"Streets of Laredo" (1995) TV mini-series

Director:

Joseph Sargent

Writers (WGA):

Larry McMurtry (novel)
Larry McMurtry (teleplay) ...

Release Date:

12 November 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Western

Plot:

Captain Woodrow Call, now retired from the Rangers, is a bounty hunter. He is hired by an eastern rail baron to track down Joey Garza...

Plot Keywords:

Man Hunt | Child In Peril | Child Murder | Child Burning | Sharpshooter

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 4 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

James Garner	...	Capt. Woodrow F. Call
Sissy Spacek	...	Lorena Parker
Sam Shepard	...	Cpl. Pea Eye Parker
Ned Beatty	...	Judge Roy Bean
Randy Quaid	...	John Wesley Hardin
Wes Studi	...	Famous Shoes (Kickapoo tracker)
Charles Martin Smith	...	Ned Brookshire (railroad accountant)
George Carlin	...	Billy Williams
Alexis Cruz	...	Joey Garza
Kevin Conway	...	Mox Mox
James Gammon	...	Charles Goodnight
Tristan Tait	...	Deputy Ted Plunkert
Sonia Braga	...	Maria Garza
Miriam Colon	...	Estrella
Anjanette Comer	...	Beulah

Also Known As:

Larry McMurtry's Streets of Laredo

Runtime:

300 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:PG | Australia:M (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

Alamo Village - Highway 674, Brackettville, Texas, USA

Company:

De Passe Entertainment

Trivia:

This film makes reference to Blue Duck, a former nemesis of Gus and Call, and even includes a flashback to his capture of Lorena from _"Lonesome Dove" (1989) (mini)_. Wes Studi, who plays Famous Shoes in this film, also appears in the "Lonesome Dove" prequel, _"Comanche Moon" (2008) (mini)_, as Blue Duck's father, Buffalo Hump.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Judge Roy Bean is killed in this film, and John Wesley Hardin survives. The manner of Bean's death does not conform to historical fact; Bean actually drank himself to death; but his reputation as a "hanging judge" who was hanged outside his own courthouse is a popular legend. However, John Wesley Hardin died in 1895. Judge Roy Bean died eight years later in 1903.

Quotes:

Lorena Parker: Whose funeral?
Tinkersley: Why, it's Doobie Plunkert's. She was well liked in the town. I like her myself even though I only met her once. That's why I let my whores sing at her funeral. Now, I kept two back for business. They had scratchy voices anyhow.

Movie Connections:

Follows "Lonesome Dove" (1989)

A solid,if downbeat chapter in the magnificent series

Granted, both the original Lonesome Dove novel and film are unique works of extremely fascinating classic story telling. Streets of Laredo obviously has a great deal to live up to and, when viewed or read in conjunction with Dove, it does suffer in the sense that our familiarity is slightly snubbed. Of course not much can measure up to the original, and so obviously this is something that cannot be helped. This sequel is far more brutal and violent that its predecessor. Violent death or at least the threat of it is an ever present character awash on Laredo's landscape much more than Dove.That said, Streets of Laredo as a film stands firmly upon its own merits which are quite impressive.Firstly, the cast is sublime. James Garner, always a vastly underrated actor, creates a stoic yet tragic Call. His final scene is at once heart breaking and resonating with strong quiet hope. His performance is all about what film acting aspires to become: he moves mountains without words.The rest of the cast is on equal footing with Garner. Playwrite Sam Shepard's Pea Eye, although losing much of Tim Scott's original Bentonesque forlorn rube, is filled with earthy heroism and and poetry. Sissy Spacek, as the whore re-incarnated as a schoolmarm Lorena produces the tough backbone needed to survive the Texas prarie. Comedian George Carlin's finely drawn panhandle scamp solidifies the theory that the border between comedy and tragedy is narrow at best. These are just a few of the excellent standouts in the sound ensemble.Secondly, there is the very narrative itself. It plays like a Sunday funeral dirge-ever aware of the passing of an era, yet peering into a glimmer future of simple optimism and hope. In McMurtry's frequently brutal world, everyone has a shot at redemption. Grace isn't free but it is availble to all willing to run the gauntlet, as long as they have a pure heart. In this film, pure of heart may not necessarily mean pure of deed, but at least evil is evil and good is good.This film bravely balances the aformentioned violence with scenes of wry humour and gentleness. In that regard, Laredo comes the closest anyone has come to honoring Peckinpah's greater works.The film, because it was produced for television is already mostly forotten by the minnions, but richly deserving of an audience. Enjoy and Savor.