On Story 717: Trail Stories: The Making of Lonesome Dove

[@slammajamma5435]

My favourite film ever. I’ve loved it since 88 and have watched it too many times to count. Bravo to the people who ensured that it was all it could be.

[@tringe22]

Josh Deets : Served with me 30 years. Fought with me in 21 engagements with the Comanche and Kiowa. Cheerful in all weathers. Never shirked a task. Splendid behavior.

[@abear35]

There's hardly a day that goes by where a Lonesome Dove quote isn't called for. Best TV miniseries by far, and for my money the best film ever made.

[@sandrakellar1985]

My favorite Western of all times. Still get so emotional watching it!

[@2WOLFS]

With all the outstanding actors, Robert Duvall playing Gus was what made this whole show come together. What an amazing character that Robert brought to the screen. Robert Duvall has always been a great actor, but in every movie he has actored in since Lonesome Dove you can see a little Gus in every character Duvall has played. One of Duvall greatest character ever and will be for us.

[@georgiamule]

They were all geniuses for making the greatest miniseries ever made. Thank you to all of them.

[@thomasc.5219]

Just think if it had a better director. It be remember as one of not just best western of all time but best pieces of TV of all time. Idk if the director was inexperienced or what but some camera shots and blocking were way off. Also some of the ADR choices were terrible. Only flaw in the title. A better director would have gotten those amazing western shots, for as much ground is covered in this, there are no truly great shots. Nothing that blows you away of how grand the country side was. And when shots of the open were done, it lacked cinematography. Just looked like b roll of countryside

[@dhan7072]

The best movie ever hands down. I don’t recall many other movies getting the attention and respect like Lonesome Dove has gotten. I just about quote a line or two from it every day 🤠

[@michaelrutledge7048]

I’ve watched LD so many times, I feel I’ve become part of it and lived it. Without a doubt, the best western ever made.

[@moofdoggmike]

THE best miniseries ever... actors at the height of their craft in this outstanding story.

[@BigWheelHawaii]

The Horsemanship,,, In This Movie,,, Is Simply Outstanding,,

[@tommaddox1028]

I am so lucky to have been alive when this western was released and. watched it. It was so emotional a truly great movie

[@bones549]

Damn thanks. I was a child and watched with my mom. Until the day she died it was her favorite. I still watch it a few times a year.

[@Harleylovinchelley1]

That movie just got inside of me. I have it on DVD and I have to make sure I have about five hours with nothing else to do because I can't shut it off, I have to watch from start to finish.

[@tangomcphearson74]

One of the absolute best movies (Mini-Series) of all time.

[@danielcarrasco5047]

In all honesty, Lonesome Dove is my all time favorite movie. I feel like I know all the characters. That scene where Gus is dying and Woodrow whispers his name "Augustus...." That gets me every time because you feel Calls pain at losing his best friend.

[@thomasc.5219]

Robert Duval and Tommy Lee became those characters. It's not often you see actors get fully invested in characters but they became them so well you believed that's who they were. Also the chemistry between all the actors was great. I dont think Danny Glover gets enough credit for the job he did. Also the actor who played Blue Duck. He was a great villian. I think one problem I had with movie is Blue Duck didnt have a bigger role for as great of a villian he is. Just a couple more scenes been especially since he kills julys party and disappears. Gus and July should been looking for revenge especially gus for the rapes and beatings done to laurie. think some scenes where gus, july and deets go tracking him down and getting close to getting him but Indians come and one of them gets hurt bad so they have to give up. Think something like that be nice. Not complaining. It's a great western just wished Blue duck got a bit more action

[@funwithFred]

I've been bawling all day.......

[@fratersol]

Mine too growing up as a kid. I was born in 1984 and used to watch lonesome dove so much I could quote every character's lines for the entire movie and I was like 9 or 10...

[@2WOLFS]

Gus wasn't just calling best friend. They were as close as any two brothers could be. They knew each other like their own hand. That was the first thing you could see within the first 30 minutes. They loved each other, respected and honored each other. They knew just what to do or say to tick each other off. But, they also knew when each other was dead serious and was being truthful to the core. I know this because I have 2 younger brothers who are almost the same. And I have a sister that's 11 years younger than me. It's very hard sometimes to divide the role of an older sister and the role of the mom. But, it's fully understanding the relationship between Gus and Call, P.I., Deeds and Nute. They all were a mixed group of family and friends. Our family is so much like these characters. We have friends that are still this close and our children were raised kind of like Nute because all the blood relatives and close friends because you're aunts and uncles, mom or dad if you're isn't there. We know how each would want it to be. We take that as a very serious responsibility. So did all the cowboys when it came to respect for each other. When Lonesome Dove was brought to tv as a mimi series, we gathered every day and cooked out and set around in the room and ate, talked, and soaked the show in. When Gus died, we all were shocked, and even the guys had tears in their eyes. We understood that the loss of Gus was going to affect all of the show. Because we had that bond with our family and friends. We were a horse family, we rode every chance we could. Living in the mountains of Tennessee we cut trails though woodlands, creeks up and down mountain sides with cliffs to move around, and we knew our horses would care for us as we cared for them. But, we also roped cattle, competed in quarter horse and walking horse shows. The series of Lonesome Dove was in everyone's home. From VHS, DVDS, and still every time it comes on tv, we are watching it. You don't have to be looking right at the tv screen, you know the seen and the lines by heart. Our children some 45 years old, now still enjoy Lonesome Dove and their children, and we are still a horse family. One of our top picks and always will be. It will always be a master piece for us.

