| The Great American Cowboy | |
|---|---|
| Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Kieth Merrill |
| Written by | Douglas Kent Hall |
| Produced by | Kieth Merrill [1] |
| Starring | |
| Narrated by | Joel McCrea [2] |
| Cinematography | Reed Smoot |
| Edited by | Kieth Merrill |
| Music by | Harold Farberman |
| Distributed by |
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Release date |
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Running time | 89 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $300,000 |
The Great American Cowboy is a 1974 documentary film about the sport of rodeo. The film, which was directed by Kieth Merrill, [5] is notable for its use of experimental editing and camera techniques. [6] The film focuses on the 1973 battle for the Rodeo Cowboys Association (RCA) all-around world championship race between seasoned veteran rodeo star Larry Mahan and more recent champion Phil Lyne. Voiceover narration is provided by Hollywood actor Joel McCrea. [7] The film won the 1974 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. [8]