Bad Company

Bad Company

Year: 1972

Runtime: 93 mins

Language: English

Director: Robert Benton

DramaWesternWesternsWild west outlaws and gunfightsWestern frontier dramas with a touch of humor

Young, desperate, and dangerous, they are far from home yet only a short distance from Hell. When upright Drew Dixon is dispatched west by his devout family to keep him from the Civil War draft, he roams the frontier alongside a loose band of other aimless youths, navigating a harsh, lawless world together.

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Timeline & Setting – Bad Company (1972)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Bad Company (1972). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Late 19th century

The narrative takes place on the American frontier during the post‑Civil War era, a time of rapid westward expansion, rough towns, and informal law enforcement. Communities rely on small-scale commerce, horses, wagons, and Wells Fargo robberies, reflecting a lawless yet expanding landscape. The era’s harsh conditions frame the characters’ moral choices and survival struggles.

Location

St. Joseph, Missouri, The American West

The film is set primarily in St. Joseph, Missouri, and unfolds across the American West frontier. The town and surrounding plains are depicted as rough, developing spaces where crime, poverty, and frontier justice shape the lives of youths drawn into criminal networks. The Dixon home and transient Western towns anchor the action amid wagon routes and Wells Fargo robbers.

🏚️ Small-town 🗺️ Frontier 🕰️ 19th century

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:04

Main Characters – Bad Company (1972)

Meet the key characters of Bad Company (1972), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Jake Rumsey (Jeff Bridges)

A small-time gang leader who persuades Drew to join his crew. He is street-smart, rough, and confident, using charm to mask his ruthlessness. His authority over the gang is challenged as the group encounters bigger players and danger on the frontier.

🤝 Leader 🗡️ Aggressive 🕶️ Charmer

Drew Dixon

A wary, morally conscious boy coerced into gang life after his family loses their fortune. He is determined to protect his own sense of right and to seek revenge for betrayals, showing resilience beyond his years.

🧒 Youth 🛡️ Morally conflicted 🧭 Survivor

Loney Logan

One of the elder gang members who demands loyalty and tests Drew’s allegiance. He embodies the rough dynamics and competitiveness within the crew, often acting as a pressure point for risky schemes.

🧭 Rival 🗡️ Enforcer 🐺 Pack mentality

Jim Bob Logan

A member of the Logan brothers who participates in robberies and chases after quick wealth. His actions contribute to the gang's downfall and the escalating cycle of violence.

🗡️ Thug 🧭 Opportunist 🗝️ Sidekick

Arthur Simms

A practical, streetwise member who often handles the gang’s schemes. He’s tough, sometimes greedy, and mirrors the moral compromise of the group.

🗡️ Doer 🧭 Streetwise 🐾 Loner

Boog Bookin

The youngest member who often struggles with the violence and seriousness of their acts. His youth highlights the brutal nature of their world and the costs of crime.

👦 Youth 🪶 Naive 🧨 Impulsive

Big Joe

A ruthless gang leader who wields power from the shadows with his thugs. His presence raises the stakes, intensifying the violence and danger in every raid.

🪙 Boss 🔥 Violent 🧭 Calculating

Hobbs

One of Big Joe's enforcers, eager to strike fear and enforce obedience. He embodies the brutal enforcement on the frontier.

🗡️ Enforcer 🐺 Relentless ⚖️ Calculating

Min

A settler's wife who briefly crosses paths with the boys and stands as a moral counterpoint to their actions. Her appearance underscores the human cost of frontier life.

🌾 Settler 🕊️ Gentle 🗝️ Innocent

Mr. Dixon

Drew’s father who offers his blessing and money to send his son West, highlighting the fragile economic bonds that drive children into danger.

👨 Father 🕊️ Concerned 🗝️ Absent

Reverend Clum

A minister who provides shelter and a moment of moral reflection amidst the boy’s descent into crime, representing a brief beacon of hope and guidance.

⛪ Closer 🕊️ Moral compass 🪙 Skeptical

Mrs. Clum

The minister’s wife who receives a stolen purse back and represents people who become accidental witnesses to the boys’ misdeeds.

👩 Witness 🕊️ Compassion 🧭 Observant

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:04

Major Themes – Bad Company (1972)

Explore the central themes of Bad Company (1972), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🤝 Loyalty

Loyalty is tested as Drew is pulled into Jake's gang, blurring the line between camaraderie and exploitation. The boys form a quasi-family rooted in shared hardship, yet betrayal and manipulation threaten to fracture it. Throughout, loyalty drives risky choices and pushes the plot toward revenge and redemption.

⚖️ Morality

The pursuit of money collides with personal codes of right and wrong. Drew's moral compass clashes with Jake's opportunism, and acts that seem necessary for survival reveal deeper questions about justice. The film probes how circumstances can erode or reinforce one’s ethics.

🌱 Coming of Age

Drew transitions from sheltered innocence to gritty experience on the frontier. The harsh lessons of theft, loyalty, and violence force him to mature quickly. The journey is less about revenge and more about who he becomes when pushed to survive.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 16:04

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Bad Company Summary

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Bad Company Timeline

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