"Lonesome Dove" (1989) TV mini-series

Director:

Simon Wincer

Writers (WGA):

Larry McMurtry (novel)
William D. Wittliff (teleplay)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

5 February 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Western

Plot:

Epic story about two former Texas rangers who decide to move cattle from the south to Montana. Augustus...

Plot Keywords:

Montana | Cattle | Texas | Texas Ranger | Cattle Drive

Awards:

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 14 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Robert Duvall

...

Augustus 'Gus' McCrae (unknown episodes)

Runtime:

384 min | Brazil:145 min (video version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Singapore:PG | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Alamo Village - Highway 674, Brackettville, Texas, USA

Company:

Motown Productions

Trivia:

The "Buntline Special" Colt Peacemaker carried by Jim, one of the two outlaws who jump Roscoe in the woods, is a period firearm produced by Colt supposedly after Ned Buntline, popular dime-store novelist of the day, placed a request for five Peacemakers with 12-in (standard length was 7.5-in) barrels to give to the lawmen of Dodge City, KS - including Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson - in recognition of their brave service to that town. Little, if any, evidence survives to support this story. However, Colt, as with other leading gun makers at the time, did produce both longer- and shorter-barreled models of its popular pistols. This includes known 19th century factory-model Peacemakers available in 3, 4, 5.5, 7.5, 12, and 16 inch barrel lengths. The popularity of both Buntline's novels and the story of his infamous gift to Earp et al led any long-barreled Peacemaker to be referred to as a "Buntline Special"; however the question of whether the accuracy of such a long barrel would be worth the slower draw time for a gunfighter or lawman is the subject of much speculation.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: July Johnson (Chris Cooper) enters a room to visit Elmira, who is sick in bed. He closes the door behind him, and the audio is the sound of a door solidly closing shut. But look closely, and you will see that the door did not close shut, but in fact "bounced" open, and remains a few inches ajar with some light coming in from the outside.

Quotes:

Woodrow Call: You ever get tired o' loafin' I reckon you can get a job waitin' on tables.
Gus McCrae: Oh, I had a job waitin' tables once. S' on a riverboat. I wasn't no older than Newt, there, but I hadda give it up.
Newt: How come?
Gus McCrae: Well I was, too young and pretty and the whores wouldn't let me alone.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada (2005)

The Greatest Western of All Time

Larry McMurtry's wonderful story is beautifully and amazingly brought to the screen by director Simon Wincer. It assembles together one of the best casts in movie history. Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones are nearly perfect. Duvall has been quoted as saying that Gus McCrae was his favorite character he ever played. He is certainly mine. Angelica Huston is the perfect person to play Clara. It is almost like Larry McMurtry had some of these actors and actresses in mind when he wrote his novel. The only exception is Frederic Forrest as Blue Duck. He does a fine job with what he's got, but the man just isn't big enough or scary enough for this role. The story is incredible. The scenery is beautiful. Lonesome Dove is, in my opinion, the best western ever made. A definite must see for everyone.