"Lonesome Dove" (1989) TV mini-series 1989-

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 Ranger | Cattle Drive | TV Mini-Series

Awards:

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 15 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Robert Duvall	...	Augustus 'Gus' McCrae (4 episodes, 1989)
Tommy Lee Jones	...	Woodrow F. Call (4 episodes, 1989)
Danny Glover	...	Joshua Deets (4 episodes, 1989)
Diane Lane	...	Lorena Wood (4 episodes, 1989)
Robert Urich	...	Jake Spoon (4 episodes, 1989)
Frederic Forrest	...	Blue Duck (4 episodes, 1989)
D.B. Sweeney	...	Dish Boggett (4 episodes, 1989)
Ricky Schroder	...	Newt Dobbs (4 episodes, 1989)
Anjelica Huston	...	Clara Allen (4 episodes, 1989)
Chris Cooper	...	July Johnson (4 episodes, 1989)
Timothy Scott	...	Pea Eye Parker (4 episodes, 1989)
Glenne Headly	...	Elmira Boot Johnson (4 episodes, 1989)
Barry Corbin	...	Roscoe Brown (4 episodes, 1989)
William Sanderson	...	Lippy Jones (4 episodes, 1989)
Barry Tubb	...	Jasper Fant (4 episodes, 1989)
Gavan O'Herlihy	...	Dan Suggs (4 episodes, 1989)
Steve Buscemi	...	Luke (4 episodes, 1989)
Frederick Coffin	...	Big Zwey (4 episodes, 1989)
Travis Swords	...	Allan O'Brien (4 episodes, 1989)
Kevin O'Morrison	...	Doctor (4 episodes, 1989)
Ron Weyand	...	Old Hugh (4 episodes, 1989)
Lanny Flaherty	...	Soupy Jones (4 episodes, 1989)
David Carpenter	...	Needle Nelson (4 episodes, 1989)
James McMurtry	...	Jimmy Rainey (4 episodes, 1989)
Charlie Haynie	...	Ben Rainey (4 episodes, 1989)
Terry McIlvain	...	Cowboy (4 episodes, 1989)
Sonny Carl Davis	...	Bert Borum (4 episodes, 1989)
Jorge Martínez de Hoyos	...	Po Campo (3 episodes, 1989)
León Singer	...	Bolivar (3 episodes, 1989)
Thomas Connor	...	Bob Allen (2 episodes, 1989)
Jerry Biggs	...	Roy Suggs (2 episodes, 1989)
Missy Crider	...	Sally Allen (2 episodes, 1989)
Sean Hennigan	...	Eddie Suggs (2 episodes, 1989)
Lauren Stanley	...	Betsy Allen (2 episodes, 1989)
Julius Tennon	...	Frog Lip (2 episodes, 1989)
Jack Caffrey	...	Cholo (2 episodes, 1989)
Adam Faraizl	...	Joe Boot (2 episodes, 1989)
Jimmy Ray Pickens	...	Bill Spettle (2 episodes, 1989)
Bradley Gregg	...	Sean O'Brien (2 episodes, 1989)
Nina Siemaszko	...	Janey (2 episodes, 1989)

Series Directed by
Simon Wincer		(4 episodes, 1989)

Series Writing credits
Larry McMurtry		(4 episodes, 1989)
William D. Wittliff		(4 episodes, 1989)

Series Produced by
Suzanne De Passe	....	executive producer (4 episodes, 1989)
Robert Halmi Jr.	....	co-executive producer (4 episodes, 1989)
Dyson Lovell	....	producer (4 episodes, 1989)
Michael Weisbarth	....	supervising producer (4 episodes, 1989)
William D. Wittliff	....	executive producer (4 episodes, 1989)

Series Original Music by
Basil Poledouris		(4 episodes, 1989)

Series Cinematography by
Douglas Milsome		(4 episodes, 1989)

Series Film Editing by
Corky Ehlers		(4 episodes, 1989)

Series Casting by
Lynn Kressel		(4 episodes, 1989)

Series Production Design by
Cary White		(4 episodes, 1989)

Series Art Direction by
John Frick		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Michael J. Sullivan		(4 episodes, 1989)

Series Costume Design by
Van Broughton Ramsey		(4 episodes, 1989)

