Wanna Talk Westerns?

[Dr.Teufel Geist]

I like "Lonesome Dove" with Jones and Duvall......but, those other early years of 'em with David Arquette and ?? , just couldnt get into those, they lacked spark...

[Wolf Man]

With regard to Lonesome Dove let me throw out there what a lot of fans and critics have said:

Lonesome Dove - original series - Awesome in every way and set the standard for that kind of mini series

Lonesome Dove - the return - Most did not like this.  Although Jon Voight is a good actor and the one originally chosen for the role of Woodrow Call Tommy Lee Jones made it his and put the bar so high up that fans really won't accept anyone else in the role. 

Streets of Laredo - this was a hastily put out response by Larry McMurtry because he did not like the results of "Return".  Again, although James Garner is a fine actor he was not right for the role of Woodrow Call although opinions vary on that.  This film was ok, it contained a few characters from the original series.  The ending was not good.  This is also the only one I don't own and would not really care to see again.  Had McMurtry written this one as a real sequel then maybe I could take it a little more but knowing he did this just as a response to "Return" who knows what he may have penned for the "real" sequel.  This one also left a lot of question unanswered. 

Dead Man's Walk - I, like many of the fans really got into Arquette and Jonny Lee Miller as the young Gus and Woodrow.  I own this one and have watched it almost as many times as the original.  A critic said that Miller was channeling the Woodrow character extremely well and Arquette just as good as Gus.  Now, keep in mind that when they actually reach the Dead Man's Walk of the title I think it gets very boring.  But I really enjoyed all the early scenes.  That said however, if indeed the Rangers were like shown in their engagements with the Commanches then how in the world did they ever "whip em"?  I have studied the Texas Rangers and almost every story has them being tough as nails, and bad a** fighters who out witted and out fought the Commanches in most engagements even being out numbered although always better armed. 

Commanche Moon - this one I have mixed feelings on in many respects.  The actors playing Gus and Woodrow are both good.  I think that Gus was portrayed a bit better but I did not like and I know this sounds crazy but the height difference between Gus and Woodrow.  In this one Woodrow is a lot taller.  Don't know why no one noticed that continuity error from all the earlier versions.  I definately did not like the way Maggie was portrayed.  I could never see her ever yelling at Woodrow.  They also seemed to not catch many coninuity issues like that fact that Maggie died in Lonesome Dove, not whatever town they had her in with this version.  I thought Gus was portrayed closer than Woodrow but again, Gus and I might add a young Robert Duvall had dark hair like Arquette in Dead Man's Walk, here he had blond.  This one seemed too rushed and not enough careful casting was done.  This one seems to have a lot less action also.  Like this was just done to fill all the gaps rather than tell us a good story how Gus and Woodrow become Captains. 

Lonesome Dove the series - I liked this one sort of and quickly accepted the new Newt Call rather than Ricky Shroeder.  There were a couple of things though.  There were moments when instead of being a gritty western like Lonesome Dove this one seems a bit more "Hollywood-ish" if that makes any sense.  I really did not see the tragedy of the end of the first season coming and "think" they may have done that just to improve ratings and change the format to a more gritty setting.  The Outlaw Years definately had more grit.  Did you see how the town was turned from a Hollywood style quiant little town to a mud pit?  Newt's character finally showed a lot of the sand that we all thought he should have being the son of Woodrow.  I was totally shocked to see Woodrow in an episode played by Lee Majors.  Nothing against Lee Majors but he was "not" Woodrow in looks, costume or mannerisms.  He did kind of capture the personality though of Woodrow.  I purchased the series and watched it all once.  Would I watch it again?  Maybe, but if so probably only once then I would be done with it. 

In summary I watch Lonesome Dove the orginal more times than I can count and have not slowed down.  Dead Man's Walk comes in second because of the great characters and how well acted they are.  The rest I would watch maybe once in a blue Commanche Moon (sorry, couldn't resist)  but Streets of Laredo I don't own and probably won't ever watch again.  I watched this one when it originally aired. 

On a personal note, my Old West reenactment kit is very similar to Tommy Lee Jones Woodrow from the original series save the cowboy chaps.  I have studied his clothing and acquired almost everything as close as possible.  He carried a Colt Army model revolver and I have a Remington Army model but I have a very close knife, boots are right including spurs, got the right hat just have to swap hat bands, have the vests, shirts and cowboy neck rag, ties, black duster, and most importantly the hat and frock coat he wore in the last scene.  I don't own the blue frock he wore when Gus died because first it would be impossible to find and second I was not really fond of that one.  I always liked his "style" of wearing vests buttoned up (not open like Voight did) and his tex/mex style hat and frock coats.  His gun rig was always simple and practical.  I like the "mule ears" on his boots.  I still don't own a Henry Rifle though.  I have a ten and and a twelve gauge shot gun which is better for reenactments but will obtain a Henry somewhere down the road.  The mexican style blanket vest he wore during most of the series is near impossible to find even the fabric but I have several that are close and would pass.  I have the brown hat he wore in the last scene and the black hat we wore for the rest but I noticed that he had a brown hat band on the black hat and a black one on the brown hat so I just have to switch my two.  I hope I don't mess them up doing it and will have to study them closely before attempting it. 

