Johnson County War (2002)

The three Hammett brothers are caught in a conflict that escalates rapidly and the old farmers facing against new farmers who have settled in the green grasslands.

Director:

David S. Cass Sr.

Writers:

Frederick Manfred (novel), Larry McMurtry (teleplay)

Stars:

Tom Berenger, Luke Perry, Burt Reynolds

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tom Berenger	...	Cain Hammett
Luke Perry	...	Harry Hammett
Burt Reynolds	...	Hunt Lawton
Rachel Ward	...	Queenie
Michelle Forbes	...	Rory Hammett
Adam Storke	...	Dale Hammett
Christopher Cazenove	...	Lord Peter
Jack Conley	...	Jesse Jacklin
Silas Weir Mitchell	...	Mitch Slaughter
Fay Masterson	...	Clara Jager
Ken Pogue	...	Wally Tascot
Blu Mankuma	...	Hambone
William Samples	...	Arthur
Stephen Bridgewater	...	Dencil Jager
Adrien Dorval	...	Timberline (as P. Adrien Dorval)

Storyline

This is a based on true events " The Johnson County War, also known as the War on Powder River and the Wyoming Range War, was a range conflict that took place in Johnson County, Wyoming from 1889 to 1893. The conflict began when cattle companies started ruthlessly persecuting alleged rustlers in the area, many of whom were settlers who competed with them for land, livestock and water rights. As violence swelled between the large established ranchers and the smaller settlers in the state, it finally culminated in the Powder River Country when the ranchers hired gunmen to invade the county. The gunmen's initial incursion in the territory aroused the small farmers and ranchers, as well as the state lawmen, and they formed a posse of 200 men that led to a grueling stand-off. The siege ended when the United States Cavalry on the orders of President Benjamin Harrison relieved the two forces, although further fighting persisted in the following months."

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Plot Keywords:

wine | woman smokes a cigar | man tied up | hanging | saved from hanging | 

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Taglines:

Three brothers against an army. Justice knows no boundaries.

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Genres:

Western

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Did You Know?

Quotes

Lord Peter: Now tell me Mr Lawton, how do you enjoy being our head Bobby? That's what we call our policemen, you know. Or perhaps you don't know. You are evidently not a, travelled man
Hunt Lawton: I haven't had any desire to travel half way around the world... see a country that's half the size of a good ranch in Texas.

User Reviews

Good, old-fashioned western based on actual events

This movie inspired me to do further research. There really was a Johnson County war in Wyoming. A number of events in the film, which I thought had to be fiction because they were so unbelievable, actually did happen although the names of the characters had been changed. The range wars of the West were extremely vicious.

Tom Berenger does a very good job and is very much the hero. The rest of the cast are also very good, particularly Michelle Forbes, Luke Perry, and Christopher Cazenove. Frankly, the scenery steals the picture. The mountains and the surrounding forests and streams are incredible and beautifully shot by the cinematographer.

Details

Country:

Germany USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 August 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Johnson County War

Filming Locations:

CL Ranch - 45001 Township Road, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hallmark Entertainment, Larry Levinson Productions, Mat 1 Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

240 min 171 min (3 parts)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1