired to kill Tom Logan (Jack Nicholson) and his gang. Tom just wants to settle down with his gang and start a farm after they robbed a train. He even has eyes for the pretty Jane Braxton (Kathleen Lloyd), but their relationship is put the test, since her father (John McLiam) is the one that hired Lee Clayton. Nicholson makes as good of an anti-hero as he did in Goin South which of course came out two years after the Missouri Breaks. He was a bit more clumsy and even a little sleazy in that though. He plays it more straight here and it's Brando who's the one that has a good time hamming it up as the nutty Irish cross dressing gunfighter. I never thought anyone could steal the show from Jack until I saw Brando in this movie. I'm not sure if Brando was nominated but he should have been.
Jonny C

Decent Western staring screen gods Jack Nicholson and Marlon Brando. Although very slow, and at quite boring at times, Missouri Breaks is well made with great performances from it's 2 leads.