Dead Man's Walk
Set in the Texas Republic in the early 1840's, a time in which three cultures - Anglo, Hispanic and Comanche - were in furious conflict over the same harsh land, we are introduced to Augustus McCrae and Woodrow Call, the heroes of Lonesome Dove.
Gus (David Arquette) and Call (Jonny Lee Miller) are young rangers, ripe for adventure, and they get it with the Texas-Santa Fe expedition, an ill-conceived effort on the part of some freebooters and adventurers to capture Santa Fe and annex New Mexico.
Led by the land pirate Caleb Cobb (F. Murray Abraham), and guided by the legendary Bigfoot Wallace (Keith Carradine) and his mountain-man friend Shadrach (Harry Dean Stanton), the group fights several engagements with the great Comanche warchief Buffalo Hump (Eric Schweig), is whittled down by the silent Apache, Gomez (Victor Aaron), and is captured without resistance by the Mexican army. Marched south by a resolute Mexican officer, Captain Salazar (Edward James Olmos), they survive bear attacks, ice storms, and the rigors of the barren desert known as the Jornada del Muerto.
In the end, they arrive at the leper colony of San Lazaro, where black and white beans are drawn to determine which of the invaders will die.
Accompanying the men on this trek is the colorful, amply fleshed whore known as the Great Western - Matilda Jane Roberts (Patricia Childress).
In Austin, Gus meets the love of his life, Clara Forsythe (Jennifer Garner), and in San Lazaro, they encounter the great English lady, Lucinda Carey (Haviland Morris), who, in the startling climax, helps them survive a last encounter with the wild men, led by the great Comanche, Buffalo Hump.
Member Reviews
Lonesome Dove Prequel Excels - bwod
After you've watched or read "Lonesome Dove", you might be curious enough to get the prequel, "Dead Man's Walk". It provides insight into the background of the two main characters, Augustus McCrae and Woodrow F.Call. But more than that, it's an exciting saga of life in the early west, along the Mexican border. Between fighting the Indians, the Mexicans, and the elements, there's little time to relax and enjoy the vistas. The Texas Rangers were assigned the difficult task of bringing order and safety to a rugged and wild area of America, before the Civil War.
Commanches, Apaches, and others ran wild, endagering the lives of everyone in the south-west. The only way to fight back was to install groups of Rangers, throughout the area who patrolled along the Mexican border. Lines were fluid, as Indians defended their native lands against American (European) invaders, and Mexicans protected their northern flank against "gringos" (Americans), intent on capturing Nuevo (New) Mexico.
Within this crazy scenario, Call and McCrae must make their way, learning about surviving in such a hostile environment.
David Arquette is excellent as the young McCrae, nailing the character that Robert Duvall originally brought to life in"Lonesome Dove"
This mini-series stands toe-to-toe with the original.
If you enjoyed the original mini-series, I suggest "Return To Lonesome Dove" as a good sequel. It's very true to the original, as well.
Member Reviews
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Lonesome Dove Prequel Excels - bwod
After you've watched or read "Lonesome Dove", you might be curious enough to get the prequel, "Dead Man's Walk". It provides insight into the background of the two main characters, Augustus McCrae and Woodrow F.Call. But more than that, it's an exciting saga ...