Monte Walsh

Cinematographer William Fraker's directorial debut is a blue tale of the sun setting on the old west and the fading away of old cowboys. Monte Walsh is based on a novel by Jack Schaefer (Shane). Monte (Lee Marvin) and Chet Rollins (Jack Palance) are pals that find it increasingly difficult to find cowboy work. Monte swears, "I ain't doing nothing I can't do from a horse". So they move from being cow hands to busting bronchos. Edging closer to the lowest form of cowboy work; riding fence. Chet laments; "I wish I knew something besides cowboying". At times the movie meanders into side plots such as skip, the stinky cook. But overall it captures the sadness of the passing of an era, the end of the wild west.

The film features wonderful cinematography, capturing the timeless beauty of the west. A stark contrast to the fleeting life of the cowboy. It also contains a terrific round-up scene. And the best broncho busting sequence of any Western. The town is broke before the horse. Fans of Lee Marvin will not be disappointed with Monte Walsh as he turns in a wonderful performance and carries the movie through some slow points and side plots.

Monte Walsh is a good movie and certainly viewing time well spent. However, it doesn't quite make the Must See grade. It is a very strong Good Viewer.

Director: William Fraker

Screenwriters: Lukas Heller & David Zelag Goodman from Jack Shaefer's novel

Cast: Lee Marvin....Monte Walsh
Jeanne Moreau....Martine Bernard
Jack Palance.... Chet Rollins
Mitch Ryan.... Shorty Austin
Jim Davis....Cal Brennan
G.D. Spradlin....Hal Henderson
John Hudkins....Sonny Jacobs
Raymond Guth....Sunfish Perkins
John R. McKee....Petey Williams
Michael Conrad....Dally Johnson
Tom Heaton....Sugar Wyman
Ted Gehring....Skimpy Eagans
Bo Hopkins....Jumpin' Joe Joslin
John McLiam....Fightin' Joe Hooker
Allyn Ann McLerie... Mary Eagle
Date: 1970 106 mins.