I have watched Monte Walsh (the 2003 remade version with Tom Selleck, although I have also seen the original with Lee Marvin), multiple times, and as you can see from my 9 Stars rating I think it is an outstanding piece of work. I was then motivated to read Jack Schaefer's excellent book, of the same title, that is the basis for the movie.
WARNING: From here forward, there will be SPOILERS, so if you have not read the book nor seen the movie, read further at your own risk.
If you have seen the movie but not read the book, THERE WILL BE BOOK SPOILERS following.
If you have read the book but not yet seen the movie, THERE WILL BE MOVIE SPOILERS ahead, so YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED; read on at your own risk.
First, an obvious comment: The movie is much shorter than the book. Nothing too controversial about that; almost all movie adaptations have to be shorter than the book, for time and production considerations. The movie with Tom Selleck starts in the year 1890 and ends in the early years of the 20th Century, covering maybe the last 10-12 years of Monte's life. The book begins in the early 1870's when Monte is a little boy and follows his many adventures as a cowboy through his 20's, 30's and 40's, through the 1870's, 1880's, and 1890's. Also, unlike the movie, which is set entirely in Wyoming, the book is set primarily in New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona.
Second, Monte's best friend Chet Rollins is indeed a major character in the book as well as in the movie, but MAJOR SPOILER ALERT FOLLOWING -- DO NOT READ PAST HERE IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE MOVIE, OR READ THE BOOK!
SPOILER: In the book, Chet does indeed marry the widow and become a businessman, but he is NOT gunned down by Shorty in a robbery attempt. In the book, Chet becomes a successful and well-respected businessman and even becomes an elected official. Shorty murdering Chet and then Monte avenging Chet's death by killing Shorty is in the movie ONLY; not in the book.
Third, the "Countess" character played by Isabella Rossellini appears nowhere in the book. Monte does become enamored with a young prostitute in the book, and sees her on and off throughout the years, and she does indeed die, but -- unlike in the movie -- the young prostitute in the book was not from Europe, Monte does not call her "Countess," and she does not leave Monte her belongings when she dies.
Just like the movie, the last part of the book does cover the end of the cowboy era and the cowboys know that their way of life is ending. But the book also covers the "heyday" of the cowboy era that existed for decades before where the movie picks up.
The endings are completely different also, but I will not even attempt to write about that here.
My bottom line: Both the 2003 made for TV movie and the book are worthwhile. The movie is beautifully filmed and well-acted, and Tom Selleck and Keith Carradine are perfect in their roles, as are William Devane and the rest of the class. The film captures the end of the cowboys' way of life sympathetically, with pathos and nostalgia mixed with humor and sadness. Watch the movie and read Jack Schaefer's excellent book. Enjoy them both; just don't be too shocked at the differences.
WARNING: From here forward, there will be SPOILERS, so if you have not read the book nor seen the movie, read further at your own risk.
If you have seen the movie but not read the book, THERE WILL BE BOOK SPOILERS following.
If you have read the book but not yet seen the movie, THERE WILL BE MOVIE SPOILERS ahead, so YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED; read on at your own risk.
First, an obvious comment: The movie is much shorter than the book. Nothing too controversial about that; almost all movie adaptations have to be shorter than the book, for time and production considerations. The movie with Tom Selleck starts in the year 1890 and ends in the early years of the 20th Century, covering maybe the last 10-12 years of Monte's life. The book begins in the early 1870's when Monte is a little boy and follows his many adventures as a cowboy through his 20's, 30's and 40's, through the 1870's, 1880's, and 1890's. Also, unlike the movie, which is set entirely in Wyoming, the book is set primarily in New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona.
Second, Monte's best friend Chet Rollins is indeed a major character in the book as well as in the movie, but MAJOR SPOILER ALERT FOLLOWING -- DO NOT READ PAST HERE IF YOU HAVE NOT YET SEEN THE MOVIE, OR READ THE BOOK!
SPOILER: In the book, Chet does indeed marry the widow and become a businessman, but he is NOT gunned down by Shorty in a robbery attempt. In the book, Chet becomes a successful and well-respected businessman and even becomes an elected official. Shorty murdering Chet and then Monte avenging Chet's death by killing Shorty is in the movie ONLY; not in the book.
Third, the "Countess" character played by Isabella Rossellini appears nowhere in the book. Monte does become enamored with a young prostitute in the book, and sees her on and off throughout the years, and she does indeed die, but -- unlike in the movie -- the young prostitute in the book was not from Europe, Monte does not call her "Countess," and she does not leave Monte her belongings when she dies.
Just like the movie, the last part of the book does cover the end of the cowboy era and the cowboys know that their way of life is ending. But the book also covers the "heyday" of the cowboy era that existed for decades before where the movie picks up.
The endings are completely different also, but I will not even attempt to write about that here.
My bottom line: Both the 2003 made for TV movie and the book are worthwhile. The movie is beautifully filmed and well-acted, and Tom Selleck and Keith Carradine are perfect in their roles, as are William Devane and the rest of the class. The film captures the end of the cowboys' way of life sympathetically, with pathos and nostalgia mixed with humor and sadness. Watch the movie and read Jack Schaefer's excellent book. Enjoy them both; just don't be too shocked at the differences.