Series Makeup Department
Manlio Rocchetti	....	hair supervisor / make-up supervisor / ... (4 episodes, 1989)
Jean Ann Black	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Dick Gallegly	....	production manager (4 episodes, 1989)
Adam Merims	....	assistant production manager (4 episodes, 1989)
Joel Hatch	....	production supervisor (unknown episodes)
Ruben R. Munoz	....	post-production supervisor (unknown episodes)
Larry Sherwood	....	electronic post-production supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Matt Bearson	....	second assistant director (4 episodes, 1989)
Robert Rooy	....	first assistant director (4 episodes, 1989)
Dean Semler	....	second unit director (4 episodes, 1989)
Candace Suerstedt	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Michael Peal	....	storyboard artist (4 episodes, 1989)
Jay Raymond	....	set dresser (4 episodes, 1989)
Joe Self	....	set dresser (4 episodes, 1989)
Eric A. Williams	....	property master (4 episodes, 1989)
Catherine Davis	....	assistant property master / property master (unknown episodes)
John Huke	....	special art projects (unknown episodes)
Neale Joudrie	....	property wrangler (unknown episodes)
Amy Morrison	....	scenic artist (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
James L. Aicholtz	....	sound re-recording mixer (4 episodes, 1989)
Michael Herbick	....	sound re-recording mixer (4 episodes, 1989)
Donald F. Johnson	....	sound mixer (4 episodes, 1989)
Joseph Melody	....	supervising sound editor (4 episodes, 1989)
Kevin O'Connell	....	sound re-recording mixer (4 episodes, 1989)
Stephen Grubbs	....	sound editor (2 episodes, 1989)
Kay Colvin	....	utility sound (unknown episodes)
G. Michael Graham	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Kristi Johns	....	adr supervisor (unknown episodes)
Mark Steele	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Richard S. Steele	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Lyn Caudle	....	special effects assistant (unknown episodes)
Robert A. Sturtevant	....	special effects technician (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Jesse Silver	....	matte artist / special visual effects supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
William H. Burton	....	stunt coordinator (4 episodes, 1989)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Danny Eccleston	....	gaffer (4 episodes, 1989)
Rusty Edmonson	....	lighting technician (4 episodes, 1989)
Gary Jay	....	first assistant camera (4 episodes, 1989)
David McGill	....	assistant camera (4 episodes, 1989)
Tony Poston	....	key grip (4 episodes, 1989)
Don Reddy	....	camera operator (4 episodes, 1989)
Dean Semler	....	director of photography: second unit (4 episodes, 1989)
Jeffrey R. Clark	....	first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Glenn Dunn	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
William 'Bear' Paul	....	second key grip (unknown episodes)
David Sanderson	....	second assistant camera (unknown episodes)
John Sheeren	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera, second unit (unknown episodes)
Steve Spallone	....	best boy electric (unknown episodes)
Henry Tirl	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Liz Keigley	....	casting: Texas (4 episodes, 1989)
Stacey Rhodes	....	extras casting (4 episodes, 1989)
Celeste Gose	....	extras casting (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Laurie Rudd	....	costume draper/seamstress (4 episodes, 1989)
Joan Thomas	....	wardrobe supervisor (3 episodes, 1989)
Annette Hoffman	....	key set costumer (unknown episodes)
Neale Joudrie	....	wardrobe (unknown episodes)
Cheri Reed	....	costumer (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Terry Blythe	....	assistant editor (4 episodes, 1989)
Ruben R. Munoz	....	post-production (4 episodes, 1989)

Series Music Department
Jamie Forester	....	music editor (4 episodes, 1989)
Steve Jamerson	....	music scoring assistant (4 episodes, 1989)
Tom Villano	....	music editor (4 episodes, 1989)
Tim Boyle	....	score mixer (unknown episodes)
John Rotondi	....	scoring engineer: Y4 (unknown episodes)
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Nick W. Pastrano	....	driver: motor home (1 episode, 1989)
Lee Stepp	....	driver: cast (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
Marlene Bergman	....	title designer (4 episodes, 1989)
George Corsillo	....	title designer: main title (4 episodes, 1989)
Jill Lopez	....	production coordinator (4 episodes, 1989)
Lewis Meador	....	wrangler (4 episodes, 1989)
Jimmy Medearis	....	head wrangler (4 episodes, 1989)
Sharon Medearis	....	head wrangler (4 episodes, 1989)
Charles Montoya	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1989)
Bill Poague	....	key set production assistant (4 episodes, 1989)
Paula Randol-Smith	....	production assistant (4 episodes, 1989)
Cynthia Upstill	....	script supervisor (4 episodes, 1989)
Anne Carr	....	craft service (unknown episodes)
Michael Dellheim	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Tom Goodman	....	wrangler (unknown episodes)
Kathryn Korniloff	....	assistant production accountant (unknown episodes)
Anne Wilson	....	key assistant production accountant (unknown episodes)
Brad Wilson	....	assistant: Robert Duvall (unknown episodes)

