ChicRawIdol A brilliant film that helped define a genre

Glucedee It's hard to see any effort in the film. There's no comedy to speak of, no real drama and, worst of all.

Robert Joyner The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

Sabah Hensley This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

jjnxn-1 Meandering but enjoyable comedy/drama of a rodeo rider who is coming to the end of his wandering days.The narrative seemingly rambles more than necessary but at the end of the film it makes sense since the protagonist has lived his life drifting from one place to another never answering for the consequences of his actions.James Coburn is well cast in the lead his craggy features suiting a hard living cowboy and his laconic style a natural fit. He is well supported by two performers who were often better than the projects they found themselves in. Chill Wills gives his good old boy sidekick role a lot of shading that makes the character more than was intended. Lois Nettleton, a fine actress whose quiet style was often unappreciated, adds her easy warm presence as Coburn's patient wife. A bit surprising to see Anne Archer just starting out and cast as a Native American. She's fine but it's jarring to see her miscast considering her future fame and knowledge of her very Causian complexion.Similar in spirit to Nicholas Ray's superior The Lusty Men and Sam Peckinpah's Junior Bonner, this a good film with a very effective ending.

HardToFindMovies I just watched The Honkers this afternoon and was most impressed. James Coburn is great to watch as a hard living rodeo champ who has returned to his hometown and long suffering family for a bull riding competition. Slim Pickins plays Coburn's best friend and guardian angel as a rodeo clown who always has his back. The direction by the late Steve Ihnat is outstanding and the filmography is great. I enjoyed the bull riding scenes which must have been from real competitions. This film depicts a man's decline and disrespect of his own life, yet somehow Coburn's suburb acting causes the viewer to still have sympathy for his character. All the supporting actors also do a fine job. This film shows the price that is paid from daily hard drinking, fighting, breaking promises and sleeping around...and Coburn shows this beautifully. For great scenes of 1970s southern hard living with great James Coburn acting you need to see this picture.

Tubby-7 I saw the Honkers in the early 70s and loved it and remembered it. I also saw both JW.COOP & JUNIOR BONNER - both excellent. The reason I had to catch Honkers was that Mr.Inhat deeply impressed me in Madigan as Barney - an enduring psycho performance - which I can still quote verbatum. I also made a note of him in Hour of The Gun. I felt grim when he died (just after the Cannes screening?) But rest assured he, and the film, are recalled fondly. .

honker "The Honkers" is probably Slim Pickens best performance of all time. When we were shooting, everyone connected with the production figured that Slim was Academy Award material. Unfortunately, United Artists had a James Bond picture in release at the same time and did not devote much attention to "The Honkers". I personally feel this film was under-rated by most critics. Sam Peckinpaw's "Junior Bonner" was out at the same time and seemed to impress the critics more than our film. Also, Cliff Robertson had a rodeo film out a few months before our release and that might have hurt us, too. The picture is worth watching, if just for the rodeo footage--some of the best ever filmed--shot by James Crabbe. The director and my co-writer, Steve Ianat, died a few weeks after the picture's release, cutting short a promising career and leaving behind his lovely wife Sally, his daughter, Gaby, and newborn son, Stefan. Please give this movie a shot. I'm betting that you'll say it was well worth while. I thank anyone who has taken the time to read this. Stephen Lodge