American Cowboy (film #352 on Prelinger Archive). [Category: Public Service]

A city-slicker reporter from Detroit spends a year on a cattle ranch in order to find out what the life of a cowboy is like. This film provides an interesting and quite complete snapshot of the life of cattle ranchers and ranchhands during the 50s. By that time, some aspects of ranching had been modernized, but others were virtually unchanged from the 19th-century days of the open range. A full year's worth of cowboy activities are shown, including branding, driving cattle to the upper ranges, rodeos, haying, and driving the cattle to market. Cowboy buffs and anyone geniunely interested in what real-life ranching is like (or was like during the 50s, at least), should enjoy this film immensely.

Ratings: Camp/Humor Value: **. Weirdness: **. Historical Interest: *****. Overall Rating: ****.