In the 1972 film Bad Company, Jeff Bridges stars as Jake Rumsey, a “scruffy scoundrel” and charismatic leader of a gang of young Civil War draft dodgers and runaways. He is a con man who robs the film’s main character, Drew Dixon (played by Barry Brown), before they ultimately join forces and head west.
The film is built on the chemistry and contrasting personalities of the two leads: the cultured, good-hearted Drew and the primitive, street-smart Jake. Drew’s Methodist upbringing is challenged as he’s forced to do things he once considered unthinkable in order to survive.
Critics noted Bridges’ seemingly effortless performance, highlighting his ability to convey a mix of cunning, youthful inexperience, fear, and confidence, often with subtle facial expressions. One memorable, tough-to-watch scene involved his character attempting to skin a rabbit he had no idea how to properly prepare, displaying a powerful exercise in mime and revealing his feigned experience.
Bad Company was the directorial debut of Robert Benton, who co-wrote the screenplay with David Newman (the pair also co-wrote Bonnie and Clyde). The film is considered an “acid western” or revisionist western, offering a bleak and realistic take on the frontier, devoid of traditional Hollywood romanticism. Its themes of draft dodging and the absurdity of war resonated with audiences during the Vietnam War era.
Bridges’ character, Jake, was an early display of the “coltish version of the excellent actor” he would become. He was approximately 22 years old when the film was released, having already earned an Oscar nomination the year prior for The Last Picture Show.
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