MONTE WALSH (TV)

Summary

This made-for-television Western drama film, loosely based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Jack Schaefer and the 1970 film adaptation, tells of a cowboy's determination to hold onto the rustic ways of the past as the twentieth century approaches. The story begins in 1892 in the Wyoming Territory as Montelius "Monte" Walsh amuses himself by pranking the town's lawyer before heading out for a day roping cattle with his old friend Chester "Chet" Rollins and brash newcomer Frank "Shorty" Austin. Monte later reunites with his lover, European "countess" Martine, while elsewhere Chet shyly romances local widow Mary Wilder. Monte and Chet soon head up the mountain and spend a cold winter protecting the cows from the harsh weather, but when they return, ranch boss Cal Brennan admits that he has been bought out by Consolidated Cattle and can scarcely afford to pay them, forcing Chet and Monte to accept "regular jobs."

Monte reunites with a slightly resentful Martine and then meets his new colleagues, including stuffy Consolidated Cattle accountant Robert Slocumb and extremely fragrant fry cook Skimpy, whom the men soon take it upon themselves to scrub clean. Shorty attempts to tame a wild bay horse, and Monte bonds with an elderly war veteran who calls himself "Fightin' Joe Hooker" after the Civil War Union general defeated by Robert E. Lee. Skimpy gets his unpleasant revenge on the ranch hands for their trick, and Monte and the others get into a conflict with a couple of trainmen who purposefully startle Brennan's mustangs as they're being herded. Annoyed, Slocumb tells Brennan that the men have to pay for the damages out of their own wages, but Brennan, declaring that he would "lose his wife" for the hardworking, underpaid cowboys if necessary, refuses to accept the charges and forces Slocumb to back down. Martine sadly tells Monte that she's moving to another town 20 miles away, as there are few "clients" left for her in Antelope Junction, and he gives her money for the first time in their relationship, wishing her to start a prosperous new life.

Everyone is shocked when "Fightin' Joe," apparently gone mad, abruptly rides off a cliff to his death, and in learning that his real name was Albert Miller, the men begin trading personal details for the first time. Later, Brennan admits that, because of tight finances, he must let four – now three – of them go, and he regretfully picks the three youngest men, including Shorty. Mounting tensions prompt pointless and quickly forgotten scuffles amongst the remaining men, and Monte is disappointed when Chet reveals that he plans to marry Mary and give up the cowboy life for good. Shorty kills a man for the first time when a gunman suddenly corners pal Rufus Brady, but the man is revealed to be a marshal in pursuit of Brady for robbing a bank, and Shorty is forced to leave town in a hurry. After Mary and Chet's simple wedding, Monte rides 20 miles to visit Martine and admits that he is rethinking his "cowboys don't get married" position, but can't quite bring himself to accept an ordinary job and a settled-down life despite his love for her.

Monte manages to tame Shorty's wild horse, though he causes a good deal of property damage on the way, and he is spotted by a Colonel Wilson, who invites him to join a "Wild West" show and assume the exaggerated role of "Texas Jack Butler." Though tempted by the impressive salary, Monte can't bring himself to make a mockery of his cowboy lifestyle and tells Martine that he has rejected the offer. Later, Monte and the others discover that Shorty and Brady, unable to find work, have been rustling, or stealing and reselling cattle, and Brady ends up dead when Monte confronts the pair. Shorty returns to town and demands money from Chet, who refuses, and Shorty impulsively kills him. Monte sets out after the fugitive, but is distracted from his mission when he hears that Martine, who suffers from tuberculosis, is "in a bad way." He arrives in her town just in time to learn that she has died, and he takes a lock of her hair as he keeps a mournful vigil by her side. Shorty arrives, having guessed that Monte would be there with her, and, agreeing that there's "no use talking," the two former friends engage in a shootout. Monte fatally shoots Shorty, and he shares the story of taming the wild bay horse as Shorty dies.

Seven years later, as the twentieth century finally arrives, Brennan and shopkeeper Bob are surprised to see Monte riding back into town. He encounters Slocumb, who has risen in power at Consolidated Cattle and now drives an automobile, and then visits his old friends, learning that much has changed in town, including the prices. He explains that he's been looking for cowboy work, with moderate success, all over the U.S. and Canada, and when a young boy asks the "real cowboy" to teach him how to rope, Monte tells him to ask Brennan, on whom he has not yet given up despite his being driven out of business. On the way out of town, Monte is amused to see Slocumb stuck in the mud, suggesting that his newfangled trends haven't quite defeated the old ways yet. Commercials deleted.

Details

• NETWORK: TNT
• DATE: January 17, 2003 8:00 PM
• RUNNING TIME: 1:59:04
• COLOR/B&W: Color
• CATALOG ID: B:74074
• GENRE: Drama, western
• SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, western; Cowboys; Romance; Literature - Adaptations
• SERIES RUN: TNT - TV, 2003
• COMMERCIALS: N/A

CREDITS

• Tom Selleck … Executive Producer
• Michael Brandman … Executive Producer, Writer
• Bobby Roberts … Co-Executive Producer
• Steven Brandman … Producer
• John Albanis … Associate Producer
• Simon Wincer … Director
• Lukas Heller … Writer
• David Z. Goodman … Writer
• Robert B. Parker … Writer
• Jack Schaefer … Based on the novel by
• Eric Colvin … Music by
• Tom Selleck … Cast, Montelius "Monte" Walsh
• Isabella Rossellini … Cast, 'Countess' Martine
• Keith Carradine … Cast, Chester 'Chet' Rollins
• George Eads … Cast, Frank 'Shorty' Austin
• Robert Carradine … Cast, Sunfish Perkins
• Barry Corbin … Cast, Bob Alderson
• James Gammon … Cast, Fightin' Joe Hooker / Albert Miller
• Rex Linn … Cast, Hat Henderson
• John Michael Higgins … Cast, Robert Slocumb
• William Sanderson … Cast, Skimpy Eagens
• Wallace Shawn … Cast, Colonel Wilson
• Marshall Teague … Cast, Wallace 'Dally' Johnson
• Rick Ravanello … Cast, Henry Louis 'Sugar' Wyman
• Joanna Miles … Cast, Sairy Brennan
• Lori Hallier … Cast, Mrs. Mary Wilder
• Matt Cooke … Cast, Rufus Brady
• Ken Pogue … Cast, Old Doctor
• Zack Ward … Cast, Powder Kent
• William Devane … Cast, Cal Brennan
• Shane Pollitt … Cast, Joe Joslin
• Tom Edwards … Cast, Plump Lawyer
• Tom Glass … Cast, The Marshal
• Tim Koetting … Cast, Stocky Barman
• Bruce McFee … Cast, Burly Man
• Marty Antonini … Cast, Farmer
• Eric Keenleyside … Cast, Engineer
• Terry King … Cast, Trainman
• Peter Skagen … Cast, Fireman
• Michael Tod … Cast, Boy
• Gillian Carfra … Cast, Young Woman