[@possum9562]

I LIKE THIS IVE READ THE BOOKS WATCHED THE MOVIE AND THEE SERIES !!! AWESOME STORY THANK YOU !!!

[@waymoreblues]

Best Western ever made, I’ve seen it 25 times and Bill Wittliff was my brothers little league baseball coach and I grew up with his kids

[@tommywarren4633]

If you haven't seen Comanche Moon you need to, it's about Gus and Woodrow when they were young Texas rangers, and it shows everything that Gus and Woodrow talked about in lonesome Dove, after seeing Comanche Moon, you have the pictures in your head when Gus and Woodrow talks about the past.

[@StillAtMyMoms]

The best damn TV miniseries ever made.

[@tommypetersen2540]

Your wrong, it's one of the best films EVER!!!

[@debisybesma5855]

lonesome dove became my ALL TIME FAVORITE movie from the week it aired to.....as long as i live! there is no other above it or comes even close to lonesome dove imo!! after the airing, i needed to find the book which i STILL have several copies of and the fact that it was sooooooo long made reading even better!! it was the first movie and book that stayed sooooo true to each other that i have no problem spending time reading close to a 1,000 pages alllllll over again!!! used to be, the thicker the book, the better i liked it but i looooooove lonesome dove!!!! it's funny thru out this piece how many people told these folks "can't can't can't!!!......." i'm so very happy these folks said "CAN CAN CAN and watch us work!!!!" can you imagine! what "we" would've missed out on had the "can't people" had their way?????

[@scottsheldon4788]

Favorite for me too even in 2020. I dust the DVDs off every couple years and it makes a great rainy day treat......

[@jeanninewriedt6150]

Loved the show Lonesome 🕊 Dove

[@ralphcorsi741]

I loved Londome Dove. So glad they made it

[@dmoney668]

Best film of all time. Thx for this

[@lynnsmithershubbard1896]

I had forgotten how much I truly enjoyed this movie. I had not read the book either before or after.

[@brettbuchler1306]

truly a brilliant blessed masterpiece

[@lightheart5340]

Best western ever made.

[@Garth2011]

Tom Selleck starred in some good ones too.

[@dustincarpenter3554]

Agreed!

[@tommywarren4633]

Best Western ever!!!!!

[@mmay6621]

Great book, greater movie. ❤❤❤

[@TMB247]

Favorite scene in any Movie Ever was the Horse smashing scene and the beat down w "Tommy Lee Jones" aka Woodrow saying "I hate rude behavior in a Man ... won't tolerate it... then Gus sneaks him out before the Army can do anything I Love this Min-series, I watch it every year Start to Finish

[@tringe22]

He didnt sneak him out... He knew Woodrow was in a “rage” and would have killed that man. Almost did. He just roped him to pull him back and get him calmed down. Agree - one of the best scenes in the movie!!

[@ianbauer4703]

Liked how the Army came in acting the boss and wanting the cowboys' horses and then Call shows up...and it all changes.

[@debisybesma5855]

one of the best butt kickin' scenes ever put to film imo

[@wendylemons]

My husband and 2 children know every line in Lonesome Dove

[@deluxe05rrt]

my hat off to everyone that had anything to do with this movie; it was the best movie i've ever watch; bar none!!!!! JUST FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@bobsullivan5714]

Lonesome Dove was all about the characters. The acting was the story.

[@Garth2011]

Agreed...not that many can pull that off these days. True acting is becoming a lost talent.

[@thomasc.5219]

I just wish Blue Duck got more scenes. He was a great villians.

[@TMB247]

So Happy that this was made

[@The_mini_farm]

Best movie ever!!!

[@pla5730]

Saddest part of the movie is when Augustus dies

[@patricec9927]

awesome film! great interview except when they were discussing hats i wished they would have explained why Deets wearing a military cap instead of cowboy hat.

[@terryelliott3183]

Just a word to all of us Lonesome Dove die-hard fans: read the book if you want a treat.

[@emersonlangstaff1527]

Amen. A truly engrossing, sad, funny and adventurous novel, just like the film! It is really Newt's story, and Lorena's as well. Larry is such a great writer that even with characters like Gus, Call, Deets...Newt, Lorena, Blue Duck, Rosco, Pea, etc. all "stole the show" as well! Just the best of all time!

