Rancho Deluxe

A quirky and sneakily funny delight from the mid-'70s, this oddball comedy stars Jeff Bridges and Sam Waterston as a pair of modern cattle rustlers who have targeted a local rancher--and then steal his herd one cow at a time. The rancher (Clifton James) can't figure out who's stealing his cows, so he hires an elderly detective (Slim Pickens) to solve the mystery. Directed by Frank Perry from a deliciously dry script by Thomas McGuane, the film offers a startlingly varied cast that includes Elizabeth Ashley, Harry Dean Stanton, and Richard Bright, with an engaging soundtrack by Jimmy Buffett (who also shows up in the film). Watch it just to find out who Bob Dog is. --Marshall Fine