Monte Walsh (1970)

An aging cowboy realizes that the West he knew and loved will soon be no more--and that there will be no room for him, either.

Director:

William A. Fraker

Writers:

Lukas Heller (screenplay), David Zelag Goodman (screenplay)

Stars:

Lee Marvin, Jeanne Moreau, Jack Palance

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lee Marvin	...	Monte Walsh
Jeanne Moreau	...	Martine Bernard
Jack Palance	...	Chet Rollins
Mitchell Ryan	...	Shorty Austin
Jim Davis	...	Cal Brennan
G.D. Spradlin	...	Hal Henderson
John Hudkins	...	Sonny Jacobs
Raymond Guth	...	Sunfish Perkins (as Ray Guth)
John McKee	...	Petey Williams (as John R. McKee)
Michael Conrad	...	Dally Johnson
Tom Heaton	...	Sugar Wyman
Ted Gehring	...	Skimpy Eagans
Bo Hopkins	...	Jumpin' Joe Joslin
John McLiam	...	Fightin' Joe Hooker
Allyn Ann McLerie	...	Mary Eagle

Storyline

Monte Walsh is an aging cowboy facing the ending days of the Wild West era. As barbed wire and railways steadily eliminate the need for the cowboy, Monte and his friends are left with fewer and fewer options. New work opportunities are available to them, but the freedom of the open prairie is what they long for. Eventually, they all must say goodbye to the lives they knew, and try to make a new start.

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Plot Keywords:

revisionist western | arizona territory | arizona | two word title | horse riding | 

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Taglines:

Monte Walsh. All of a Sudden The West Wasn't Wild Enough For Him

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

PG-13

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

7 October 1970 (USA)

Also Known As:

Monty Walsh

Filming Locations:

Circle Z Ranch - 1476 Highway 82, Patagonia, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$5,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Cinema Center Films, Landers-Roberts Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lee Marvin and Jack Palance previously starred together in I Died a Thousand Times (1955), Attack (1956), and The Professionals (1966). Marvin and Palance also both earned their Oscars for comedic roles in westerns: Marvin for Cat Ballou (1965) and Palance for City Slickers (1991).

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Goofs

When Monte is breaking the Gray that Shorty never could break, a flank strap appears and disappears throughout the ride.

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Quotes

Monte Walsh: I ain't gonna spit on my whole life

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Crazy Credits

"Introducing Mitchell Ryan"

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Connections

Edited into Go West, Young Man! (2003)

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Soundtracks

The Good Times Are Comin
Music by John Barry
Lyrics by Hal David
Sung by Cass Elliot (as Mama Cass)

User Reviews

An Under-appreciated Classic

A Modern classic spearheaded by an intelligent script, excellent performances, beautiful photography and an outstanding score. Lee Marvin is at his rugged best in the title role with typical solid support from Jack Palance, who is excellent here cast against type. That this great western was finally released on DVD LONG after the REMAKE is just wrong. And I do not mean that as a slam against the Tom Selleck/TNT version which was a well done rehash that I also enjoyed. MONTE WALSH stands beside WILL PENNY as 2 pillars of the "vanishing cowboy" genre. It seamlessly morphs from action to pathos, poignant to laugh-out-loud funny. One of Lee Marvin's best roles.