The Missouri Breaks

1976

The Missouri Breaks

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

76%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 21

59%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 3,984
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Movie Info

A rancher, a rustler, and a regulator face off in Arthur Penn's eccentric western. As a cover for their horse thievery, a gang of Montana rustlers, led by the laid-back Tom Logan (Jack Nicholson), buys a small farm adjacent to the ranch of their latest target/nemesis, Braxton (John McLiam). When the gang leaves Tom on the farm and heads to Canada for another score, Tom takes a shine both to farming and Braxton's rebellious, strong-willed daughter, Jane (Kathleen Lloyd). The slightly loco Braxton, however, hires the psychopathic regulator Lee Clayton (Marlon Brando) to root out the rustlers. With a series of unorthodox methods (and costumes), Clayton hunts down Logan and his gang one by one, even after Braxton fires him, but Logan isn't about to let Clayton (or Braxton) make him obsolete. ~ Lucia Bozzola, Rovi

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Cast

Marlon Brando
as Lee Clayton
Jack Nicholson
as Tom Logan
Randy Quaid
as Little Tod
Kathleen Lloyd
as Jane Braxton
Frederic Forrest
as Cary
Harry Dean Stanton
as Calvin
John McLiam
as David Braxton
John P. Ryan
as Si
Sam Gilman
as Hank Rate
Steve Franken
as Lonesome Kid
Richard Bradford
as Pete Marker
James Greene
as Hellsgate Rancher
Luana Anders
as Rancher's Wife
Danny Goldman
as Baggage Clerk
Hunter von Leer
as Sandy
Darrell Zwerling
as Nelson
Virgil Frye
as Woody
R.L. Armstrong
as Bob
Dan Ades
as John Quinn
Dorothy Newman
as Madame
Dorothy Neumann
as Madame
Charles Wagenheim
as Freighter
Vern Chandler
as Vern
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Critic Reviews for The Missouri Breaks

All Critics (21) | Top Critics (4)

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Audience Reviews for The Missouri Breaks

  • Jul 11, 2011
    "The Missouri Breaks" isn't as a good as Arthur Penn's "Little Big Man" and I could hint that while filming production must have been rather difficult. Nicholson and Brando give very good performances, Arthur Penn is a master at using violence during key scenes but the length is way too long and sometimes one can get lost while trying to figure out what's going on. The landscapes is beautiful and all which leads me to question. Is "The Missouri Breaks" a bad film? It is but to me, it sort of get's a descent pass.
    Brian R Super Reviewer
  • Sep 06, 2010
    Who would think that a movie with two of the greatest actors ever would be so horrible? I saw this one on TV, and it was so incredibly slow and boring, I couldn't watch the whole thing.
    Aj V Super Reviewer
  • Aug 23, 2010
    This goes from being a very odd movie to a very good movie about half way in, which is actually why it's so interesting. Jack Nicholson really gives the better performance here, both his character and mannerisms are so natural and deeply thought out. Marlon Brando essentially went crazy for his role, which ends up being more scary than funny in the end. I really like the twist sense of mortality and the way murder is such a big part of the story. When the characters meet their fate, it's hardly glorious. It reminds me of what Clint Eastwood later played with in Unforgiven.
    Conner R Super Reviewer
  • May 02, 2010
    Decent Western staring screen gods Jack Nicholson and Marlon Brando. Although very slow, and at quite boring at times, Missouri Breaks is well made with great performances from it's 2 leads.
    Jonny C Super Reviewer
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