[@ianbauer4703]

Come on, Larry McMurtry is the mother and father of Lonesome Dove. Don't forget the writers...Hollywood!

[@bohunter1949]

The only thing that makes me so sad. I can’t never watch Lonesome Dove again for my first time. 😂😂

[@melissajvaaganay4169]

Thanks.

[@sr633]

Remember the guy acting like a chicken scene and he caught a bullet in the stomach ? Awesome.

[@kk6aw]

You thinking about rooster cogburn?

[@cathyl2338]

😆😂

[@georgiamule]

Wedgenut Tanker The scene is when Gus is taking cover behind his down horse. His pursuers think he is out of range and one of them starts doing a chicken dance. Gus adjusts his sights for range and shoots the man in the stomach. Remember now?

[@soldtobediers]

''There are artists who'll wrest us up, and place us into themselves. These are the One's who'll continue wresting us up... Far beyond their appointed rests in peace.'' ~William Gilpin 22721

[@El_Jackalope]

People say they love Lonesome Dove and it's their favorite movie of all time and in their next breath say they've never read the book. I don't get it. You want more of the story? More to love? Read the book! Twice the story!

[@jimdawson2549]

Funny they said westerners are out when in 2020 (and 2019) the number one show is a western. The Mandalorian is the hottest show out there and it is a western.

[@ianbauer4703]

A Spagetti Western in space.

[@scottdavidson7001]

GREATEST WESTERN EVER.

[@TSALAGI1839]

GREAT intro music ! What is the name of it ?

[@samertallauze]

Blessings

[@Garth2011]

As for the "Coverage Dept", it would appear that group must be experts in "sit-coms" since they couldn't notice the quality content that came with Lonesome Dove. Regarding another comment they said "Westerns are out", they likely are out because the budget folks focus on the cost of Westerns so much that westerns aren't produced giving the impression no one will watch them anymore. I think much of those in "Hollywood" live in a bubble when they think this way. If all they (Hollywood) give the public is what "they want" and "in the budget" we'll all receive cheaply made films with a poor actors. It does seem to be true however, when the response is "it's too expensive" because those same people are producing films and TV today with actors who haven't excelled in their "profession". It's truly a joke that they thought this low of Lonesome Dove and it made them money. Now, how many other film ideas have not made it to the stage because they got shot down in the "coverage dept"? Likely too many.

[@mmay6621]

The only thing disappointing about Lonesome Dove is the sequel.

[@PrestonH-q5w]

RIP Bill

[@johnnyllooddte3415]

great series..great men and women..sad that quality shows are treated this way by executives... while trailer trash is promoted like wildfire

[@thomasc.5219]

I think overall the quality of TV has gone up. People def see the long term value in the medium. TV allows stories to take their time and not be rushed. It's why In the last ten years we have gotten some of the best TV shows and miniseries ever made. Sure there is trash TV but that has always been been the case not just something recent. I think TV is replacing movies as the go to for drama and adapting books. You just get more time to invest into the details of the story's and not just having to breeze over them.

[@Corgiwoman1]

I never hear or read anything positive about movie executives. Is it because they control the purse strings that people hate them or are they really this awful and stupid?

[@thomasc.5219]

Well I think they get a bad rap. Cause they have to make choices into what to invest lots of money into with the Hope's of getting that money back. Yeah we can look back at it and say it was a easy choice now. But at that time. Westerns were dead genre. They didnt make money and nobody wanted to see them. Also a example for today's executives is how few original ideas are being heavily invested in. They are only banking on movies with existing fan bases and brands. It's why we see so many sequels and reboots or comics and books being turned into movies. One failed blockbuster can kill a studio. It's a sad but true case for the movie world. It's why a large network channel like CBS could afford to do lonesome dove. They knew they had the older demographic that already watched the channel and were western fans from younger years. Knowing these same people probably wouldnt have gone to the movies if it were made into a movie. But they were smart enough to know a single or even movies wouldnt do it justice. By making a mini series and spreading it over a couple months they could create hype for the next installment while using the bonus of having the time to do the book right by having a total run time of 6 hours was a smart move on CBS part. They had the luxury to do what movie studios couldn't. Plus they were always able to make the money back from advertisement money, rental and VHS sales and not just ticket sales from the cinema. Studios need to make money from ticket sales in those first crucial weeks otherwise it can bankrupt them.

[@burtviile]

Did she call it her book?

[@Swarm509]

She owned the TV/movie option for the book, so in that format the book and story was hers to do with what she wanted.

[@ianbauer4703]

Yeah, she should have said Larry McMurtry's book, which she optioned. But guess she owned the rights to it.

[@michaeltylercoleman1330]

Getting over on. Or tyler

[@timnell9423]

2:23 to even start getting to the point. No thanks.

[@MOAONAABE]

i want a poke