Rancho Deluxe (1975)

Jeff Bridges and Sam Waterson are Jack McKee and Cecil Colson, young men and friends who decide modern-day rustling is a better means of making a living than good old-fashioned hard work.

So they shoot cattle from their pickup truck, take along a chain saw to cut off the beef, then use that beef to pay rent or exchange for things they want.

Clifton James is John Brown, the 20th century cattle baron they pilfer from. Let’s just say, he’s not amused. In fact, he holds a press conference, declaring war on the rustlers.

So McKee and Colson strike back by kidnapping Brown’s prize bull just after its won a blue ribbon and holding it for ransom Brown eagerly pays.

Next, the rancher calls in famed stock detector Henry Beige (Slim Pickens), only to be disappointed when a heavyset older man shows up with a pretty niece named Laura he needs to help him around and bring him his meals.

Meanwhile, McKee and Colson have stepped up their rustling game, entering into a partnership with two of Brown’s top hands, Curt (Harry Dean Stanton) and Burt (Richard Bright), both of whom are smitten with the stock detective’s niece.

Jeff Bridges as Jack McKee, one of the young rustlers raising John Brown’s ire in Rancho Deluxe (1975)

Sam Waterson as Cecil Colson, one of the young rustlers driving John Brown crazy in Rancho Deluxe (1975)

Review:

Not really a Western, but well worth a watch thanks to fine performances from the leads and a number of unusual and memorable scenes, one of which has Bridges’ and Waterston taking turns shooting up a classic vehicle with their Sharps Rifle.

Picken’s has one of his better roles as the old-timer who seems to be doing nothing, but is accomplishing more than Brown and all of his amateur detective work. Of course, he gets a helping hand from that pretty niece, planned by Charlene Dallas, a former Miss California.

Jimmy Buffet provides a nice title tune and also makes an appearance as the entertainer when McKee and Colson visit a local bar. The same scene features Bridges and Waterson playing a game of Pong.

Clifton James as John Brown, the rancher who declares war on rustlers in Rancho Deluxe (1975)

Elizabeth Ashley as Cora Brown, quizzing Henry and Laura Beige about their backgrounds in Rancho Deluxe (1975)

Directed by:
Frank Perry

Cast:
Jeff Bridges … Jack McKee
Sam Waterson … Cecil Colson
Elizabeth Ashley … Cora Brown
Clifton James … John Brown
Slim Pickens .. Henry Beige
Charlene Dallas … Laura Beige
Harry Dean Stanton … Curt
Richard Bright … Burt
Patt D’Arbanville … Betty Fargo
Maggie Wellman … Mary Fargo
Joe Spinell … Mr. Colson

Slim Pickens as Henry Beige talks about the secrets behind being a stock detective as he ages in Rancho Deluxe (1975)

Charlene Dallas as Laura Beige, playing the part of a pure and innocent detective’s niece in Rancho Deluxe (1975)

Memorable lines:

Cecil Colson: “You ever see Cheyenne Autumn?”
Jack McKee: “Oh, yeah.”
Cecil: “Well, in another 20 years, they’re going to make Aluminum Autumn.”

Cecil Colson: “Before you whites came here, we had a simple existence in these shining mountains, under this big sky.”
Jack McKee: “Horse shit.”
Cecil: “We had that too.”

John Brown: “I was tempted to try to trap our boy, but I didn’t want to take a chance on losing Basehart. I mean, that god-damned animal is my signature on the American West.”

Cecil’s dad: “I’ve seen more of this state’s poor cowboys, miners, railroaders and Indians go broke buyin’ pickup trucks. The poor people of this state are dope fiends for pickup trucks. As soon’s they get 10 cents ahead they trade in on a new pickup truck. The families, homesteads, schools, hospitals and happiness of Montana have been sold down the river to buy pickup trucks … And there’s a sickness here worse than alcohol and dope. It is the pickup truck debt. And there’s no cure in sight.”
Henry Beige, digging a bullets out of a dead steer: “If I wasn’t so dad-blamed old, I wouldn’t know what this is.” John Brown: “What is it?”Beige: “It’s a 50-caliber bullet!” Brown: “From what kind of gun?” Beige: “A Sharps buffalo rifle. This is gettin’ downright romantic.”
Laura Beige: “C’mon Henry, let’s blow this pop stand. I wanna get to Great Falls and spend my cut.”

Harry Dean Stanton as Curt, expressing his love for Laura in Rancho Deluxe (1975)

Patt D’Arbanville as Betty Fargo, Jake McKee’s young girlfriend in Rancho Deluxe (1975)

Bert Conway as Wilbur Fargo, kneeling at gunpoint after finding his daughters in bed with rustlers in Rancho Deluxe (1975)

Jimmy Buffett performing during a barroom scene in Rancho Deluxe (1975)

Elizabeth Ashley as Cora Brown and Clifton James (right) as John Brown, happy to be reunited with his prize bull in Rancho Deluxe (1975)

Jeff Bridges as Jack McKee and Harry Dean Stanton as Curt discuss rustling over a game of Pong in Rancho Deluxe (1975)

Harry Dean Stanton as Curt and Richard Bright as Burt, issuing a warning to their new partners in Rancho Deluxe (1975)

Charlene Dallas as Laura Beige, ready to blow her newly earned cash in Rancho Deluxe (1975)

Slim Pickens as stock detective Henry Beige, finding a bullet that might be key to his case in Rancho Deluxe (1975)

Sam Waterson as Cecil Colson and Jeff Bridges as Jack McKee, partners in crime in Rancho Deluxe (1975)