# Steel Cowboy

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> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_Cowboy
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> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}}
{{Infobox television
| image              =
| image_size         = 
| image_alt          = 
| caption            = 
| genre              = Drama
| writer             = Douglas Wheeler<br>[Bill Kerby](/source/Bill_Kerby)
| screenplay         = 
| story              = 
| director           = Harvey Laidman
| starring           = [James Brolin](/source/James_Brolin)<br>[Rip Torn](/source/Rip_Torn)<br>[Jennifer Warren](/source/Jennifer_Warren)<br>[Strother Martin](/source/Strother_Martin)<br>[Melanie Griffith](/source/Melanie_Griffith)
| music              = [Charles Bernstein](/source/Charles_Bernstein_(composer))<br>[Juice Newton](/source/Juice_Newton)
| country            = United States
| language           = English
| executive_producer = [Tony Converse](/source/Tony_Converse)<br>[Roger Gimbel](/source/Roger_Gimbel)
| producer           = R.J. Louis
| location           = 
| editor             = [Aaron Stell](/source/Aaron_Stell)
| cinematography     = Frank Holgate
| runtime            = 90 minutes
| company            = [EMI Films](/source/EMI_Films)<br>[Roger Gimbel Productions](/source/Roger_Gimbel)
| budget             = 
| network            = [NBC](/source/NBC)
| released           = {{Start date|1978|12|06}}
}}
'''''Steel Cowboy''''' is a 1978 American [made-for-television](/source/television_film) [drama film](/source/drama_(film_and_television)) starring [James Brolin](/source/James_Brolin), [Rip Torn](/source/Rip_Torn), [Jennifer Warren](/source/Jennifer_Warren), [Strother Martin](/source/Strother_Martin) and [Melanie Griffith](/source/Melanie_Griffith). It was originally broadcast on [NBC](/source/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](/source/James_Brolin) as Clayton Pfanner
*[Rip Torn](/source/Rip_Torn) as K.W. Hicks
*[Jennifer Warren](/source/Jennifer_Warren) as Jesse Pfanner
*[Strother Martin](/source/Strother_Martin) as Pinky Pincus
*[Melanie Griffith](/source/Melanie_Griffith) as Johnnie
*[Julie Cobb](/source/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](/source/TCMDB)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20180722095829/https://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b7723c9a9 ''Steel Cowboy''] at [BFI](/source/BFI)
*[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078319/ ''Steel Cowboy''] at [IMDb](/source/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

{{US-tv-drama-film-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Steel Cowboy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_Cowboy) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steel_Cowboy?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.