How others will see it. This manly, semi-realistic western will likely please devotees of the genre. Fans of Holden, Malden, and (surely there are some) O'Neal will also enjoy the movie, although Malden's role is relatively small.
The competent story telling has just enough surprises and suspense to hook mystery fans as well. The mystery is what will happen when the two crooks are confronted by Malden's two sons. It's a post-production code movie, so the ending is open.
How I felt about it. The two main characters are credible. Even their loyalty to one another, at the risk of fortune, freedom, and life, is believable. Certainly, Holden has the opportunity to leave O'Neal to die, while taking his half of the money and making a prompt getaway to an unexpected (not due south) journey into Mexico. Holden won't do this because he knows it is dishonorable. But it isn't dishonorable to rob a bank, even though it means taking the life savings of hard working laborers. Go figure.
The characters of the antagonists, Tom Skerritt and Joe Don Baker, are less developed. There's sibling rivalry at play, of course, as they compete for the love and respect of their positive role model father. One of the boys appears more measured and intelligent than the other, which only makes the other more eager to do the impossible (bring back Holden and O'Neal alive) to please papa.
But we really don't get to know these two much. Perhaps their roles were reduced on the cutting room floor. O'Neal was box-office gold (due to Love Story) but even his role is secondary to that of grizzled cowboy Holden.
Even less developed is a nearly unrelated secondary story regarding mangy-looking sheepherders who trespass on the cattle baron's land. This leads to a risky shoot-out, led against all odds by Malden himself. Director Edwards, better known for Pink Panther and Julie Andrews movies, wisely concentrates on Holden and O'Neal. But since he is also the screenwriter, he could have dispensed with the disposable subplots.
These also include whether the banker family will keep the 3K in blood money, which would make them partners rather than victims. It's plain to see who wears the pants in that family, and it isn't the honest cashier.
What we have in Wild Rovers is a traditional western. Themes of proving oneself, defending your turf, helping your friend, crime and justice, are presented for the umpteenth time, in competent and mildly interesting fashion. Same goes for stock situations such as the bar fight, the hold up, the high stakes poker game, and the taming of the wild horse. It's traditional and watchable, but not compelling. This explains why the movie is largely forgotten today.