Dead Man's Walk (1996) User Reviews

True to the book

[Ralpho · 7/10 · 16 April 2001]

The author of the book "Dead Man's Walk" also wrote the screenplay for this film, which is obvious when one sees how closely the film adheres to the book. Although I have read the book in question, it didn't curtail my enjoyment of the movie.

One notices how closely the young actors portraying Gus McRae and Woodrow Call (David Arquette and Johny Lee Miller) resemble older versions of the same characters as actualized by Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones. My guess is that making that resemblance a fact was of paramount importance to the filmmakers, as the primary audience for "Dead Man's Walk" has already seen "Lonesome Dove" and would be disappointed if Arquette's performance didn't recall Duvall's and Miller's work wasn't reminiscent of Jones'.

Although it may have been primarily a marketing decision, the strong resemblance between young and old Gus and Call works for me and, oddly enough, binds the two miniseries together.

May we now see a miniseries based on McMurtry's second prequel, "Comanche Moon"?

Keith Carradine was Simply Terrific

[spencerthetracy · 7/10 · 26 August 2007]

I've watched this movie about 4 times, and really enjoyed the personifications of these historic characters (albeit apocryphal).

Johnny Lee Miller and David Arquette are very convincing as Gus and Woodrow. The most memorable performance is easily that of Keith Carradine. He portrayed Bigfoot Wallace, a larger than life frontiersman, who actually outlived the firing squad at Saltillo, in a clever, poetic and humorous way. The only downer of the movie, is the same with any and all Larry McMurthy films: they're depressing as hell! Death, tragedy and sufferin'! And as with all of his films, the conquering will of the human spirit shines through. A fine example of a Western film.

Series as flat as the book.

[IvoryCamaro · 6/10 · 17 December 2005]

Dead Man's Walk is a series based on the book of the same name by Larry McMurtry. I've read the book and found it to be OK, if a little flat. At just over 500 pages Larry doesn't get into characterization like he did in Lonesome Dove. Where we would get entire pages dedicated to back stories of characters, he merely gives us a paragraph here and there.

The series has a good cast except for one glaring short-coming; David Arquette cast as Gus McCrae. To me that would be akin to casting Chris Rock as Jules in a prequel to Pulp Fiction. The story itself is very interesting but what happens in detail is not so much. The entire first hour of the movie is almost pointless. Other than introducing the great Indian warrior's Buffalo Hump and Kicking Wolf, there really isn't anything that is that important, both in the book and in the series. McMurtry really likes killing off people in the Lonesome Dove saga doesn't he? Don't expect much in terms of emotional sine waves, it just isn't going to happen. It's a decent movie but not very memorable.

TRUE Texas History, compressed for drama

[tron-12 · 12 June 2001]

While the previous comments praise the actors' style and likeness in terms of their forebears (Jones and Duvall), this movie is a pleasure to watch by way of the incredible scenery and the presence of several veteran character actors like Harry Dean Stanton, Keith Carradine, and the always awesome, Edward James Olmos. Fans of "O Brother Where Art Thou" will be pleased to see Ray McKinnon and Tim Blake Nelson featured prominently. I also noticed all of the previous comments were written by Yankees, so I might point out that the landscapes are a bit flawed (albeit beautiful) in terms of Texas-New Mexico geography. I've been to all of the places described in the book... believe me, most of West Texas is flatter than they let on! The sunsets are accurate, as are the rocky buttes, but they're using the Davis Mountains of the Big Bend region as the backdrop for most of the film, and that's a bit of a stretch. If you ever want to see some of the most beautiful scenery in West Texas, visit there sometime. The real places they traveled weren't always so pretty. I found that the actors didn't seem to be struggling for food and water as much as the characters in the book. Survival (man vs. nature) is a big part of the novel, and doesn't feature too prominently here. I kept getting hungry and thirsty while reading it! McMurtry mixes in a lot of real events with the narrative. You might think this stuff is fiction... it's not! Bigfoot Wallace was a real character and was known to have done many of the things this character experiences. The real Bigfoot survived to tell the tales as a seasoned old fart. The Santa Fe expedition is real.. and what happens to them is real. The Comanches as the lords of the plains? You bet! The were the kings of the Llano Estacado for 200 years. Buffalo Hump was real Comanche chief... his real name, Hard Penis, was too much for 19th century Texans so they gave him the new moniker. The descriptions of torture? McMurtry uses real sources.. he doesn't have to make this stuff up to be shocking... it really happened! The timeline is a bit compressed for drama, but the Texans of the 1840's lived this stuff. The Black Bean drawing is also real, but it happened in Saltillo Mexico and 17 guys drew black.

