Lonesome Dove Reviews

• No Other Western Comes Close To This One

  
  By A11PTCZ2FM2547 on 2002-12-03
  I've seen LONESOME DOVE so many times I've practically got the six hours of dialogue memorized. Yet I'll keep watching this excellent adaptation of Larry McMurtry's epic novel, over and over again. Why? Two words: compelling story.

  The friendship of Augustus McCrae and Woodrow F. Call is the underlying theme of LONESOME DOVE; it's the motor that drives the story. When these two weathered former lawmen steal a herd of cattle from Mexico and set off for Montana for one last grand adventure ("I wanna see that country," says Call to Gus, "before the lawyers and bankers get it."), the stage is set for a Western with plenty of humor, action, violence...tragedy.

  This production makes McMurtry's unforgettable characters literally leap off the page. Robert Duvall IS Gus McCrae...Tommy Lee Jones IS Woodrow Call. Both performances are so vivid and on target the viewer is transported seamlessly to McMurtry's story, a story centering around the undying loyalty and friendship of these two men.

  LONESOME DOVE is a film that will entertain you, take you over the full gambit of human emotions, then after six hours leave you begging for more. Jones and Duvall lead a stellar cast in a remarkable film that has but one weakness: it has to end. And McMurtry's story is told--told so well that no other Western even comes close.
  
  

• My favorite Duvall role

  
  By A34PNHKNM05TXD on 2000-02-20
  It is finally nice to get the entire Lonesome Dove epic on DVD. While I have to agree that the picture is not as pristine as I would have liked, it is definitely better than the VHS version that I own. The sound is Dolby Digital mono, but surprisingly good.

  One thing to note - the movie breaks at the same break points that the mini-series did when broadcast. After approximately 1.5 hours, the credits roll, and then the next section starts. Not that bad, but a little clunky. The interview snippets with Larry McMurtry are kind of insightful and nice to have.

  Robert Duvall is really incredible in the role of Augustus (Gus) McCrae. The man is the character. I found I was laughing to myself all over again at Gus's western philosopher dialogue, and wishing that we all thought a little more like him.

  If you loved the VHS version and want a better copy, buy this DVD. Though not crystal clear, it is an improvement over my old VHS copy and with instant chapter access, much more convenient to view.
  
  

• Try for the "Cabin Fever" version

  
  By A37OY9KZMAONUE on 1999-12-12
  I have the original four-tape, 172 minute version of this five-star miniseries. It's 132 minutes longer than the version which is currently available from Hallmark. I love the work that Hallmark has done on it's other films, but they really did "Lonesome Dove" a disservice. If you locate the version on Cabin Fever Video, grab it.
  
  

• A Hell of a Vision.

  
  By A4BWRDMRF4637 on 2004-02-28
  I have just finished watching the six hour Lonesome Dove for the fourth time; yet, it is a rare movie I will even watch twice. I own the DVD, and I will certainly be watching it a fifth time. Comparisons of Lonesome Dove to other TV movies don't begin to do it justice; this movie deserves comparison to any Western ever made, and it stands up well to any one of the most highly considered (The Searchers, Unforgiven, Shane, High Noon, The Good, The Bad & the Ugly, etc.). This is a story of character and nuance much more than plot and action, with many small moments that will stay with you long after the story is finished...a saloon owner grieving over the loss of his prostitute (his love)...the hanging of a friend...an attempt at telling a boy he is your son....the burial of a friend...two old warriors saying goodbye in so many words (while there is much humor in the story, there is also overwhelming sadness, and do expect very major characters to have tragic endings to their lives). Lonesome Dove is bold enough to tell an epic story (and in doing so, demytholyzing the history of the West, and showing us how brutal and painful the settling of the West really was) by focusing on these small moments. There are something like 75 or 100 speaking parts in this movie, and it is uniformly excellently cast (with the exception, in my opinion, of Angelica Huston, who I always thought seemed out of place in this Western setting). If you are wondering whether this is worth owning, believe me, you will never regret it.
  A postscript: since I wrote my review I have noticed that there are a number of idiots out there unfairly ripping this movie for being shorter than the original. The original series was indeed EIGHT hours long. However, it was made for TV and had something called commericials. These had the effect of reducing its running time to about SIX hours, as my review notes. I have seen several DVD versions of this and have never seen one that was edited or cut, which is why they neglect to warn you on the box. Just get the movie, watch it, and ignore the bozo comments.
  