Series Thanks
Arthur Anderson	....	special thanks (4 episodes, 1989)
Vinette Bond	....	special thanks (4 episodes, 1989)
Jerry G. Callaway	....	special thanks (4 episodes, 1989)
Mary Lee Copeland	....	special thanks (4 episodes, 1989)
John Frick	....	special thanks (4 episodes, 1989)
Holly Gent Palmo	....	special thanks (4 episodes, 1989)
John Gibson	....	special thanks (4 episodes, 1989)
Ira Halberstadt	....	special thanks (4 episodes, 1989)
Nikol Hegarty	....	special thanks (4 episodes, 1989)
Lionel LaVallee	....	special thanks (4 episodes, 1989)
Dan Martin	....	special thanks (4 episodes, 1989)
Dennis Milliken	....	special thanks (4 episodes, 1989)
Willie Nelson	....	the producers wish to thank (4 episodes, 1989)
Janie Nino	....	special thanks (4 episodes, 1989)
Candace Suerstedt	....	special thanks (4 episodes, 1989)
Byron Thomas	....	special thanks (4 episodes, 1989)
Henry Tirl	....	special thanks (4 episodes, 1989)
Connie Todd	....	special thanks (4 episodes, 1989)
Brad Wilson	....	special thanks (4 episodes, 1989)

Production Companies

• Motown Productions
• Pangaea
• Qintex Entertainment

Distributors

• Sonar Entertainment (II) (1989-) (worldwide) (all media)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1989) (USA) (TV)
• Artisan Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Astra Cinema
• Betta Entertainment (Brazil) (VHS) (compact version)
• Bridge Entertainment Group (2004) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Cabin Fever Entertainment (video)
• Hallmark Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• Just Bridge Entertainment (2013) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Just Bridge Entertainment (2013) (Netherlands) (DVD) (Blu-ray)
• Via Vision Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (DVD)
• Weinstein Company, The (2008) (USA) (DVD) (Blu-ray)

Special Effects

• Makeup Effects Laboratories

Other Companies

• Chrysler Corporation  sponsoring
• Echo Film Services  sound effects
• Goldwyn Sound Facility  sound recorded at
• Helen Uffner Vintage Clothing  special thanks (vintage clothing rentals)
• Post Group, The  editing
• Procter & Gamble Productions (PGP)  sponsoring
• f-Stop  titles and opticals

Also Known As:

Runtime:

384 min | Brazil:145 min (video version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:12

Filming Locations:

Alamo Village - Highway 674, Brackettville, Texas, USA

Company:

Motown Productions

Trivia:

Virtually every major role from this film has also appeared in one of its sequels, and almost all of them have been recast, sometimes several times. In three cases, original cast member have been able to work with one of their successors. Timothy Scott reprised his role in the unofficial sequel "Return to Lonesome Dove" (1993), but died before production began on the official sequel, "Streets of Laredo" (1995). He was replaced by Sam Shepard, who had directed him in Silent Tongue (1993). Tommy Lee Jones was replaced in "Streets of Laredo" by James Garner, with whom he appeared in Space Cowboys (2000). Danny Glover was replaced in the prequel "Comanche Moon" (2008) by Keith Robinson, with whom he appeared in Dreamgirls (2006).

Goofs:

Continuity: During a conversation in which Gus is lecturing Woodrow on his previous treatment of Maggie, both Gus and Woodrow state that Maggie died in Lonesome Dove. However, in the prequel, "Comanche Moon", Maggie is shown dying in Austin, Texas, before Gus and Woodrow decide to move to Lonesome Dove.

Quotes:

Woodrow Call:[after beating a man nearly to death for hitting Newt he climbs on his horse and looks at the horrified towns people] I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Mustachioed Bandit Meets His End (2007)

The Best Western Ever Filmed

As a boy, I never liked western films. My father loved them all, all the John Wayne classics, the Spaghetti Westerns, the whole lot.

I despised them all. They were all the same. Same plot. Same rotten cinematography. Same unbelievable characters. Couldn't understand the attraction.

Then I saw Lonesome Dove. This film (actually a mini-series) is an absolute masterpiece.

It starts with the cinematography and locations. It was not your stereotypical Utah-canyon photography, it was the great plains, the Texas deserts, the wide rivers, the mesquite groves. Not marvelous vistas, but simple, real, gritty scenery. You can taste the dust of the panhandle and smell the Kansas plains.

Then there's the action. There's lots of it. Flooding rivers, driving rains, realistic fights, thundering cattle drives, horrible scenes of rape and torture (just under TV censor radar), plenty of death and sadness. All of it believable. All of it heart-tugging. All of it amazing.

But above all of these great features are the characters and the writing. Augustus McCrae and Woodrow F. Call have become two icons of pop culture, polar opposites who work well together and, in the end, are incomplete without one another. The supporting cast as well is fabulous, well written, patently interesting, and tremendously played. Even the evil characters are fascinating.

This is what television and film should be. It is very, very rare for anything of this quality to ever appear on the small screen, and with today's "reality TV" craze, it is even rarer still.

Buy the DVD set. You won't be disappointed. 10 out of 10.

Barky