Monte Walsh and Chet Rollins are long-time cowhands, working 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. Monte has a long-term relationship with prostitute Martine Bernard, while Chet has fallen under the spell of the widow who owns the hardware store. Camaraderie and competition with the other cowboys fill their days, until one of the hands, Shorty Austin, loses his job and gets involved in rustling and killing. Then Monte and Chet find that their lives on the range are inexorably redirected.
Acting
Selleck's career-best; he carries decades of unspoken history.
Cinematography
Golden-hour Alberta standing in for dying American West.
Score
Sparse, elegiac—lets silence do the heavy lifting.
Director
Simon Wincer
Tom Selleck
Monte Walsh
Isabella Rossellini
'Countess' Martine
Keith Carradine
Chester 'Chet' Rollins
George Eads
Frank 'Shorty' Austin
Robert Carradine
Sunfish Perkins
Barry Corbin
Bob the Storekeeper
James Gammon
Fighting Joe Hooker / Albert Miller
Rex Linn
Hat Henderson
John Michael Higgins
Robert Slocum
William Sanderson
Skimpy Eagens
Wallace Shawn
Colonel Wilson
Marshall R. Teague
Wallace 'Dally' Johnson
Rick Ravanello
Henry Louis 'Sugar' Wyman
Joanna Miles
Sairy Brennan
Lori Hallier
Mrs. Mary Wilder
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Selleck fought for years to make this after the 1970 Lee Marvin version; he personally financed part of the budget when studios balked at a 'slow' Western.
Based on Jack Schaefer's novel—the same author who wrote Shane—this adapts the lesser-known sequel that deliberately dismantles Western romanticism.
US