For a dose of Texas History, you can't beat Dead Man's Walk. Read the book! But don't be afraid to read James Haley's "Texas: From Frontier to Spindletop". It's the real deal and includes just as much gore, drama, and adventure.

Great, but no Lonesome Dove

[Bry-2 · 7/10 · 22 April 2005]

This is a wonderful evocation of its period. The writing, direction and especially the acting are all above average -- even David Arquette does a reasonably successful job of playing a 30-years younger Robert Duvall-as-Gus-McCrae. He may be imitating Duvall's performance somewhat, but he does a decent job -- it's quite believable that this Gus McCrae developed into the later one.

Jonny Lee Miller -- so tight-lipped it's sometimes unbelievable -- does a good job with a thankless role -- "Corporal" Woodrow Call, as the young Clara dubs him (to Gus's consernation).

Jennifer Garner played Clara very well. Her flirtatious flippancy is both alluring and endearing -- and only a little annoying.

Edward James Olmos is perfect, as usual. He's one of my favorite actors, has been since Zoot Suit.

The costuming and setting are exemplary and very true to the pre-Mexican War Southwest.

The only technical/historical problem I have with this film is the weaponry. The flintlock muskets and rifles don't sound correct, and don't discharge nearly enough smoke. (SEMI-SPOILER COMING) No firing squad would shoot with bayonets attached (they detract from accuracy). But the mixture of Colt's Patent Revolvers (tm) and single-shot pistols was correct.

Of course this work pales in comparison to the book -- even the excellent Lonesome Dove was no match for the book. But this is far superior to the L-D sequel, Streets of Laredo.

Thrilling Adaptation of Larry McMurtry book

[dbellmyer · 10/10 · 25 June 2005]

This is a great adaptation of the Larry McMurtry novel. The script follows the novel very closely, which is the number one requirement of any film adaptation of McMurtry's work. McMurtry's dialogue compels readers to fall in love with the characters, so it must be preserved. David Arquette and Jonny Lee Miller are very believable as young versions of Gus McCrae and Woodrow McCall. Arquette has even picked up some of the physical mannerisms that Robert Duvall used earlier in Lonesome Dove. Patricia Childress really captures the role of the tender-hearted young prostitute Mattie Roberts. Eric Schweig is chilling as the dangerous Comanche Chief Buffalo Hump, and the stunt work by Judson Keith Linn when doubling for Schweig is fantastic. The sequence where he rides down one of the Texas Rangers and scalps him from horseback is thrilling and terrifying. An equally terrifying nighttime sequence involves Buffalo Hump chasing down Gus on foot during a lightning storm and spearing him with his lance. The cast is full of noted character actors including Brian Dennehy, Keith Carradine, Harry Dean Stanton, F. Murray Abraham, and Edward James Olmos. Olmos is particularly effective as Mexican Army Captain Salazar. I love this mini-series, but it should not be compared to Lonesome Dove. Every adaptation of McMurtry books is different, using different casts, etc. Don't compare them, just enjoy them!

Enjoyable and realistic T.V viewing.

[RatedVforVinny · 7/10 · 10 March 2020]

This old fashioned style T.V western yarn has some brilliant actors and is a prequel to the famed 'Lonesome Dove'. The strongest aspect of the story is seeing these Texas Rangers battle it out against the fearsome Apache and (lesser known) Comanche warriors. Although the show has quite a sentimental romance running through the three episodes, it also shows more than a few white folk getting scalped; a fate worse than death (but usually resulted in the latter). The quality of the cast raise it above the normal viewing standards and anyone who enjoys Westerns will certainly enjoy. Watching this it might put the Comanche at nearly number one, as bad-ass Indians as they hone torture down to a perfection.

One whopper of an Epic

[kickatree · 10/10 · 21 December 2003]

What a truly wonderful miniseries.I laughed, I cried and I even saw a British Lady riding nude through the desert. It scared the dickens out of the "savages." There was never a dull moment. From the time the series began to the end this band of Texans lost comrades but kept up the fight. How many ways can you kill a Texan? This picture shows you. Seriously; I really great epic to be enjoyed on DVD...all 270 minutes of it in one sitting.

