"Return to Lonesome Dove" (1993) TV mini-series

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Mike Robe

Writers (WGA):

John Wilder (television story)
John Wilder (teleplay)

Release Date:

14 November 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Western

Plot:

'Captain' Call has just buried Gus at Lonesome Dove and plans to head back to his ranch in Montana. Looking at a herd of wild Mustangs...

Plot Keywords:

Montana | Mexican | Prairie Fire | Sequel | Texas Ranger

Awards:

Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Jon Voight	...	Capt. Woodrow F. Call
Barbara Hershey	...	Clara Allen
Rick Schroder	...	Newt Dobbs
Louis Gossett Jr.	...	Isom Pickett
William Petersen	...	Gideon Walker (as William L. Petersen)
Oliver Reed	...	Gregor Dunnigan
Dennis Haysbert	...	Cherokee Jack Jackson
Reese Witherspoon	...	Ferris Dunnigan
Timothy Scott	...	Pea Eye Parker (as Tim Scott)
Chris Cooper	...	July Johnson
CCH Pounder	...	Sara Pickett
Nia Peeples	...	Agostina Vega
Barry Tubb	...	Jasper Fant
William Sanderson	...	Lippy Jones
David Carpenter	...	Needle Nelson

Runtime:

322 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Finland:K-3

Filming Locations:

Montana, USA

Movie Connections:

Followed by "Comanche Moon" (2008)

Disappointing Network Sequel

As soon as I heard that this show was being made I found out that the author of Lonesome Dove had no connection to this one and warning flags came up in my mind. Lonesome Dove is one of the most beloved mini-series in television history and folks this network sequel will never have that distinction.

Picking up right where Lonesome Dove left off and finding Jon Voight in the role played by Tommy Lee Jones in the original, I found it very hard to get into this show. While Voight is actually very good in this show, it just is not the same without Jones, Duvall and the others. The only big name from the original to appear in this turkey is Rick Schroder as Newt.

While featuring some good visuals and great work from William L. Peterson in a role that is supposed to be a Gus Macrae type but never really comes close, on the flip side, the story is ludicrous and Oliver Reed turns in one of the worst acting performances I have ever seen. I don't fault Mr. Reed, I fault the writers who have given him some of the worst lines you will hear in television history.

This is no return to Lonesome Dove but rather a full fledged stampede away from Lonesome Dove and should not be confused with Larry McMurtry's official sequel "Streets Of Laredo" which has been turned into a two-part mini-series and is much better than this offering.