- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Northfield Today
By the People, for the People
Robert Duvall's Underrated 1990s Western Streaming for Free
The late actor considered his performance in the little-known film Convicts one of his best.
Published on Feb. 18, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Following the passing of iconic actor Robert Duvall at age 95, fans can now stream one of his lesser-known but acclaimed performances in the 1991 western drama Convicts. Duvall himself cited his role as the ailing plantation owner Soll Gautier as one of his "best performances" ever, despite the film receiving little attention upon its initial release.
Why it matters
Convicts provides a rare opportunity for modern audiences to discover a powerful and nuanced performance from the legendary Duvall in a more obscure project, beyond his iconic roles in films like The Godfather and Tender Mercies. The movie's themes of racism, justice, and wealth also resonate strongly today.
The details
Set on a Texas sugar plantation in 1902, Convicts follows 13-year-old Horace as he works alongside convict laborers for the plantation's ailing owner, Soll Gautier, played by Duvall. Soll, a Civil War veteran, is struggling with his declining mental health as he interacts with Horace and the other plantation workers, including Ben and Martha Johnson, played by James Earl Jones and Starletta DuPois.
- Convicts was released in 1991.
The players
Robert Duvall
An iconic American actor who received seven Oscar nominations, winning for his role in Tender Mercies, and was known for his performances in films like The Godfather and Apocalypse Now.
Horace
A 13-year-old boy who works on the Texas sugar plantation alongside convict laborers.
Soll Gautier
The ailing, Civil War veteran owner of the Texas sugar plantation, played by Robert Duvall.
Ben Johnson
A convict laborer on the plantation, played by James Earl Jones.
Martha Johnson
Ben's wife, also a convict laborer, played by Starletta DuPois.
What they’re saying
“I saw a film two nights ago that I had forgotten about called Convicts. It's one of the best performances I've ever given. It definitely was very, very rural, by Horton Foote.”
— Robert Duvall (The AV Club)
The takeaway
Convicts is a powerful character study that showcases Robert Duvall's remarkable acting talents in a lesser-known but deeply compelling performance. The film's themes of racism, justice, and wealth make it a timely rediscovery for modern audiences.