Ambl

[kennprop · 7/10 · 31 December 2019]

Ambling thru TExas.Madmen,adventurers, drunks ,skunks, gamblers,pirates, savage Indian tribes, and those meek or noble Mexicans.It's Exas forsure. Carradine and Shad steal the show.Murray A takes a crazy turn. Olmos seems kind of flat. Several bit players do well.The Indians are clearly superior in this film and most white people don't have a clue. One wonders how the Indians were beaten. They were beaten by hiring other Indians to fight on the Texas side,of course. Call is Ok in his role Gus is one of iffy.It's thought to be an icon and the story does not pace along very quickly.

A tale of two young men coming to age in the wild west.

[bluesman-20 · 10/10 · 20 January 2008]

Dead man's Walk is the beginning of the Lonesome Dove Saga. Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call are just starting out in the Texas Rangers and have no idea of what they are doing for Call it's Duty above all else. For Gus it's the thrill of adventure. Both men don't know just how much danger and death await for them on their first patrol. Jonny Lee Miller and David Arquitte do a fine job as Gus and Call. Miller in particular carries the movie on his shoulders his portrayal of Call is very good. the rest of the cast is outstanding Keith Carradine deserves special mention for his role as Bigfoot Wallace he adds to the movie greatly. A outstanding movie which adds and enhances the Lonesome Dove saga This is a fantastic beginning to an legendary tale of heroes and incredible story telling

It's solid but not without flaws

[rich_w_z · 7/10 · 27 March 2022]

I'm a Texan and as such it's hard to take the obvious mistakes made in reference to Texas geography. One minute they're supposedly on the staked plains near the Palo Duro Canyon (in the TX Panhandle) and then suddenly they're showing mountains in Southwest Texas near Big Bend National Park. Then there's the Grizzly Besr incident. At that time there wouldn't have been any more Grizzly's left in Texas where they did once range a very long time ago. With all that said, this is a good movie and enjoyable to watch. I was impressed with how the Comanches were portrayed with some very accurate depictions of Comanche horse prowess. The acting is solid. It was nice to see it was filmed in Texas in areas where I've done a lot of hiking and camping.

Samuel Beckett Goes West

[kaaber-2 · 10/10 · 4 May 2005]

I have yet to understand exactly why this three-part western series fascinated me as it did. I haven't even seen part one yet, but apart from top notch performances from all (Carradine, Arquette, Abraham and Stanton are great, Childress truly touching, Olmos wonderfully understated as always, and Jonny Lee Miller showing himself as an unchallenged champion of micro-expression, with a face that speaks volumes without moving a muscle) I was swept off my seat by the lyrically philosophical undertow that became increasingly clarified - though never too explicit - as part two progressed. The rough rangers are gradually transformed into a Community of Saints (to quote Lionel Trilling's phrase), suffering patiently as they are subjected to random killings, first in the shape of a blind captain shooting right and left, later from a diabolic Apache assassin ("he's nibbling at us!", Carradine exclaims) and random executions as they arrive at their journey's end (without ever reaching their destination) - finally to be surprised by Grace Personified, in the shape of an opera-singing leprous lady.

At first, after having seen the ending (and a marvelously abrupt ending it is, bringing Chaplin's "City Lights" to mind), I thought of comparing it to the best of Eastwood's later films or Ford's "The Searchers". But "Dead Man's Walk" is not just a western, and it quietly and modestly indicates a meaning that goes beyond the plot - I believe it is Theatre of the Absurd at its very best. Samuel Beckett might have written this, or Harold Pinter.

Not even the tacky fade-outs to commercial breaks could ruin this ingenious gem for me.

It not only stands up to the brilliant "Lonesome Dove" - in my mind this prequel surpasses it. I understand scriptwriter MacMurtry is also responsible for "Brokeback Mountain" which I have yet to see.

