This film is quite corny at times, but it's sincere, and that makes up for a lot of the corn.  Clint (who also directs) plays a cowboy in charge of an old fashioned, travelling rodeo show.  He has a bunch of rag tag people in his company, but they have a deep sense of community, and they do care for each other.  Billy ends up in many jams in this film, but his "family" stick it out, with a little help from the people around the country that Bronco Billy has performed for before.  They even take in a rich "b**tch" character (played by Sondra Locke, then Clint's girlfriend), and she's a bit much at times, but she isn't nearly as bad as others have said she is.  The film is shot on location in the upper Northeast (specifically Idaho), and it really enhances the film.  There isn't a trace of "irony" or any smugness here, which really helps the film in the long run.  Clint has said in many interviews that he really liked this film, and that it is one of his personal favorites.  He thought it could combat the prevailing cynicism of the day.  The song over the end credits is really cheesy, but the film itself is nicely done.

A funny note.  Scatman Crothers did this film shortly after completing his work on Stanley Kubrick's The Shining.  For those who don't know, Scatman played the chef who has the power of shine like Danny.  Kubrick was notorious for doing many takes in all his films, but on The Shining the take ratio was astronomical.  In reading about the filming, take totals went as high as 148 on some of Scatman's shots.  I read that on the first day of shooting on Bronco Billy, Scatman got his scene on the first take, and Clint said "let's move on", and Scatman almost broke down in tears because he was so happy and relieved.  I like that story, and this film.
This film is quite corny at times, but it's sincere, and that makes up for a lot of the corn. Clint (who also directs) plays a cowboy in charge of an old fashioned, travelling rodeo show. He has a bunch of rag tag people in his company, but they have a deep sense of community, and they do care for each other. Billy ends up in many jams in this film, but his "family" stick it out, with a little help from the people around the country that Bronco Billy has performed for before. They even take in a rich "b**tch" character (played by Sondra Locke, then Clint's girlfriend), and she's a bit much at times, but she isn't nearly as bad as others have said she is. The film is shot on location in the upper Northeast (specifically Idaho), and it really enhances the film. There isn't a trace of "irony" or any smugness here, which really helps the film in the long run. Clint has said in many interviews that he really liked this film, and that it is one of his personal favorites. He thought it could combat the prevailing cynicism of the day. The song over the end credits is really cheesy, but the film itself is nicely done. A funny note. Scatman Crothers did this film shortly after completing his work on Stanley Kubrick's The Shining. For those who don't know, Scatman played the chef who has the power of shine like Danny. Kubrick was notorious for doing many takes in all his films, but on The Shining the take ratio was astronomical. In reading about the filming, take totals went as high as 148 on some of Scatman's shots. I read that on the first day of shooting on Bronco Billy, Scatman got his scene on the first take, and Clint said "let's move on", and Scatman almost broke down in tears because he was so happy and relieved. I like that story, and this film.