"Lonesome Dove" (1989) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.9/10   

Director:

Simon Wincer

Writers (WGA):

Larry McMurtry (novel)
William D. Wittliff (teleplay)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

5 February 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Drama | Western

Plot:

Epic story about two former Texas rangers who decide to move cattle from the south to Montana. Augustus...

Plot Keywords:

Montana | Cattle | Texas | Texas Ranger | Cattle Drive

Awards:

Won 2 Golden Globes. Another 14 wins & 17 nominations

Cast

Robert Duvall

...

Augustus 'Gus' McCrae (unknown episodes)

(more)

Series Directed by
Simon Wincer		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Larry McMurtry		(unknown episodes)
William D. Wittliff		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Suzanne De Passe	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)
Robert Halmi Jr.	....	co-executive producer (unknown episodes)
Dyson Lovell	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Michael Weisbarth	....	supervising producer (unknown episodes)
William D. Wittliff	....	executive producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Basil Poledouris		(unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Douglas Milsome		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Corky Ehlers		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Lynn Kressel		(unknown episodes)

Series Production Design by
Cary White		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
John Frick		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Michael J. Sullivan		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Van Broughton Ramsey		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
Jean Ann Black	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Manlio Rocchetti	....	hair styles supervisor / makeup supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Dick Gallegly	....	production manager (unknown episodes)
Joel Hatch	....	production supervisor (unknown episodes)
Adam Merims	....	assistant production manager (unknown episodes)
Ruben R. Munoz	....	post-production supervisor (unknown episodes)
Larry Sherwood	....	electronic post-production supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Matt Bearson	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Robert Rooy	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Dean Semler	....	second unit director (unknown episodes)
Candace Suerstedt	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Catherine Davis	....	assistant property master / property master (unknown episodes)
John Huke	....	special art projects (unknown episodes)
Neale Joudrie	....	property wrangler (unknown episodes)
Amy Morrison	....	scenic artist (unknown episodes)
Jay Raymond	....	leadperson / set dresser (unknown episodes)
Eric A. Williams	....	property master (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
James L. Aicholtz	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Kay Colvin	....	utility sound (unknown episodes)
G. Michael Graham	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Michael Herbick	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Kristi Johns	....	adr supervisor (unknown episodes)
Donald F. Johnson	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Joseph Melody	....	supervising sound editor (unknown episodes)
Kevin O'Connell	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
Mark Steele	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)
Richard S. Steele	....	sound editor (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Lyn Caudle	....	special effects assistant (unknown episodes)
Robert A. Sturtevant	....	special effects technician (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Jesse Silver	....	matte artist / special visual effects supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
William H. Burton	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Jeffrey R. Clark	....	first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Glenn Dunn	....	electrician (unknown episodes)
Danny Eccleston	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)
Gary Jay	....	first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
William 'Bear' Paul	....	second key grip (unknown episodes)
Tony Poston	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
Don Reddy	....	camera operator (unknown episodes)
David Sanderson	....	second assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Dean Semler	....	cinematographer: second unit (unknown episodes)
John Sheeren	....	first assistant camera: "b" camera, second unit (unknown episodes)
Steve Spallone	....	best boy electric (unknown episodes)
Henry Tirl	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Celeste Gose	....	extras casting (unknown episodes)
Liz Keigley	....	casting: Texas (unknown episodes)
Stacey Rhodes	....	extras casting (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Annette Hoffman	....	key set costumer (unknown episodes)
Neale Joudrie	....	wardrobe (unknown episodes)
Cheri Reed	....	costumer (unknown episodes)
Joan Thomas	....	wardrobe supervisor (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
Terry Blythe	....	assistant film editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Tim Boyle	....	score mixer (unknown episodes)
Jamie Forester	....	music editor (unknown episodes)
John Rotondi	....	scoring engineer: Y4 (unknown episodes)
Tom Villano	....	music editor (unknown episodes)
Dan Wallin	....	score mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Lee Stepp	....	driver: cast (unknown episodes)

Series Other crew
David 'Happy' Bone	....	wrangler (1 episode, 1989)
Joe Bowman	....	consultant: gun (1 episode, 1989)
Marlene Bergman	....	title designer (unknown episodes)
Anne Carr	....	craft service (unknown episodes)
George Corsillo	....	title designer (unknown episodes)
Michael Dellheim	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Tom Goodman	....	wrangler (unknown episodes)
Kathryn Korniloff	....	assistant production accountant (unknown episodes)
Jimmy Medearis	....	head wrangler (unknown episodes)
Sharon Medearis	....	head wrangler (unknown episodes)
Cynthia Upstill	....	script supervisor (unknown episodes)
Anne Wilson	....	key assistant production accountant (unknown episodes)
Brad Wilson	....	assistant: Robert Duvall (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Motown Productions
• Pangaea
• Qintex Entertainment

Distributors

• Artisan Entertainment (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• Astra Cinema
• Betta Entertainment (Brazil) (VHS) (compact version)
• Cabin Fever Entertainment (video)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS)
• Hallmark Home Entertainment (2001) (USA) (DVD)
• Image Entertainment (USA) (laserdisc)
• Via Vision Entertainment (2009) (Australia) (DVD)

Special Effects

• Makeup Effects Laboratories

Other Companies

• Helen Uffner Vintage Clothing  special thanks (vintage clothing rentals)

Runtime:

384 min | Brazil:145 min (video version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Singapore:PG | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Alamo Village - Highway 674, Brackettville, Texas, USA

Company:

Motown Productions

Trivia:

During the storm that hits early into the cattle drive, the herd of cows are struck by lightning, which is then conducted from cow to cow by means of the tips of their horns. This is a real phenomenon, known as "St. Elmo's Fire."

Goofs:

Continuity: When Deets removes the Mesquite thorn from Jake’s thumb, he grabs it with his fingers, and gets blood on them. When the camera angle changes, the thorn is on the end of the needle, and his fingers are clean.

Quotes:

Roy Suggs: What did you find?
Dan Suggs: Nothing but his old watch. Damn sodbusters!
Jake Spoon: You shot those two men for a watch?
Dan Suggs: Shot 'em, now I'm going to hang 'em.
Eddie Suggs: Hang 'em? Dang, you beat all! I've never heard of hanging dead men.
Dan Suggs: Shot 'em, now I'm gonna hang 'em, then I'm gonna burn 'em! Damn sodbusters. Can't ever be too dead to suit me.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Howard Stern on Demand: Robert Duvall" (2006)

This is the finest Western film ever made, bar none.

The Lonesome Dove mini-series contains every core element of a classic story of the mythic Old West: romance, tragedy, courageous and independent yet very human heroes, vicious yet believable villains, plenty of action, and the overall grit and determination of frontier life. These elements are all woven into an enthralling story centered on an epic journey across the American frontier--a cattle drive from Texas to Montana undertaken shortly after the Custer massacre. The movie is extremely faithful (in plot, dialogue, and characterizations) to the excellent novel by Larry McMurtry, and especially benefits from McMurtry's genius at narrative and story construction. What makes the film even better are the truly exceptional performances by the first rate cast, that includes Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones, Robert Ulrich, and Anjelica Huston, and the great musical score, which won a well-deserved Emmy. This is the kind of film about the Old West that only comes along once in a blue moon, and lovers of Old West stories and movies (as well as real-life cowboys) watch it over and over. In my view, it ranks above even the classics of Western film, including Red River, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, and Shane--and I love all of those films. Even though it is over six hours long, and technically a TV mini-series, it should be considered a great film.