  

• get the other edition!

  
  By on 2003-01-24
  Be warned: this edition of "Lonesome Dove" is cut down to 240 minutes, from the original 360. This is perhaps the greatest television miniseries ever made, and it would be a shame to see it in anything but its complete form. Spend the extra couple of bucks to get the other DVD edition! My rating of the movie itself would be five stars, but this cut version is a terrible injustice.
  
  
• As to run length...
  By A3UT75Z4PPGTS2 on 2003-11-17
  According to Amazon.com's "technical details" link for this item, the total run time is 240 minutes. According to IMDB, the miniseries first broadcast in 1989 runs 384 minutes. This jives with my recollection of four two-hour episodes, with commercials, broadcast in the winter of early 1989.

  So YES, this is an edited version: Almost 2-1/2 hours have been removed. That seems a fairly severe abridgement. I wouldn't consider buying such a chop-up of this great, great Western. Five stars for the original film, one star for chainsaw editing.
  
  

• Incomplete
  By on 2003-12-02
  Just a note for the viewer in Minneapolis...the original miniseries was EIGHT hours long, not six...any edited version of such a classic, especially when 25% has been cut, is bound to be disappointing...
  
  
• Horrible video transfer
  By on 2000-02-16
  For a movie of this caliber, Hallmark and Artisan showed no respect in transferring this western epic to DVD. The movie looks like it was copied from an EP version of the videotape.

  The picture quality was grainy and dark. Much of the movie is blurry. You can actually see the scenes getting lighter and darker as the movie progressed. It was so bad, I could not watch the movie after the first hour. The Cabin Fever version on video tape was so much better.

  I am going to try and get my money back for this poor effort. Please, do NOT buy this version. If you have to, rent it first. Hallmark and Artisan have managed to make the worst DVD I have ever seen.
  
  

• A severe case of editing
  By A2IW7PRQN1MJW6 on 2003-11-08
  I saw the original Lonesome Dove series on TV and fortunalely was able to tape it. After buying a DVD player I bought the DVD because of the supposedly better picture quality and no commercials.

  Was I ever dissapointed. Parts of the program were edited out as the story went along. The unforgiveable sin was the abrupt ending of the story leaving out atleast a third of the story and the conclusion.

  I want my money back.

  Bob Glover
  
  

• False Advertising
  By on 2003-11-15
  To top things off, Lonesome Dove has released two versions of their film. The full length version (released some time ago) is out of stock per Amazon. The new version is 2/3 the film. But both versions show the same reviews on Amazon. So check the technical details to be sure the version that you are buying is the full length.
  
  
• BRILLIANT REMASTERED PICTURE AND SOUND
  By A2KUKU5WASAV7M on 2008-08-03
  No matter how many times you've seen Lonesome Dove, it's NEVER looked or sounded this good. The old DVD was fuzzy and soft, the sound muted, this new 2 disc set has crystal clear images and fabulous stereo sound. Friday night we started watching LD again, Part One on the old fuzzy DVD that's been around for years...I bought this new edition and WOW...it's stunning, the clarity, the landscapes, sunsets, it's well worth buying this again for this MAJOR upgrade in picture and sound.
  
  
• The Greatest Miniseries of All Time, but Shortened?
  By A3AKPY4LXIC24O on 1999-10-26
  I have read reviews that this version of the miniseries has been edited down to 4hrs time? If so, what the hell is going on? This was by far the best movie for television I have ever seen (for that matter one of the best movies I have ever seen). The version I saw was a two tape set, with very good quality and the entire movie. How do you remove two hours from a movie where everything shown is integral to the film? Robert Duvall's performance was so awesome in this movie, and no other performance was lacking. The story was heartwarming and tragic and a testament to the talent of Larry McMurtry. Rerelease the enitre miniseries, for integrity's sake!!!!
  
  
• Running Time Confusion
  By A18BCA3OPRKSDB on 2004-10-10
  I borrowed the 2-DVD set from a friend with the same picture on the front as the one shown here. The back of the case says the running time is approximately 6 hrs. Amazon shows the running time as 240 min.
  
