Monte Walsh (2003 film)
| Monte Walsh | |
|---|---|
 DVD cover |
|
| Directed by | Simon Wincer |
| Produced by | Steven Brandman |
| Screenplay by |
|
| Based on | Monte Walsh by Jack Schaefer |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Eric Colvin |
| Cinematography | David Eggby |
| Editing by | Alan Baumgarten |
| Studio |
|
| Distributed by | Turner Network Television (TNT) |
| Release date(s) | January 17, 2003 |
| Running time | 117 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Monte Walsh is a 2003 Western television film directed by Simon Wincer and starring Tom Selleck, Isabella Rosellini, and Keith Carradine. Loosely based on the 1963 Western novel Monte Walsh by Jack Schaefer, the film is about two long-time cowboys whose solitary and predictable lives on the range are inexorably changed when a fellow cowhand becomes involved with rustling and killing. Set in Wyoming and filmed in Alberta, Canada, Monte Walsh is a remake of the 1970 theatrical film Monte Walsh, starring Lee Marvin.[1] In 2003, Monte Walsh received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special, and in 2004, the film received the Western Heritage Awards Bronze Wrangler for Outstanding Television Feature Film.[2]
Plot
Montelius "Monte" Walsh (Tom Selleck) is an aging cowboy facing the final days of the Wild West era. He and his friend Chet Rollins (Keith Carradine), another long-time cowhand, work at whatever ranch work comes their way, but "nothing they can't do from a horse". Their lives are divided between months on the range and the occasional trip into town. Camaraderie and competition with the other cowboys fill their days. They seek work and take a job at the ranch of Cal Brennan (William Devane), where they meet an old friend, Shorty Austin (George Eads), another ranch hand.
Monte has a long-term relationship with an old flame, prostitute and saloon girl "Countess" Martine Bernard (Isabella Rossellini), who suffers from tuberculosis. Chet, meanwhile, has fallen in love with Mary Wilder (Lori Hallier), a widow who owns a hardware store. 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. Shorty loses his job and gets involved in rustling and killing, gunning down a local lawman. Then Monte and Chet find that their lives on the range are inexorably redirected.
Chet marries Mary and goes to work in the store, telling Monte that their old way of life is simply disappearing. Caught up in the spirit of the moment, Monte asks Martine to marry him, and she accepts. Monte goes on a drinking binge and rides a wild horse through town. A rodeo owner, Colonel Wilson (Wallace Shawn), sees him and offers him a job. Monte considers the high salary, but decides the work is too degrading and refuses. Eventually, they all must say goodbye to the lives they knew, and try to make a new start. When Shorty shoots and kills Chet while trying to rob the store, Monte, distraught after the death of his beloved Martine, goes after him.
Shorty arrives and Monte chases him. Shorty shoots Monte, but runs off when the shot only hits his arm. Monte then manages to slip around Shorty and shoots him. As Shorty is dying, Monte tells him that he rode the wild horse.
Cast
- Tom Selleck as Montelius Walsh
- Isabella Rosellini as Martine
- Keith Carradine as Chet Rollins
- George Eads as Shorty Austin
- Robert Carradine as Sunfish Perkins
- Barry Corbin as Bob Alderson
- James Gammon as Fightin' Joe Hooker
- Rex Linn as Hat Henderson
- John Michael Higgins as Robert Slocumb
- William Sanderson as Skimpy Eagens
- Wallace Shawn as Colonel Wilson
- Marshall R. Teague as Dally Johnson
- Rick Ravanello as Sugar Wyman
- Joanna Miles as Sairy Brennan
- Lori Hallier as Mary Wilder
- Matt Cooke as Rufus Brady
- Ken Pogue as Old Doctor
- Zack Ward as Powder Kent
- William Devane as Cal Brennan
- Shane Pollitt as Joe Joslin[3]
Production
Filming locations
- CL Western Studio & Backlot, Cochrane, Alberta, Canada
- CL Ranch, 45001 Township Road, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Longview, Alberta, Canada
- Redwater, Alberta, Canada[4]
Reception
Awards and nominations
- 2003 Emmy Award Nomination for Outstanding Sound Editing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special
- 2004 Western Heritage Awards Bronze Wrangler for Outstanding Television Feature Film[2]
References
- ^ "Monte Walsh". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
- ^ a b "Awards for Monte Walsh". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
- ^ "Full cast and crew for Monte Walsh". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
- ^ "Locations for Monte Walsh". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved July 24, 2012.
External links
- Monte Walsh at the Internet Movie Database
- Monte Walsh at AllRovi
- Monte Walsh at the TCM Movie Database