Sorry for getting all detailed about the clothing and accessories.  I don't have many people to talk to about reenacting so it is nice that you all tolerate my little detail rants.  I appreciate it.  There was an article in Guns of the Old West completely dedicated to the guns and some of the accessories of the original series.  The article reviewed the guns from all the characters including Pea Eye and Deets, all except Blue Duck which would have been cool to add. 

Ok, done. 

[Dr.Teufel Geist]

"Dances with wolves" is the only Costner western that I have ever liked.....

[Wolf Man]

You know, I liked Dances with Wolves but whew is that long?  I will always like Open Range and think that is his best work to date as a Cowboy.  Did you know he is a partner in a device that BP just bought to help clean up the Gulf.  They bought 30 of Costner's machines and want to buy more.  He is ok in my book. 

Did you get to watch any Dead Man's Gun episodes?  If so what did you think of them?

[Dr.Teufel Geist]

Nope, I havent watched any yet, this past week, I've been too busy being sick, spent most of the time in bed...
When, I get around to it, I will give an episode a try...

[Wolf Man]

I still wish I could get my hands on them.  I will have to check and see if I recorded any of the episodes on VHS.  I may have, I can't remember. 

Have you ever seen Jack Bull?  That is a pretty realistic film.  Great acting and story.  Worth a look. 

[Dr.Teufel Geist]

I still wish I could get my hands on them.  I will have to check and see if I recorded any of the episodes on VHS.  I may have, I can't remember. 

Have you ever seen Jack Bull?  That is a pretty realistic film.  Great acting and story.  Worth a look. 

It doesnt ring a bell...I will have to google it, and take a look.


I just got thru watching an oldie,but not a goodie..."Badman's Country(or Territory)" anyways, it had Wyatt Earp,Bat Masterson,Pat Garret,and Bufallo Bill Cody versus the Butch Cassidy Gang...
I'm pretty sure it was *Historical* correct

[Dr.Teufel Geist]

So after googling it, it turns out, that I have seen this movie after all...
However, since I cant remember too much about it, it must not have had a great impact on me...

[Wolf Man]

It says it is based on a true story, and it is, but that is misleading, the true story it is based on is a medieval tale nowhere near a western.  They just adapted it to a western.  I loved John Goodman in this film as a very honest and fair frontier Judge.  The Governor too is a scene stealer.  There were lots of good performances. 

How about Billy the Kid VS Dracula?  or Jesse James Daughter VS Frankenstein (not sure if I got that title acurate) 

[Dr.Teufel Geist]

It says it is based on a true story, and it is, but that is misleading, the true story it is based on is a medieval tale nowhere near a western.  They just adapted it to a western.  I loved John Goodman in this film as a very honest and fair frontier Judge.  The Governor too is a scene stealer.  There were lots of good performances. 

How about Billy the Kid VS Dracula?  or Jesse James Daughter VS Frankenstein (not sure if I got that title acurate) 

Billy the kid versus Dracula,with John Caradine as Dracula, I liked this movie.....
Jesse James meets Frankenstein's Daughter, wow...wow...what a terrible,horrific movie, I like cheesy movies,but this was just *meh*...
I bought Jesse James meets Frankenstein's Daughter at a garage sale for 25 cents...
Also got "Son of Dracula" and "Son of Frankenstein",both for a dollar, at the same garage sale.

[Wolf Man]

Didja feel ripped off out of your twenty five cents? 

I remember Billy the Kid VS Dracula and John Carradine.  You are right, not a bad movie. 

[Dr.Teufel Geist]

nope, I felt ripped off when I purchased "Beast of the Yucca Flats"....it has to be the worst movie made ever...

[Monster Kid]

NO MAN'S LAW
THE GREAT K & A TRAIN ROBBERY
TUMBLEWEEDS
JUST TONY
THE NIGHT CRY
TRACKED BY THE POLICE
CLASH OF THE WOLVES
THE GRAPES OF WRATH

[Dr.Teufel Geist]

NO MAN'S LAW
THE GREAT K & A TRAIN ROBBERY
TUMBLEWEEDS
JUST TONY
THE NIGHT CRY
TRACKED BY THE POLICE
CLASH OF THE WOLVES
THE GRAPES OF WRATH

The Grapes of Wrath is an excellent movie,but it is not a western...it is far from being a western, unless this is a different movie, and not the depression era movie with Henry Fonda...

[Wolf Man]

Thats what I thought too but it has been forever since I have seen it so didn't mention it. 

Here is some real life cowboy stuff for ya. 

I have a first place ribbon from my first ever Rodeo for a calf roping event.  My cousin is still a champion bull dogger in the over forty class.  My father went on a Burro hunt with friends, they were not out to kill them but capture them.  While on the trip a champion Rodeo star named Eddie Williams roped a wild horse and my Dad bought him for me.  I broke him myself and also rode the wild Burro my Dad got on the trip.  The Burro was stubborn so he never went too far.  We lived on a ranch in Arizona for a short while.  My Uncle was the first reenactor in the family and portrayed a Commanchero.  I portray an 1880's Texas Ranger.  So we have a little "western" in our family history.