  I went to the last chapter of each of the 4 episodes and fast-forwarded to the credits. The running time was between 1:25 min and 1:32 to the start of the credits and credit time is counted in movie length.
  
  There are a couple of minutes under 6 hrs of running time not including the credits.
  
  I have never seen Lonesome Dove but an 8hr mini-series, from back then, would have about 2hrs of commercials. Today there would be more.
  
  In short, the whole mini-series is on the 2-DVD set.
  
  
• Excellent, and complete
  By APIJRI0DFRPX3 on 2004-03-21
  I am very pleased with this movie, I own it on vhs and was not disappointed with the picture quality on dvd. This is the complete 6 hr miniseries, (minus the networks commercials that made it 8 hours). The bonuses are great!
  
  
• One of the best things ever done for television.
  By on 2000-02-22
  Although the phrase "made for television" conjures up the images of the tabloid story of the week and women-in-peril films; Larry McMurtry's epic novel "Lonesome Dove" would not have been given justice in any other format. Television allowed that magnificent work to be brought to life in some form resembling the novel. The six hour running time enabled character and storyline development that would not have been possible if the novel had been adapted for theaters.

  Although it does have the jarring breaks that marked where a commericial interuption had once been and it's share of television stars (Urich, Shroeder, Corbin); "Lonesome Dove" is movie big. Big stars. Wonderful cinematography. Great locations. An authentic look. A terrific score. The producers, cast, crew, and director went the full measure to ensure that this movie did not look or feel like a "movie of the week" production.

  Personally, I believe it, along with "Roots," to be the finest work ever done in the medium of television. It really does make you feel for its characters. The viewer will cheer and hope for them, and when tragedy occurs, as it does throughout the film, it will shake the viewer. Nobody is safe: comic relief characters, children, and, even, experienced Rangers. McMurtry drives home the message that death in the Old West could occur to anyone at anytime with shocking suddenness. In the end, Captain Call looks back and remembers his friends and comrades who did not return with him. As he does, tears come to the eyes of this taciturn character; and rest assured he is joined by many in the viewing audience.
  
  

• If you own a DVD player... you have to get this movie!
  By A10PTYBG7V0J0E on 2000-08-20
  Point blank... the best western ever! Oh... you aren't a big fan of westerns? Well that's okay. Lonesome Dove holds it's own against any drama, action adventure or comedy. It's everything wrapped into one. The only negative thing about this movie happens to be the very thing that makes it so good... it's 6 hour length. That is why the DVD version is a must. You don't have to mess around with 3 or 4 video tapes. This is one of the few "westerns" that the ladies truly enjoy. Lonesome Dove is not all gunfights and saloon brawls, but it's not at all boring either. It is filled with witty dialogue and humor. It's perfect for lazy rainy days. The actors chosen were perfect for their parts. Trust me on this one. I'm not some nerd who loves splattering my movie reviews all over the internet. In fact this is the only movie review I've ever done. Get it!
  
  
• Don't buy this highly abridged edition
  By AQOSAASZWASPC on 2002-05-30
  The original is great, but the original
  is a 4-tape set, and the version for sale
  here is a 1-tape set.

  I got mine and was outraged. I haven't
  taken it out of the plastic, but I can't
  imagine one tape holds the entire 6-8
  hour mini-series.

  It is staying in the plastic so I can
  return it. Today.
  
  

• Disappointed in Orlando
  By on 2003-11-19
  DVD is edited.

  However, they give you lots of bonus material that you can use as "salt in your wounds" while you steam over the hacked up product.

  I was very disappointed. How do you justify changing such a well received classic?
  
  

• Lonsome Dove
  By A1Q7VQOVMHE76D on 2005-02-12
  While the two DVD disks were wonderful, what happened to the rest of the story. It does not end in Montana, but back in Lonsome Dove when Call brings Gus's body back. How do we get that third disk and the rest of the story. It seems that if you sell and ad a product, you should sell the complete story and not just part.
  
