Steel Cowboy

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} {{Infobox television | image = | image_size = | image_alt = | caption = | genre = Drama | writer = Douglas Wheeler Bill Kerby | screenplay = | story = | director = Harvey Laidman | starring = James Brolin Rip Torn Jennifer Warren Strother Martin Melanie Griffith | music = Charles Bernstein Juice Newton | country = United States | language = English | executive_producer = Tony Converse Roger Gimbel | producer = R.J. Louis | location = | editor = Aaron Stell | cinematography = Frank Holgate | runtime = 90 minutes | company = EMI Films Roger Gimbel Productions | budget = | network = NBC | released = {{Start date|1978|12|06}} }} '''''Steel Cowboy''''' is a 1978 American made-for-television drama film starring James Brolin, Rip Torn, Jennifer Warren, Strother Martin and Melanie Griffith. It was originally broadcast on NBC on December 6, 1978.<ref>FILM CLIPS: Brolin's Career in High Gear Kilday, Gregg. Los Angeles Times22 Mar 1978: g11.</ref>

==Plot== With his marriage, sanity and livelihood on the line, an independent trucker and his buddy agree to haul a load of stolen cattle for a black marketer.

==Cast== *James Brolin as Clayton Pfanner *Rip Torn as K.W. Hicks *Jennifer Warren as Jesse Pfanner *Strother Martin as Pinky Pincus *Melanie Griffith as Johnnie *Julie Cobb as Gloria

==Reception== The ''Los Angeles Times'' said the film had some "nice characterizations but precious little story."<ref>TV MOVIE REVIEW: 'Steel Cowboy'--Discouraging Herd Thomas, Kevin. Los Angeles Times 6 Dec 1978: h34.</ref>

It was the 42nd highest rated show of the week.<ref>CBS' Specials Tie Up a First-Place Package Los Angeles Times 13 Dec 1978: 34.</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20170606135255/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/23999/Steel-Cowboy/ ''Steel Cowboy''] at TCMDB *[https://web.archive.org/web/20180722095829/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7723c9a9 ''Steel Cowboy''] at BFI *[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078319/ ''Steel Cowboy''] at IMDb

Category:1978 television films Category:1978 films Category:1970s buddy drama films Category:American buddy drama films Category:Trucker films Category:NBC original films Category:1978 American films Category:1978 English-language films Category:American drama television films Category:English-language buddy drama films