Not historically accurate

[bajatexan · 5/10 · 6 April 2010]

Larry McMurtry always takes some liberties with history; however, he went off the reservation when dealing with Dead Man's walk. He portrayed the Mier Expedition as a "small undertaking" including having Big Foot Wallace and 3 others executed during the black bean selection. This whole section of the story was full of inaccuracies. There were 17 men executed --- and Big Foot Wallace wasn't one of them --- he lived to a ripe old age. Its a good story, however the cast was somewhat lackluster. I've read all of the McMurtry books and can see the characters come to life as in Lonesome Dove. I couldn't say the same for this adaption.

An all around GREAT western.

[MissyBaby · 17 January 2004]

I got this movie off of Netflix for one reason. I wanted to see Eric Schweig as legendary Buffalo Hump. But, about a minute into the movie, I started loving everything about it. As soon as the movie started off and we saw the old woman saying "beware of the dark woman on the white mule," it grabbed my attention and I knew it would be great. My whole family watched this movie together. My Dad, my Brother, my Mom, my niece and my brothers girlfriend sat there laughing, crying, just enjoying it, the whole way round. I'd have to say my favorite part is at the very end when the English Woman with Leporasy rode through the desert singing Opera and scaring the living daylights out of Eric. Another favorite moment was when Eric scalpped Zeke never slowing down his horse. Eric played the role to perfection. There were some snappy one-liners that my Dad and me still quote to this day. (Like that one about them green pastures!) I was surprised to see Jennifer Garner in the film and I was glad her and David Arquette's character, Gus McCray, got together in the end. I'd have to say my favorite character was Maddie. She hung in there. She reminds me a lot of myself.

I loved it and recommend it to anyone and everyone who likes westerns. Even if you don't like westerns I suggest you see this movie. I give it 9 out of 10. (A point is deducted for the fact that Woodrow walked away from Maggie in the end. I hated that.)

Really strong storytelling, humour, and cast

[osiang · 9/10 · 9 May 2018]

Like the original Lonesome Dove series, i'd say this one is about hardship, luck, and the diversity of characters that can fill up wild harsh times. The humour is really good and mostly revolves around the naivety of people in such dangerous unknown territory. The cast is the strongest thing about this series. I was expecting everyone to be attempting to fill in the traditional roles of a prequel (immitating the successful original's characters and mood) but this series has acting and characters that I've remembered for years after watching it as being all uniquely bizarre and also weirdly believable. The storytelling has a nice patience to it. It's a shame this isn't better known; I've read the original Lonesome Dove novel and loved it, and the same goes for the Robert Duvall Series (watch that first if u haven't already - it's really strong!), I enjoyed Return to lonesome Dove also but not as much as it gets a bit melodramatic and loses some of it's humour by that series. I've vaguely attempted to watch some of the other televised Lonesome Dove spinoffs/sequels (The Outlaw Years, namely) and couldn't get into them at all, rejecting them as crap pretty quickly. But Dead Man's Walk is a really nice thoughtful watch.

This is a well written and acted piece

[Mikeelliott58 · 9/10 · 24 August 2018]

Not exactly a 10 but not really a nine... kids becoming Gus and Call

True to the book

[heyitsenricopollazo · 8/10 · 23 June 2018]

I'm not sure I've seen a movie truer to the book as this one. The first couple of scenes with David Arquette as Gus are brutal, but he gets better due to the fact he looks like a younger Gus. Overall it's a great tribute to a wonderful book!

Doesn't Get Much Better, If at All

[birdonthehorizon · 10/10 · 16 May 2020]

It is better than good. Excellent and deep cast: F. Murray Abraham, Harry Dean Stanton, Jonny Lee Miller, Keith Carradine, Gretchen Mol, David Arquette, Brian Dennehy, Molly McClure, Tim Blake Nelson, Jennifer Garner. . . . Carradine, particular, delivers a powerful performance as a fatalistic veteran of the western wars. Brings McMurty's vision and tone right up off the page.

Great book, awful movie

[chinaskee · 1/10 · 1 February 2004]

Larry McMurtry's wonderful story of the early days of Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call has been transformed by the Hallmark Entertainment team into one of the worst film adaptations I've ever seen. All the blood and guts and dramatic intensity are gone. The scene where the boys have to ride through the buffalo herd to invite Buffalo Hump to parley is all of about 2 seconds long with no excitement whatsoever. In the book it was a nail-biting chapter that went on for about 20 pages. Don't waste your time. Just read the book instead. You'll be glad you did.