  
• You've Never Seen Lonesome Dove Like This!
  By A2XG72B7VL5OMA on 2008-08-05
  I pre-ordered this Blu-ray disc when I saw that it was going to be available. I was sceptical as to how much better it would actually be than the DVD version that I already owned. Let me tell you, it is COMPLETELY different. Seriously, the clarity, film quality and Dolby 5.1 surround make this Blu-ray a MUST HAVE for any fan of this Western epic! It is in widescreen for the first time, and honestly, it makes the movie so much crisper and perfect that you seriously just have to see it for yourself to believe it! The extra content on the discs are incredible too. There are interviews, on-set, with the actors talking about the movie, and there are interviews with the author of the book and with the director of the film. They are all so insightful, and you will learn things about this film that you never knew before. But the picture and sound quality are beyond a doubt the best part of this. Just buy it and you'll see for yourself! Definitely get this movie on Blu-ray if you love this movie, because you'ver never seen Lonesome Dove like this!
  
  
• Beyond a mere Western -- simply a great American epic
  By A1NSMQIF1C2VCE on 2000-12-20
  I was indifferent when my mother first suggested watching a videotaped miniseries a friend had loaned her. All I knew of Larry McMurtry was that he'd written "Terms of Endearment," and that didn't exactly entice me. Besides, I hadn't seen a good Western in years (this was before Clint Eastwood's "Unforgiven," of course) and thought of them as a played-out genre, only watched by old men who had no interest in contemporary fiction.

  How wrong I was. "Lonesome Dove" is an astonishing miniseries about heroism, friendship, dreams, men, women and everything in between. This extraordinary series drove me to the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, which I've read repeatedly (no mean feat, since it's a hefty book). The characters are as real to me as any I've ever encountered in fiction, and even now, years after first meeting them on that tape, they can make me laugh and bring me to tears, every time.

  Because even though McMurtry and the miniseries do a good job of conveying the amazing sweep of the West, and the action is shocking and brutal, it's the characters that make this work. Robert Duvall has said that Augustus McCrae is his favorite role of all time, and it's easy to see why: Gus and Call embody the two extremes of fictional heroes -- the rogue and the straight arrow -- but McMurtry, Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones bring them to life as fully fleshed-out men, with internal contradictions, fatal flaws while still being extremely admirable and charismatic heroes.

  Many people have praised McMurtry's women, and I'll echo that sentiment. Diane Lane and Angelica Houston in particular shine in their roles, which may not be starring ones, but are substantial and meaty, loving without being unrealistic. Their characters are plot engines but, as with Call and Gus, they're fully realized people.

  "Lonesome Dove" stands the test of time as one of the greatest TV miniseries ever and, more importantly, a wonderful American saga. Buy this DVD and watch it again and again, then dive into McMurtry's four "Lonesome Dove" novels.
  
  

• Only buy the DVD version!!
  By A3HP76CJSBDHV0 on 2002-03-07
  If you made it this far, go a little further. Under "Explore this video" you will see the run time of the VHS tape is 240 minutes. The DVD run time is 360 minutes. Hmmmm....
  Well, be warned, an intellectually challenged movie distributor has decided to edit 2 hours from Lonesome Dove! That is like touching up the Mona Lisa!

  This miniseries was unique and may never again be equalled, at least in the Western genre. It is 6 hours of riveting televison, and trust me on this folks, you can't find 5 minutes of this former miniseries to edit out. To cut anything out was a serious diservice to anyone who has not experienced this.
  Probably what I liked most was the thoroughly convincing portrayals of this cast. There were none who did not project an aura of believability, and each was so convincing that you may forget you are sitting in front of your television. I remember the time I rented this 6 hour series in 1994 not knowing what to expect. What I found was I did not get up from my couch for 6 hours. I was moved by the entire movie, and rarely does any movie elicit emotion in me. Gus McRae and Woodrow Call, backed by an absolutely fantastic supporting cast, will bring your televison to life.

  Towards the end, when Woodrow is doing a favor for Gus, and doing so at the risk of his own life, the whole West hears of his exploits. In some dusty cow town somewhere, a local sees him, and reading of the story, questions Woodrow Call.
  "Just why are you doing this anyway?" he asks. Call looks back and says "Because I gave him my word." The local, thinking for a second, looks back and says "I can see that you did" and walks away. It is a perfect description of the character of Woodrow Call. Maybe the best mini-series to ever grace televison. Just make sure you see all of it.
  
