The Great American Cowboy (1974)

Filmmaker Kieth Merrill chronicles the hardened lives of professional American rodeo riders and workers as they travel across the country and participate in grueling events. The film draws comparisons between these 20th-century athletes and the true cowboys of the old American West, while focusing on two riders who are battling for the world championship: Larry Mahan, a seasoned veteran of the rodeo circuit, and Phil Lyne, a promising young rookie.