Faithfully based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Larry McMurtry, the eight-hour four-part CBS miniseries Lonesome Dove was a thinking person’s Western in the tradition of such classic films as The Searchers(1956).
At a poetic pace, the story concerned a group of retired Texas Rangers driving cattle north from Texas to Montana, with the trail standing as a metaphor for life in all its cruel, astounding variety.
Augustus McCrae (Robert Duvall) and Woodrow F Call (Tommy Lee Jones) seemed unlikely candidates for adventuring with their rangering days long behind them and their south Texas Lonesome Dove ranch safe and prosperous.
Woodrow was a driven man with no use for money, women or fun who survived by bossing the hands: their former scout, Deets (Danny Glover); ex-ranger Pea Eye (Timothy Scott); and young Newt (Ricky Schroder) – who may have been Woodrow’s son.
More philosophical and more devoted to life, Gus whiled away his time drinking and visiting the local “sporting girl” Lorena (Diane Lane).
Woodrow and Gus were an odd pair, which is what made them so fascinating.
Off in Arkansas, another ex-Ranger, Jake Spoon (Robert Urich) fires a buffalo rifle in a bar and accidentally kills a dentist across the street.
Like a cue ball shot into racked billiard balls, the errant bullet sends a cast of thousands into motion, careening into each other in totally unexpected – and often fatal – ways.
Jake runs to Lonesome Dove and casually suggests the cattle drive. The odyssey immediately appeals to Woodrow, and Gus goes along in the hope of finding his lost love, Clara (Anjelica Huston).
Lorena hitches up with Jake, who is fleeing Sheriff July Johnson (Chris Cooper). When July’s wife Elmira (Glenne Headly) goes off on her own to find an ex-lover, more people head off to find July.
All these travellers lead us through a litany of Western characters and disasters – snakes, stampedes, Indians, outlaws, ambushes, hangings, scalpings and natural calamities. Sometimes death comes from evil people like Blue Duck (Frederic Forrest); sometimes it comes from carelessness, and sometimes it just comes on its own, inexplicably.
Screenwriter Bill Wittliff condensed McMurtry’s massive book admirably, eliminating some characters and incidents without losing McMurtry’s tone or narrative drive. But all things considered, the book made it to the screen remarkably unscathed.
Beautifully shot by Douglas Milsome and gorgeously scored by Basil Poledouris, Lonesome Dove was a critical and commercial success.
Viewers flocked to the series, making it the biggest event of the 1988-1989 TV season. Its rich narrative encompassed courage, mule-headed obstinacy, loneliness, honour and sacrifice, and the series served as a respectful and yet critical portrait of the men America reveres as pioneers.
The miniseries received 18 Emmy nominations, including best miniseries and acting nods to Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Duvall, Diane Lane, Anjelica Huston, Danny Glover and Glenne Headly. It also received nominations for directing and writing. Curiously, the series was virtually ignored when it came time to hand out the awards.
Two sequel miniseries’ were produced – Return to Lonesome Dove (1993) and Streets of Laredo (1995). A 44 episode television series – Lonesome Dove: The Series (later titled Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years) – was produced between 1994 and 1996. All had different casts.
Augustus ‘Gus’ McCrae
Robert Duvall Woodrow F Call
Tommy Lee Jones Joshua Deets
Danny Glover Pea Eye Parker
Timothy Scott Newt Dobbs
Ricky Schroder Lorena Wood
Diane Lane Jake Spoon
Robert Urich Blue Duck
Frederic Forrest Dish Boggett
D.B. Sweeney Clara Allen
Anjelica Huston Sheriff July Johnson
Chris Cooper Elmira Boot Johnson
Glenne Headly Roscoe Brown
Barry Corbin Lippy Jones
William Sanderson Jasper Fant
Barry Tubb Dan Suggs
Gavan O’Herlihy Luke
Steve Buscemi Big Zwey
Frederick Coffin Allan O’Brien
Travis Swords Old Hugh
Ron Weyand Soupy Jones
Lanny Flaherty Needle Nelson
David Carpenter Jimmy Rainey
James McMurtry Ben Rainey
Charlie Haynie Bert Borum
Sonny Carl Davis Po Campo
Jorge Martínez de Hoyos Bolivar
León Singer Bob Allen
Thomas Connor Roy Suggs
Jerry Biggs Sally Allen
Missy Crider Eddie Suggs
Sean Hennigan Betsy Allen
Lauren Stanley Frog Lip
Julius Tennon Joe Boot
Adam Faraizl Cholo
Jack Caffrey Bill Spettle
Jimmy Ray Pickens Sean O’Brien
Bradley Gregg Janey
Nina Siemaszko Old Sam
Robert Donley Dee Boot
Michael Tylo Monkey John
Matthew Cowles Mary
Nada Despotovich Buffalo Heiffer
Margo Martindale Xavier Wanz
Pierre Epstein Dog Face
David Ode Peach Johnson
Helena Humann Sally Skull
O-Lan Jones Pedro Flores
John Quijada Charlie Barnes
Max Evers
Woodrow was a driven man with no use for money, women or fun who survived by bossing the hands: their former scout, Deets (Danny Glover); ex-ranger Pea Eye (Timothy Scott); and young Newt (Ricky Schroder) – who may have been Woodrow’s son.
Screenwriter Bill Wittliff condensed McMurtry’s massive book admirably, eliminating some characters and incidents without losing McMurtry’s tone or narrative drive. But all things considered, the book made it to the screen remarkably unscathed.
