The Long Ride Home (2003) DVD cover
He’s disappeared because someone mistook him for a gunman named Jack Cole, forcing him to kill a man, and he decided running was better than putting his family through life with a wanted man.
He finds a son he never met. He finds a wife who’s now in love with another man, a sheriff named Hank Bowman (Eric Roberts).
But his trouble isn’t over yet.
The real Jack Cole, a madman pretending to be a deputy named Abel Hart, is out to kill Jack Fowler so he can reclaim his name.
And Lucas Moat (Ernest Borgnine) and his two sons are riding toward Cedar Creek, intent on evening the score with Jack Cole because he gunned down Lucas’ brother.
Randy Travis as Jack Cole, aka Fowler, on the watch for trouble in The Long Ride Home (2003)
Vaughn Taylor as Laura Fowler, a woman whose long-lost husband shows up in The Long Ride Home (2003)
Review:
Randy Travis does a surprising good job in the lead role; Eric Roberts is excellent as the lawman smitten with a woman whose supposedly dead husband suddenly shows up.
That’s the movie’s best plot device, because the idea of a maniacal gunman posing as a deputy to track down the man who “stole” his gunfighting name is … well, pretty silly.
Ernest Borgnine’s performance is a middling one. He’d fair better in a couple of Hallmark Westerns he made before his death in 2012.
Paul Tiner as Abel Hart, determined to claim the name Jack Cole in The Long Ride Home (2003)
Alec Medlock as Daniel Fowler, the young boy kidnapped for bait by a pretend deputy in The Long Ride Home (2003)
Directed by:
Robert Marcarelli
Cast:
Randy Travis: Jack Fowler / Jack Cole
Eric Roberts: Sheriff Hank Bowman
Vaughn Taylor … Laura Fowler
Alec Medlock … Daniel Fowler
Paul Tiner … Abel Hart
Ernest Borgnine … Lucas Moat
Steve Nave … Caleb Moat
Jeff McGrail … Kyle Moat
Garry Marshall … Arthur
Stella Stevens … Fiona Champyon
Runtime: 87 min.
Song:
“The Long Road Home” by Randy Travis
Eric Roberts as Sheriff Hank Bowman, the man who falls for Laura Fowler in The Long Ride Home (2003)
Ernest Borgnine as Lucas Moat, determined to avenge a son’s death in The Long Ride Home (2003)
Memorable lines:
Laura Fowler, when Jack Cole shows his knowledge of the Bible: “Daniel, never forget: Satan knows every word of the Bible.”
Shop owner’s wife, urging him to return to New York: “This place is filled with cutthroats and killers and dangerous men.”
Shopkeeper: “Nothing ever happens here.”
Wife: “How can you say that?”
Shopkeeper: “Because even during the war, you were the scariest person in this place.”
Daniel Fowler: “Please, Mr. Cole, can’t you just forgive? It’s not too late for you.”
Able Hart, aka Jack Cole: “Nobody wants you’re self-righteous salvation, preacher boy. I hold all the cards.”
Randy Travis as Jack Cole, aka Fowler, enjoying a reunion with the wife he left behind in The Long Ride Home (2003)
Steve Nave as Caleb Moat and Jeff McGrail as Kyle Moat, on the vengeance trail with their dad in The Long Ride Home (2003)
Paul Tiner as Abel Hart, attacking Laura Fowler (Vaughn Taylor) in The Long Ride Home (2003)
Alec Medlock as Daniel Fowler with Jack Cole (Randy Travis), the gunman who shows up at the Fowler ranch in The Long Ride Home (2003)
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I love “The Long Ride Home”! Randy Travis had great looks for playing this part, and his acting talent ranks right along side his marvelous singing abilities. I personally think he is even better looking today than when he was younger. As they say, ‘He can put his boots under my bed any time!’