Bad Company (1972 film)

Bad Company is a 1972 American Western film directed by Robert Benton, who also cowrote the film with David Newman. It stars Barry Brown and Jeff Bridges as two of a group of young men who flee the draft during the American Civil War to seek their fortune and freedom on the unforgiving American frontier.

A group of soldiers pulls up to a modest white house and goes inside. Moments later, they exit, dragging a boy in a dress who is frantically resisting them. The soldiers throw the boy in a wagon with other boys, one of whom is also dressed as a woman to avoid conscription. At the Dixon home, the soldiers search for Drew Barry Brown despite his mothers protest. She explains that she has already lost one son to the war. When the soldiers leave, Drew emerges from his hiding place. His parents give him 100 and urge him to go West, giving him their picture and his brothers watch as mementos.In St. Joseph, Missouri, Drew is approached by Jake Rumsey Jeff Bridges who pistolwhips him and takes his money in an alley. Jake runs a gang of petty thieves who steal purses and rob children of their pocket change. While Drew is recovering at a ministers house, Jake arrives to return the purse that one of his gang stole from the ministers wife, hoping to collect a reward. Once inside, he purloins various household items until Drew sees him and attacks, demanding his money back. After a long struggle, Jake finally bests Drew and convinces him that he has no choice but to join his gang, as the Army will catch him if he tries to board a wagon train as is his plan. ........

Source: Wikipedia