Great Prequel to "Lonesome Dove"

[Robert-87 · 27 January 1999]

In this prequel to "Lonesome Dove" based on the book by Larry McMurtry, we find a young Woodrow Call and Augustus Macrae just starting out as Texas Rangers and beginning to become men.

David Arquette is fantastic as the young Macrae and really captures the gestures and mannerisms that Robert Duvall put too such good use in Lonesome Dove. I was very impressed with his performance and had no trouble believing that he was the young Gus Macrae.

Johnny Lee Miller does not fare as well as the young Woodrow Call and it is hard to believe that this is the character that Tommy Lee Jones played in the original as there is little that ties their acting styles to the same role.

Visually, this is quite well done and comes the closest to Lonesome Dove in grittiness and open plain shots. The young Rangers are surrounded by eccentric characters played with great aplomb by the likes of Brian Dennehy, F.Murray Abraham, Keith Carradine, Harry Dean Stanton and Edward James Olmos.

Strong acting throughout and a crackling good story hilight this worthy sequel and it makes a fine addition to the lore that is Lonesome Dove.

Long and aimless

[keith-618 · 3/10 · 14 February 2021]

A good director could have made a half decent 90 min movie out of this but sadly this epic does not have a good director. It's way too long and little happens in a 500 mile walk across the desert apart from too many deaths. The cast are overall fine but considering that the Comanches are written as great survivors in the toughest desert conditions why are they all so overweight? It's all worth a miss.

Rent Texas, live in Hell

[chaos-rampant · 26 January 2013]

Some things are best left imagined, no?

The real reason this was made at all and secured such a broad canvas (4 hours) is that we were eager to revisit these people, Gus and Woodrow from Lonesome Dove.

The story is that they join up with a hopeless filibustering expedition to annex Santa Fe, the film mirrors the exhaustion, aimlessness, dashed dreams on no man's land. The tone is darker—there is scalping, torture, lepers. Young Gus and Woodrow are narrowly reduced to caricature, which is bound to disappoint, but they are mostly side-characters on the journey.

But Lonesome didn't just have the endless expanses of sky and prairie, the riding and shooting. Embedded in that was a richer journey of memory and dying, a whole mess of life already folded in and centered on the vision of women. What's more, it was the true article of myth, the eulogy a mid-19th century woman like Clara would seek in a Whitman poem.

Here, we just drag our feet through the desert and the women (the same women) are tacked on in the beginning and end.

Dead Man's Walk Review

[slska20 · 1/10 · 11 July 2005]

I just spent 5 hours of my life watching total crap. The story was boring, the acting sucked, and the ending was terrible. The only thing good about this movie is that it was a Western, and had characters named Woodrow Call, Gus McCrae, and Clara Allen. Well, having Jennifer Garner in the cast didn't hurt, but we only see her for about 10 minutes. Outside of that, it does nothing to tell a back-story or anything.

I rented this because I'm a huge Lonesome Dove fan and thought that while I'm sure it wouldn't measure up to the original, that it would be worth my time. I was VERY wrong.

A handsome production with a great whipping scene

[dinky-4 · 29 April 1999]

Larry McMurtry seems to be turning "Lonesome Dove" into a cottage industry, but this "prequel" works fairly well on its own terms. It's mounted in good-looking style and has a first-rate whipping scene wherein Jonny Lee Miller, stripped to the waist, is tied to the back of a wagon and given 100 lashes, the first 50 by one man and the second 50 by another. When that first lash hits Miller's bare back, you not only see it and hear it -- you FEEL it!

Not the best

[kliffnotes · 4/10 · 2 August 2013]

There were some elements of this film that I found unrealistic and caused me to stop watching. Here are a few examples. At one point, a group of well armed men sit and watch with horror as an Indian on horseback chases down and scalps one of their own. They were carrying long rifles and the distance was clearly within range of a Hawkins type rifle (let's say 100 yards or so). Even if they had been out of range, they could have mounted horses and moved up. In any case, in that situation, I'm sure any frontiersman would have shot that Indian right off of his pony. Also, in one scene, one of the characters picks up a severed turtle head. It looks realistic enough but from the way he squeezes it and it caves in without any resistance, one can see that the head is hollow and made of rubber. A little more careful handling by the actor would not have given this away although we all know a real turtle head wasn't used in filming.