Lonesome Dove

David LaPell · Jun 15, 2009

Just finished watching Lonesome Dove, hadn't seen in it a long time (hard to sit down and watch the whole thing). I can see why my grandfather loved the miniseries. He was always a very big fan of the old west, the real west. When he was growing up is was only 30-40 years since alot of the bigger events had occured. What a time.

Frank237 · Jun 15, 2009

Just watching it again myself. One of my favorites.

Gus was a hell of a character.

FN in MT

S-W4EVER · Jun 15, 2009

Several years ago, I watched an interview of Larry McMurtry. He said the real town of Lonesome Dove is adjacent to (and part of?) the DFW airport and all that's left of the town is a Baptist Church and graveyard. (As I recall) he wrote the book but let it sit on the shelf for awhile for lack of a title. One day, he saw an old church bus that had "Lonesome Dove baptist Church" painted on the side and the rest is history.

IMHO, the Lonesome Dove series is just about the best western story ever.

imjin138 · Jun 15, 2009

Watched the whole thing last night, always liked it.

mississippi revolverman · Jun 15, 2009

Got to work 30 min late this morning because stayed up till 12;00 finishing the movie. Always been one of my favorite

Wyatt Burp · Jun 15, 2009

Fantastic Movie! I fastforward thru the non Gus/Call stuff. Notice everyone where's a crossdraw? And why in the world would gus carry a super heavy converted Walker when guns like Colt SAA's were available. And why carry a harder to load and underpowered Henry when '73 Winchesters could be had? Truth is, I like to see the Henry's used in this movie. You can see the rifle are loaded even in scenes where there's no shootin'. The carrier under the magazine is midway up. Kevin Costner screwed that up in Dances with Wolves a couple of times, If I recall.

reddogge · Jun 15, 2009

Gus was a throwback just like his weapons I guess. Same as why I prefer guns built in the 30s, 40s, and 50s as opposed to the more modern guns.

windjammer · Jun 15, 2009

This was one show that my wife and I watched together.. There seams to be nothing on TV that we both like watching at the same time other than news......

btw....how old is that series..?

Tam 3 · Jun 15, 2009

I seem to remember that he wrote it first as a screenplay for John Wayne, James Stewart and Henry Fonda. They couldn't get their schedules straight, so it sat for years. Then they aged out of the roles. Wayne wanted to play Gus. I don't remember how the author envisioned the roles.

Regards,

Tam 3

riverday · Jun 15, 2009

They said it originally came out in 1989 - this showing was supposed to be the "digitally re-mastered" version.
I wonder if it's available on DVD

Andy Griffith · Jun 15, 2009

I love this scene.

"He can't hit nobody from there...he's just waste'n his bullets."
"Maybe an old man like him needs a better target..."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23UhypY-pUg

Wyatt Burp · Jun 15, 2009

reddogge said:
Gus was a throwback just like his weapons I guess. Same as why I prefer guns built in the 30s, 40s, and 50s as opposed to the more modern guns.

Personally, Im the same way. When I go camping I sometimes have a 7 1/2" nickle colt SAA 45 under my pillow. And under my shirt. But Gus REALLY needs a gun everyday for practical reasons. A 29 year old four pound nine oz. Walker draggin' your pants down all day when lighter modern guns are availble seems a little crazy.

jimmyj · Jun 15, 2009

Hi:
Gus kept using the Walker Colt and Henry Rifle because He felt comfortable with these Weapon as They had given Him years of dependable service. I carried a Revolver and a M1 Carbine for most of My Career for the same reasons.
Jimmy

tyusclan · Jun 15, 2009

riverday said:
They said it originally came out in 1989 - this showing was supposed to be the "digitally re-mastered" version.
I wonder if it's available on DVD

Yes, it originally aired in February of '89, and it is available on DVD. I just bought my dad a copy for Father's Day last night at Wally World. He had mentioned the other day that he only had a VHS copy of it.

And I agree, it is THE best western of all time, and one the best movies of an genre ever.

Wyatt Burp · Jun 15, 2009

jimmyj said:
Hi:
Gus kept using the Walker Colt and Henry Rifle because He felt comfortable with these Weapon as They had given Him years of dependable service. I carried a Revolver and a M1 Carbine for most of My Career for the same reasons.
Jimmy

Regardless of what I said it was refreshing seeing different guns of the period being used by these guys, instead of everyone carrying SA Colt's like in John Wayne movies. Your use of a revolver and M1 carbine seems pretty modern by my standards. But to all my friends's with thier polymer autos I'm the guy who shoots "all that old stuff".

keith44spl · Jun 15, 2009

Wyatt Burp said:
Personally, Im the same way. When I go camping I sometimes have a 7 1/2" nickle colt SAA 45 under my pillow. And under my shirt. But Gus REALLY needs a gun everyday for practical reasons. A 29 year old four pound nine oz. Walker draggin' your pants down all day when lighter modern guns are availble seems a little crazy.

Ah, but the 44 Walker Dragon was the [44 magnum of it's day, it'd shoot through an Indian pony and kill the Indian ridin' on the other side shootin' arrows or rifle from under the horses neck at ya] Texas Rangers sidearm of choice, often carring a brace of 'em ol' horse pistols...

Su Amigo,
Dave

Xfuzz · Jun 15, 2009

I the book when Gus is buying clothes for himself and Lori...it refers to him
checking out one of the "new" light Colts. He passed.

Wyatt Burp · Jun 15, 2009

keith44spl said:
Ah, but the 44 Walker Dragon was the [44 magnum of it's day, it'd shoot through an Indian pony and kill the Indian ridin' on the other side shootin' arrows or rifle from under the horses neck at ya] Texas Rangers sidearm of choice, often carring a brace of 'em ol' horse pistols...

Su Amigo,

Dave, Gus was shooting a conversion. If so wouldn't the cartridge caliber have to be a current (for the time) round like 44 Colt or something? A caliber of power level common in newer lighter guns? I noticed in a closeup the gun was converted. If he was meant to be carrying a percussion Walker, then that completely justifies his reason for carrying that big gun for the reasons you mentioned, Dave. I haven't seen the movie in a while but I think the only time Woodrow Call shoots a gun is to scare vultures off of dead Gus. Gus gets to shoot lots of people.

Onomea · Jun 15, 2009

Re why Gus had a 4 lb 9 oz Walker, you will recall it came in handy when he clocked that surly barkeep.

swilli41 · Jun 15, 2009

I've read all four of the Lonsome Dove series and it is a little difficult to keep up with the timeline as well as the guns of the day. One thing I find interesting is that McMurtry borrows real incidents and incorporates them into his books. For example, when Call brings Gus' body back to Texas for burial, that was inspired by the fact that Charles Goodnight brought the body of his partner Oliver Loving back to Texas from New Mexico. That's not to take anything away from McMurtry.... he is one hell of an author.

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