windust1 Review of The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky

The Ranger, the Cook and a Hole in the Sky (1995 TV Movie)

Excellent factual depiction of the early 20th century West

[10/10 · 3 August 2008]

This film realistically captures the mood and tempo of the time in the Idaho-Montana forest wilderness. The emphasis on social relationships and hard work in remote settings is amazingly accurate. I was surprised how close the film story-line replicates the true story of my grandfather as Selway NF Ranger from 1927-1942 and that of my father growing up in the Selway forest at that time, including his assignment to run a telegraph line solo on horseback along the Lolo Trail to Missoula, MT. In 1930 my grandfather, also a WWI Army Chaplain, married my parents at Lowell, ID. In 1933 the Selway forest was burned out and my grandfather reassigned to the Forest Supervisor's office in Grangeville, ID. Notes from his diary reflect the scenes of the movie.