The story begins in the small south texas town of lonesome dove, on the rio grande, as jake. Second, key parts of lonesome dove were filmed at alamo village near. Set in the closing years of the old west, the novel explores themes. Lonesome dove is a 1985 western novel by american writer larry mcmurtry. When tommy lee jones arrived to start shooting the epic tv miniseries lonesome dove, he already had the south texas accent and mannerisms down cold. Many notable films, including lonesome dove, all the pretty horses, cowboys and aliens, wild, wild west, 3. It was filmed in new mexico north and northeast of santa fe, as. Though lonesome dove filmed across texas, bastrop state park is featured prominently as is luck, texas, standing in for fort smith, arkansas. It is a four part adaptation of the 1985 pulitzer prizewinning novel of the same name by larry mcmurtry and is the first installment in the lonesome dove franchise. However, here are some facts about the classic which might surprise you. Brackettville, texas, served as the town of lonesome dove the set from john waynes alamo is still standing outside town. But more to the point, as significant as his bestknown achievements arehe wrote and coproduced the television version of larry mcmurtrys lonesome dove.
Kautz kraft greatest movie ever made, except jay and silent bob. The film is set in the north texas town of archer city and was filmed in and around the area. Though it was destined for the small screen, the films scale was vast. We studied maps of the cattle trail and the closest place we could find with a nice place to stay was laredo. The film is a great adventure for the whole family. A heartwarming, tearjerking old west saga, from the pulitzerprize winning novel by larry mcmurtry.
Captain woodrow call, now retired from the rangers, is a bounty hunter. Second, key parts of lonesome dove were filmed at alamo village near brackettville, texas, the site of john waynes standing set for his 1960 epic the alamo. The powerhouse cast for this lighthearted film also includes charlize theron, amanda seyfried, and liam neeson. Its been 27 years since lonesome dove premiered on cbs, and the cast and crew reunited in fort worth as part of the lonesome dove reunion and trail the reunion features a series of exhibitions and meetandgreets that celebrate the popular western miniseries. When his estranged son isaac is accused of robbery and. Lonesome dove, based on larry mcmurtrys novel, is about aging texas rangers cpt. Traveling through lonesome dove region of texas is a. Seach for information about lonesome dove around the web. With robert duvall, tommy lee jones, danny glover, diane lane. Wildcatters lonesome dove weekend features two nights accommodations sept.
The story centers around two retired texas rangers, who embark on their last cattle drive from west texas to montana. On the map, the town of lonesome dove was north of laredo i believe. Quiet outdoor setting nestled in the beautiful landscape of montana. Return to lonesome dove tv miniseries 1993 filming. The tv series plus the outlaw years was filmed in british columbia and alberta with most of the shots done on the cl ranch outside of calgary. Lonesome dove is the greatest western miniseriesno, to hell with the miniseries limitation. Everyone knows the 1989 miniseries lonesome dove has gone down in history as one of the most beloved westerns of alltime. After the civil war, an estimated 30,000 cowboys pushed nearly 10 million texas longhorns over trails to northern ranges and markets. Filmed in the texas border towns of del rio, laredo, and primarily eagle pass, lone. The series is an american western drama television series that debuted in firstrun syndication on september 26, 1994. It serves as continuation of the story of the miniseries of the same name.
The clothing and hat styles in lonesome dove, set in the 1870s, adhere fairly close to this 1907 photo of a texas cowboy taken by erwin e. For example, the town of lonesome dove is said to be in south texas less than 100 miles from the mouth of the rio grande river. The producers also went to bonanza creek ranch just outside santa fe. Starting the lonesome dove cattle trail wandering dawgs. It was filmed in new mexico north and northeast of santa fe, as well as southeast new mexico near llano estacato stockaded plains with some scenes film in the texas hill country, and further south in texas no. The actual town of lonesome dove was built on the nearby.
According to the internet movie database it was filmed in various spots in new mexico. Lonesome dove is a 1989 american epic western adventure television miniseries directed by simon wincer. Return to lonesome dove tv miniseries 1993 movies, tv, celebs, and more. I had heard rumors for years that the set was destroyed in a flood but always wondered how that could be because the set sat well above what a flood could reach. Come and enjoy and overnight stay at lonesome dove guest ranch. This is where they filmed lonesome dove tv series, shanghai noon and shanghai knights. Check it out and see for yourself or go to lonesomedoveremembered. Filming locations filming dates 1 filming locations. In april and may of 1988, texas novelist larry mcmurtrys pulitzer prizewinning novel, lonesome dove, was filmed in texas and later in new mexico for cbs television. Most fans are likely aware that the miniseries was adapted from larry mcmurtrys 1985 novel, which won a pulitzer prize. By gary vorhes, originally published in the april 1992 issue of western horseman. Karl urban real cowboys cowboys and indians cowboys men western film western movies old west new star trek movie wild west costumes.
