a-l-bobrick This movie is the most charming, full of self-irony, cheerfulness and mystic depth a fairy tale that Clint Eastwood has ever made. Things do not just happen here. They happen just right the way he ever wished them to happen.The film could be taken as if it were of an entertaining genre at the first glance. However, it has a multitude of layers, which may keep you analyzing for about as much as you may wish to. It contains a deal of self-reflection, for Bronco Billy is the director's best self. It is much about finding and understanding oneself, for that is the journey Sandra Lockes character is taking. It is much about the western movie as a whole, and its loosing contact with the modern time. One can't but see parallels to Fellini's 'La Strada', maybe to Bergman's 'Sawdust and tinsel' and perhaps many more. And it is filled with plenty of small details, charged with good humour. And of course, as a fairy tale it is full of idealistic messages.Is is not a regular masterpiece, but it is a masterpiece. It is a meta-, reflective, essentially post-modernistic, masterpiece. Most probably will suit the taste of those looking for art and substance.

Hollywood_Yoda This is one of the most underrated films that Clint Eastwood has directed and also starred in. It was not one of his greatest films overall, but the story of Bronco Billy proves a great dramatic story. Sondra Locke also stars as Billy's love interest, Antoinette. The story is about a wild west show, much like Buffalo Bill Cody's wild west shows of the late nineteenth century, set in modern times.With interest in his show dwindling, and no money to pay the performers, Billy must find a way. A run of bad luck takes them to an asylum where they are received by the administrator. It is there that Antoinette parts ways with Billy. Loneliness sets in, and Billy is drowning in his own drunkenness, until Antoinette returns to him.Its not the Bridges of Madison County, so don't look forward to high expectations. However, if you are a fan of Clint Eastwood, you will be entertained, no doubt.

classicsoncall I never thought the Bronco Billy Wild West Show would actually aspire to entertainment on a deeper level. Right after that great con job by Clint Eastwood's character when he makes everyone in the troupe feel good about not being paid, there was no reason to believe this was going to be anything more than pure popcorn. But throw in everyone's pathetic back story and a few freebies for the orphanage and insane asylum, and you begin to get a picture of Billy McCoy as a sympathetic character who really cares for and respects his friends. Round the story out with an original take on the 'you can be anything you want' theme, and you've got enough to keep you smiling for a good couple of hours. Even good old American patriotism gets a workout with the new tent put together by the loonies at the asylum, although the sight of all those flags sewn together might be enough to blur your vision.OK, so some of the story elements don't make too much sense, like why did Antoinette Lily's (Sondra Locke) murder ever gain any traction in the first place? Then there's Arlington (Geoffrey Lewis) taking the fall for a future payday. I'm not really buying any of that, but hey, it sort of works for the rest of the story to play out. I guess the thing to do is take a good pull of old Doc's snake bite remedy or a reasonable facsimile, and settle along for the ride. It's a side of actor and director Eastwood that can be every bit as instructive as his usually more serious fare.

Woodyanders Self-stylized modern-day cowboy and ace sharpshooter Bronco Billy (a pleasingly amiable performance by Clint Eastwood) runs an old-fashioned traveling Wild West show that's fallen on hard times. Matters only get worse when Billy hires snobby wealthy heiress Antoinette Lilly (winningly played by Sondra Locke) as his new assistant. Eastwood's smooth, assured direction, working from a warm and good-hearted script by Dennis Hackin, comes through with a sweet and unexpected treat that benefits greatly from the engaging main characters, enjoyably loose rambling plot and light, likable tone. Eastwood and Locke make for an extremely appealing couple. The excellent cast constitutes as another substantial asset: the wonderfully sprightly Scatman Crothers as hearty announcer Doc Lynch, Geoffrey Lewis as Antoinette's smarmy husband John Arlington, Bill McKinney as ornery hook-handed Lefty LeBow, Sam Bottoms as affable Vietnam draft dodger Leonard James, Dan Vadis as Native American snake dancer Chief Big Eagle, Sierra Pecheur as Big Eagle's loyal wife Lorraine Running Water, William Prince as slimy attorney Edgar Lipton, Walter Barnes as a gruff small town sheriff, and Hank Worden as an elderly gas station attendant. Moreover, there's a lovely and touching tight-knit camaraderie amongst Billy's merry band of endearing misfits. Steve Dorff's folksy, harmonic score, a flavorsome country-and-western soundtrack, David Worth's crisp, sunny cinematography and a strong theme about the redemptive possibilities of the American Dream (everyone in Bronco Billy's show have troubled pasts and have recreated themselves as better, more positive individuals in his show) further add to the considerable charm of this sparkling little gem.