  

• Concerned about getting an edited version? Read here.
  By A5RGVWWLR7Z4L on 2007-09-06
  I recently bought this for my dad for his birthday. I remember watching it when I was younger and I always liked it, but the version we had was recorded from TV and was terrible quality, especially because it is now almost 20 years old. It is an excellent series, but you can decide that for yourself if you choose to buy it.
  
  My decision to write this review is designed to help the potential buyer who doesn't want to get ripped off. I read most of the reviews before buying this product, and time and time again I came accross people who complained about purchasing an edited version with much of the content removed. Many of those reviews were old, so I didn't know if I was getting a newer version with the whole story of some other version that was edited. Hopefully this will help.
  
  It appears that Amazon sells 2 versions of the DVD (I know nothing about the VHS versions so this review does not apply to them). The version I bought (ASIN B00005Y6YB) is listed as 360 minutes in length and is ranked in the top 500 in Amazon's top sellers. It was released by Hallmark. The DVD box lists the run time as 6 hours, which is what you would expect after removing commercials an 8 hour TV miniseries that is split into 4 parts. Amazon's price is listed as $8.49.
  
  Another version of the series (ASIN B00003IPFK) is listed as 360 minutes as well, but is listed at about #48,000 in the top sellers and is priced at $13.75 (only available from independent vendors). Seeing how few people bought this version and how much more it costs, I would avoid it.
  
  The version I bought is ASIN B00005Y6YB and it is complete. Perhaps the people who gave bad reviews did not receive the same version I bought. Amazon lists the same reviews for both, so it's possible that people gave poor reviews to a different version and those reviews got mixed in with the complete version's reviews. If you want to be sure you are getting the complete series without editing, I would recommend searching the ASIN so that you don't have to pick and choose between versions. Be sure you check when you get the product that you have the full 6 hour version. I hope this helps!Lonesome Dove
  
  
• A rich well-adapted film
  By A5B1FSNA8KU1U on 2002-09-29
  Based upon the Pulitzer Prize winning novel, Lonesome Dove is the best adapted novel of all time for any screen. I personally despise seeing any film based upon a novel that I have read due to the inconsistencies between the novel and the screen version. Lonesome Dove, the novel, not only captures the spirit of the old west better than any other novel I have ever read, but the mini-series nearly follows the novel page for page.

  What makes the screen version so much better is the fact that the acting is first rate. Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones legitimized their casting with first rate performances. Their roles were originally written for John Wayne and James Stewart, but I don't think that the performances of those actors could have equaled Duvall and Jones. Diane Lane had the perfect demeanor for the beautiful but esteemless prostitute who is forever to be abandoned. Robert Urich, the eternal good guy was perfect as the scheming weak-willed former Ranger. I'm not certain how Lonesome Dove faired at the Emmy's, but it certainly should have won in every category for which it was eligible.

  If you want to see a well acted tale of the old west in which the time period is legitimately portrayed, see Lonesome Dove. If you don't want to be disappointed by a film that was adapted from a novel you have read, see Lonesome Dove. There is no aspect of this film that takes away or attempts to enhance the novel from which it was adapted. Do yourself a favor and see Lonesome Dove.
  
  

• NOT THE FULL LENGTH ORIGINAL VERSION
  By on 2003-09-30
  This version is only 2/3's the original. While I don't consider Lonesome Dove to be as great a film as The Unforgiven, consider The Unforgiven being cut down to 2/3's it's original length. Would you consider it to be worth considering over the original. I doubt it. Major character development and plotlines would have to be cut.

  Lonesome Dove, in my opinion, is one of the greatest, if not the greatest mini-series to ever play on television. Robert Duval and Tommy Lee Jones give Academy Award deserving (if it was on the big screen) performances.

  However, everyone should wait for the original, full length version to come out on DVD. I know I will.

  If this DVD had been the original, it would recieve 5 stars.
  
  

• Not a cropped 4:3 image...
  By A24G7LLW6GLKW9 on 2008-08-05
  People who are complaining about a cropped 4:3 image are wrong, at least according to the director. Simon Wincer says in the new bonus features that Lonesome Dove was orginally shot on film in widescreen and was actually previewed to the media and VIPs in that format. It is that widescreen film master that was used to produce the new DVD and Blu-Ray releases.
  
  
• Fantastic movie, Fantastic DVD!
  By on 2000-02-24
  Let me begin by saying that Lonesome Dove is one of my favorite movies--and books--of all time, so I may be a bit biased.

