Junior Bonner + intro

Having made his name writing and directing westerns, with Junior Bonner Sam Peckinpah turned his attention to a modern-day manifestation of the ideals of the west: the rodeo.

JR Bonner returns to his hometown to take part in their annual rodeo and to re-connect with his family. However, upon arrival he has to face the fact that time is moving on and change is rapidly advancing.

As with many of Peckinpah’s protagonists, Steve McQueen’s Bonner is a man who is increasingly becoming aware that as the world changes around him, he is getting past his prime. McQueen delivers a subtle and moving performance and is supported by the equally impressive Robert Preston, Ida Lupino and Joe Don Baker alongside regular Peckinpah players Ben Johnson and Dub Taylor.

A more gentle film than one might expect from action maestro Peckinpah, whilst still containing some bracing sequences at the rodeo, Junior Bonner, with its exploration of family ties, denies the clichés that have arisen regarding the director. It is now regarded as one of his finest, most over-looked films.

Event/ This screening will be introduced by Andy Willis, Senior Visiting Curator: Film at HOME, and Professor of Film Studies, University of Salford.