The film "Anderson" finds John Wayne's character facing a shortage of hands during a gold rush, forcing him to enlist the help of several schoolboys—most no older than fifteen and lacking experience—to drive his cattle to market for $50 apiece. The prospect seemed daunting, but Roscoe Lee Brown, playing “Nightlinger,” joins them with his wagon to assist in keeping an eye on the inexperienced crew. Unbeknownst to them, a gang of rustlers is after their cows, and upon discovering the herd's young workforce, they become increasingly brazen and begin stealing cattle. The central question becomes whether this unlikely group can manage to defend themselves against “Long Hair” (Bruce Dern) and his hired help. It’s easy to imagine that the premise could have easily gone wrong, but Wayne and Brown share a rapport similar to Wayne's previous pairings with Walter Brennan, which keeps the story moving along in an enjoyable way, alongside solid performances from the young actors. Surprisingly, there are no appearances by Mitchum or Wayne Jr. among the youthful cast; Nicolas Beauvy performs admirably, as do the others, as their journey shifts from a quest for profit to one of retribution. It’s an action film without excessive sentimentality, promoting themes of self-sufficiency and independence, conveyed through a tough but compassionate approach that Wayne embodies well as “Anderson” confronts one of Dern's most formidable adversaries. Ignore the promotional materials; it is a fairly intense drama deserving of viewing.

Source on TMDB