  However, I found the new DVD version to look fine, sound great, and have more features then I could have possibly expected.

  I agree, having a widescreen edition would be even better. BUT: Remember, there is no "original theatrical version" like the reviewer below suggested. It was MADE FOR TV, and thus made FOR the Pan-and-Scan format. The VHS and laserdisc versions were also pan-and-scan, which makes me wonder if it was even filmed in widescreen to begin with.

  All that aside, Lonesome Dove is simply a phenomenal movie, and the DVD does great justice to it.
  
  

• Lonesome Dove -- A Rarity
  By AK7IDQJN31163 on 2002-04-27
  How many times have we all gone to see a movie adaptation of a book and exited the theater with the words, "it was all right, but the book was better," on our lips? Very few Hollywood writers and producers can ever make a movie script as good as a novel. Not so with Lonesome Dove! Never before in all my reading and viewing of fiction, have I laughed and cried so hard for a group of characters. Although the screen play was not written by Larry mcMurtry, the author of the award-winning novel, the screen writer did a wonderful job in trimming down this epic novel into a movie script that captures the spirit of a beautifully crafted tale of friendship, adventure and love. Everything from the music, to the cast, to the visuals make this a must-see for both fans of the book and for those who have never enjoyed westerns. It is a tale of two ex Texas Rangers, Captain Augustus McCrae, (Robert Duvall) and Captain Woodrow Call, (Tommy Lee Jones) who give up ranching in the town of Lonesome Dove, Texas, steal horses from a Mexican bandit and start out on a cattle drive for Montanna. They take with them and encounter along the way, a vast assortment of characters who make the trip all the more enjoyable for the viewer. Some notables among these are the renegade, Blue Duck, portrayed perfectly by Frederic Forrest, who brings this cruel villain to life straight from the pages. Also, Clara Allen, palyed by Angellica Houston, who is the strong-willed old flame of Gus. The two things that stand out the most for me in this movie are the wonderful musical score, composed by Basil Poledouris, and the depiction of the life-long friendship between Gus and Call. Friendship has been the theme of countless stories, but seldom is it portrayed so vividly, without being overly sappy, as it is in a story. I always come away from the movie feeling that friendships like that of Gus and Call are as easy to find today as a cattle drive. Another outstanding quality of the book and movie is the feel of authenticity the writers and crew bring to it. While certain aspects of the movie are a bit cliche, (Gus riding off to save the lady in distress), other aspects are very real, (the water moccasin episode and Jake's hanging). These qualities, both real and fiction blended together, make Lonesome Dove a truly epic tale that can accurately be called an American classic. Sometimes funny, sometimes heartbreaking and often unpredictable, it is a masterpiece that is worth watching at least once!
  
  
• Positively the best there�s ever been.
  By APYCNRS112N2B on 2000-03-02
  Not a man to use many superlatives, Lonesome Dove, for my money is the best of the long form TV dramas. It's a superlative story (unfortunately not found in many of Larry McMurtry's other works) and patiently delivered, never forced, the tale blooms.

  Could there be any more memorable performances than Tommy Lee Jones as Woodrow Call and Robert Duvall as Augustus McCrae? The strength of the characters combined with the skills of these actors, provides a marvelous experience for us. We are indeed humbled in their presence.

  With each tale of this epic, we meet wonderful new and diverse characters, delivered by such outstanding performers as Diane Lane, Danny Glover, Frederick Forrest, Chris Cooper. Even the on again, off again types, the Barry Corbins, the Glynne Headleys, the Robert Uhrichs, the Anjelica Hustons, all shine in their roles.

  Robert Duvall many times has commented on how lucky he was to be blessed with the opportunity to play Gus, indeed it is us who are the lucky ones.

  1001 plaudits to director Simon Wincer, who indeed, caught lightning in a bottle with this wonderful effort..
  
  

• Not the full lenght version
  By on 2003-08-03
  The original TV version of Lonesome Dove was 384 minutes long.
  This DVD version has been cut to 240 minutes,so be warned if you want the original version.
  
  

• Return to Lonesome Dove
• Broken Trail (Two-disc)
• Comanche Moon
• Open Range
• Dead Man's Walk