Monte Walsh (2003)

As the 20th century approaches, the West is coming of age.

And the West coming of age represents a real problem for Selleck’s title character, who wants to remain a cowboy for the rest of his life.

That’s going to be tough because the small ranches are shutting down and the syndicates that are taking their place care little for loners on a horse.

Even the best cattle punchers — like Monte and friend Chet Rollins (Keith Carradine) are having trouble finding work.

Monte’s lover, aging saloon girl Martine (Isabella Rossellini) would love to see him settle down to a married life. Chet does just that, marrying a widow and taking over the operation of a hardware store.

But for every well adjusted former cowboy, there seems to be someone who can’t find a new way — like Fighting Joe Hooker, who rides his horse off a cliff rather than being stuck riding fence the rest of his life.

And like “Shorty” Austin, a friend of Monte and Chet who’s laid off from his bronc busting job, accidentally shoots a marshal and finds himself on the wrong end of the law.

Review

Intelligent, sharp looking remake of the 1970 film, though Selleck et. al couldn’t bring themselves to duplicate the dour ending of the original.

They do sprinkle the film with lots of nice little details, like fly swatters giving way to fly strips as the West comes of age.

And they keep most of the plot intact, including Monte’s love for a saloon girl — a love he can’t quite put above his love for being a cowboy.

Selleck, as usual, looks at home on a horse and in a cowboy hat. But you’ll spot plenty of other familiar faces, including Barry Corbin (“Northern Exposure”) as a storekeeper and William Sanderson (“Deadwood”) as a cook sorely in need of a bath.

Very nicely done. Watch it. You won’t be disappointed.

Directed by:
Simon Wincer

Cast:
Tom Selleck … Monte Walsh
Isabella Rossellini … Martine
Keith Carradine … Chet Rollins
George Eads … “Shorty” Austin
Robert Carradine … Sunfish Perkins
Barry Corbin … Storekeeper Bob Alderson
James Gammon … Fighting Joe Hooker
William Devane … Cal Brennan
Joanna Miles … Sairy Brennan
Lori Hallier … Mrs. Mary Wilder
Rex Linn … Hat Henderson
John Michael … Robert Slocum
William Sanderson … Skimpy Eagens

Score: Eric Colvin

Runtime: 119 min.

Memorable lines:

Cowboy: “You could break a leg doing that.”
Monte Walsh: “I got two.”

Chet: “What are we doing here, Monte?”
Monte: “We’re cowboying, Chet. It’s a hell of a life. Cowboy can ride down to Texas, up to Canada and back again and get paid for it. Hell of a life.”
Chet: “Yeah, a hell of a life.”

Monte: “I’m not doing nothing I can’t do from a horse.”

Chet: “Nobody gets to be a cowboy forever, Monte.”

Monte: “I don’t know much about love, Martine.
Martine: “That’s alright. I know enough for both of us.”

Lori Hallier as Mary Wilder in Monte Walsh (2003)

William Devane as Cal Brennan in Monte Walsh (2003)