"Broken Trail" (2006) TV mini-series

Director:

Walter Hill

Writer (WGA):

Alan Geoffrion (written by)

Release Date:

25 June 2006 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

Set in 1898, Print Ritter and his estranged nephew Tom Harte become the reluctant guardians of five abused and abandoned Chinese girls...

Plot Keywords:

Chinese Girl | Nephew | Murder | TV Mini-Series | Rocky Mountains

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 9 wins & 19 nominations

Cast

Robert Duvall	...	Prentice Ritter
Thomas Haden Church	...	Tom Harte
Greta Scacchi	...	Nola Johns
Gwendoline Yeo	...	Sun Foy 'aka' #3
Chris Mulkey	...	Big Ears
Rusty Schwimmer	...	Big Rump Kate
Scott Cooper	...	Gilpin
Valerie Tian	...	Ging Wa 'aka' #5
Caroline Chan	...	Mai Ling 'aka' #2
Olivia Cheng	...	Ye Fung 'aka' #4
Jadyn Wong	...	Ghee Moon 'aka' #1
Donald Fong	...	Lung Hay
James Russo	...	Captain Billy Fender
Todd Allen	...	Marshall Bill Miller
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Bill Baksa	...	Store Clerk
Dusty Bews	...	Fly Fisherman
Morris Birdyellowhead	...	Fox-Hide Brine
Duncan Fraser	...	Moncrieffe
Philip Granger	...	Chuck Hyde
Shaun Johnston	...	Small Pox Bob
Sandy Kellerman	...	(voice)
Greg Lawson	...	Bartender
Scarlett Li	...	Additional Voices (voice)
William Marquez	...	Valentín Ugalde
Stephen E. Miller	...	Cariboo Clerk
Donnelly Rhodes	...	Stagecoach Driver
Pat Richards	...	Cowboy Vick
Peter Skagen	...	Dink Yeatman
Patricia Stutz	...	English Rose
Xuefeng Tan	...	Makeup girl in opening scene (red clothing)

Also Known As:

Daughters of Joy (Canada: English title) (working title)

Runtime:

184 min (2 parts)

Country:

Canada | USA

Language:

English | Mandarin | Crow

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Singapore:NC-16 | Germany:12 | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Company:

Butcher's Run Films

Goofs:

Crew or equipment visible: A camera is visible when Big Ears gets on a horse to go and visit Dink Yeatman.

Quotes:

Prentice Ritter: I get rousted out of my sleep sometimes when Nature calls. I find there's something frightening 'bout that hour of the night 'cause there ain't no foolin' yourself 'bout what you done or what you hadn't done with your life.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Howard Stern on Demand: Robert Duvall" (2006)

Exceptionally Fine Western Mini Series

I gave this 10 stars.

Both parts of this 2 part mini series deserve 10 stars. It was an extremely well done film.

I got the impression at the end of the film that this was based on real people and their experiences, which I had no idea was the case when I began watching it.

Robert Duval as Print Ritter carries the film, although all of the performers did good jobs.

The storyline was fresh, original and interesting, something I see so seldom these days, it really made it stand out. Another thing that made this stand out from the usual garbage that passes for entertainment in film these days - was the heroes really were heroes. These men were brave and did the right thing. They had values and ethics.

The story revolves around Print Ritter (Robert Duval) and his nephew Will, I think was his name, (and sorry but I didn't know who any of the actors were except for Duval)driving a herd of horses north to sell.

They end up with people they didn't count on being along for the trip--4 or 5 young Chinese girls, who do not speak a word of English, a fiddle player, and a couple of other people who join the group later in the story.

The Chinese girls are very young, the oldest might be 18. They have been sold by their parents and sent to America where they will be forced into prostitution.

None of the 4 men who eventually travel with the girls and protect them, try to take advantage of them, and the two romances in the story, are kept low-key.

The bad guys in the film are just that - they're wicked through and through. No explanation or psycho-analysis given or needed. This picture is getting back to the basics of the American western, good vs. evil.

There's gunfire when needed, confrontations when needed, and great characterizations, as our group journeys along and encounters various people and adventures.

And yes, there's even a plot! Another element I've discovering missing all too often in films of late.