Reviews

Extremely accurate historically, this western chronicles the clash of the cowboy culture with 20th century progress - a popular theme in U. S. history. Selleck is excellent as Monte (as he is in most roles!) The production is very accurate, amazingly so for a T V western; "...Dove" was the archetypal western but this comes very close. The bucking bronco in the store typifies, as few other scenes ever have, the battle between the Old West and modern America.

The only weak aspect of the story is Shorty's sudden descent from decent cowboy to killer. There's no real justification for this, but it's perhaps meant to further illustrate the death throes of the cowboy profession.

Great movie - I recommend it highly.

The list is fairly short: "High Noon", "Unforgiven", "Stagecoach". But one hundred years from now, when western fans talk about the "best western ever filmed", there'll be only one film seriously considered: "Lonesome Dove". An absolute classic, and in its genre, the equal of "Casablanca". Historical accuracy, complex and believable characters, and the great theme of the disappearing frontier, will stand the test of time as few films ever have.

It's unbelievable that this film could have come from TV. If you like this movie (and how can you not?), try "Monte Walsh", the SECOND best western ever made.

I've always had a warm spot in my heart for this "B" movie because I watched some of it being made and some scenes were shot immediately in front of the quonset hut in which I lived at that time, at the Second Infantry Training Regiment, San Onofre area, Camp Pendleton, where I was stationed in the training section. It was pretty neat to watch and is the only movie I've ever seen "made" and I had the pleasure of driving Chad Everett and Dean Jagger around in a Jeep for two or three days. (Some other lucky Marine got to drive the heroine!) I got Chad Everett's autograph, but way back then he wasn't as famous as he would be later.

The movie itself is pretty good - but I'm favorably prejudiced toward any USMC movie!

This is probably Wayne's poorest movie; at least the poorest in which he had a starring role. It's just incredibly bad. The editing is especially awful; it really appears that the editor (if there was one)literally picked up pieces of film off the floor and pasted them together. The opening has to be seen to be believed. John Wayne must have cringed every time it was mentioned! I know there are "B" films - but are there "H" films? If so, this one's an example. And I say this as a devoted JW fan.