The story begins in the small south texas town of lonesome dove, on the rio grande, as jake spoon, a former texas ranger and comrade of gus and calls, shows up after an absence of more than ten years. Brackettville, texas american cowboy western lifestyle travel. Read that that mcmurtry made them film the texas scenes in texas. He is hired by an eastern rail baron to track down joey garza, a new kind of killer, only a boy, who kills from a distance with a rifle. On tuesday we visited junes friend michelle, whos family owns the cl western town studio and backlot. Lonesome dove is an american epic western adventure television miniseries directed by simon wincer.
Mccrae, two famous retired texas rangers, run the hat creek cattle company and livery emporium in the small texas border town of lonesome dove. Be treated like family at our bed and breakfast and leave with a lifetime of memories. Since lonesome dove is a fictional place, we had to do some research to figure out where to start. Joined by his old compadre pea eye, it is a long ride to south texas and the mexican side of the border. The 22 most iconic movies filmed in texas wide open country. It is the first published book of the lonesome dove series but the third installment in the series chronologically the story focuses on the relationship among several retired texas rangers and their adventures driving a cattle herd from texas to montana. Lonesome dove fans and there are 195,439 on facebook alone and those interested in texas history can take their own tours anytime. Brackettville, texas american cowboy western lifestyle. With an allstar cast and clocking in at just over six. Robert duvall, tommy lee jones, danny glover oh bury me not on the lone prairie. The novel was based upon a screenplay by peter bogdanovich and mcmurtry, intended to star john wayne, james stewart. Theres even a permanent old west town set up there. Lake casa blanca didnt exist back then and laredo doesnt resemble the dusty, dry town of lonesome dove at all.
Return to lonesome dove the miniseries was filmed in montana and texas with most filming being done in nevada city, montana. John shepherd berenger is an itinerant preacher with dreams of building his own church. The actual town of lonesome dove was built on the nearby texasmexico border at the rio grande river on the moody ranch. With james garner, sissy spacek, sam shepard, ned beatty. The film company of motown productionsrobert halmi inc. Duvall said as they were making the film, he knew it would be a classic. The original miniseries was filmed around new mexico santa fe with a few locations in texas austin.
If one is not too format specific and doesnt mind calling a 6 hour mini series a movie lonesome dove is easily the best western ever made and before the great hbo and amc series the wire, deadwood, the sopranos, breaking bad etc. Find and follow posts tagged lonesome dove on tumblr. Tommy lee jones and robert duvall were made honorary texas rangers for their heroic depictions of w. Stay in our newly remodeled rooms and wake up to the smell of 5 star country cooking served with a smile. The city of graham makes it easy to find most of young. A loving story by david bennett for many years i knew the story of lonesome dove by larry mcmurtry was loosely based on true accounts involving charles goodnight and oliver loving, however, i did.
The western town is frequently leased for movie and television productions. Texas westerns trail texas film commission office of the texas. See more ideas about lonesome dove, western movies and lonesome dove quotes. Lonesome dove cast reunites after 27 years tcu 360. When blue duck kidnaps laurie the country looks like the camp wood area. But back when lonesome dove was filmed in 1988 for a 1989 airdate. Taos unlimited movie locations of the great southwest. Lonesome dove miniseries wikimili, the best wikipedia. He is on the run, having accidentally shot a dentist in fort smith, arkansas. Were about 45 minutes from downtown melbourne, in a place called yarra valley. Where was lonesome dove filmed discover the lonesome.
There is no montana ranch known as the hat creek cattle company, just like there is no ponderosa from bonanza. Tommy lee was born in the little town of san saba, a couple hours drive north of san antonio. Martin scorsese once said, more than 90 percent of directing is the right casting. Our records indicate that the town of lonesome dove no longer exists.
The true history of lonesome dove true west magazine. Lonesome dove is an american epic western adventure television miniseries directed by. It is an old wild west ghost town, waiting to be discovered. For admirers of lonesome dove, theres no better place than texas state. Behind the scenes of lonesome dove american cowboy. I dont think theres a texas town named lonesome dove, but the movie was filmed on the moody ranch near del rio. Where is the lonesome dove ranch in montana answers. It benefits greatly from the more than six hours afforded to a miniseries that would never happen with a theatrical movie. In small town texas, measuring new business by the billions.
The series third incarnation of venerable cowboy franchise is syndicated series filmed in glorious alberta, canada, countryside. But back when lonesome dove was filmed in 1988 for a 1989 airdate, garner was offered the part of calls longtime buddy, gus mccrae. Behind the scenes of lonesome dove audiences remember the epic story and timeless character, but the cast and crew who worked behind the scenes remember a whole lot more. Hey its been 20 years since lonesome dove was first screened and did you wonder whatever happened to the lonesome dove town set. A slew of movies and tv shows have been shot on this working ranch south of santa fe.