"Gus was his Hamlet"... And yet, Duvall was so good in so many roles, before and after. Boss Spearman wasn't Gus, but it was a vintage Duvall western role. Good ride cowboy, rest in peace.
Absolutely loved your article. I read the book too, but I was very soft hearted and wanted a happily ever after ending. I’m going to have to read it again. And, I’m going to have to watch the miniseries after that. Thank you for your insights, thoughtful, as always.❤️
I’d never heard of it growing up. Then my friend got a tattoo of the ‘we don’t rent pigs’ sign and said it was from his favorite book that he reread every year. I later asked my very well-read uncle if he liked it and he handed it to me off his bookshelf. My husband and I have since read it together, listened to the audio version on long drives, and re-watched the miniseries time and again. He’s an incomparable character, on page and on screen, and that’s still my favorite tattoo I’ve ever seen.
When Gus is laid up in bed and the end is coming, he looks over at Woodrow sitting stoic and with those Robert Duvall twinkling eyes, says, “It’s been a helluva party.”
Hopefully now upon Duvall’s passing, some streaming platform will resurrect the original 1989 Lonesome Dove mini series and we can watch it. Ironically even though I was 36 when it came out in 1989 I never saw it.
Yes I saw that. But I do not have Peacock or Peacock Plus nor do I want to pay for another streaming service other than the two I have. I don’t have cable TV either. Since I barely watch TV as it is I will have to find another way to watch . I think it is on YouTube.
I read Lonesome Dove somewhat randomly last year, then followed up with the tv series. I just loved the character of Gus, and simultaneously hated the non-storybook fate he encountered, but damned if it didn't make me question the common, simplistic, and yet deep capacity of a man. And it felt like Duvall was the man for the task. Feels like we lost McCrae all over again. 💔
An excellent assessment of McMurtry's fine work. Duvall has always been a favorite actor of mine and the whole (TV) epoch was remarkable. I was quite impressed, with McMurtry's 'no-nonsense' portrayal of hard-scrabble cowhanding and horse work, after too many years of watching Audie Murphy clones shoot'em up, wearing their 'just-so' designer Western outfits with the neckerchief positioned around their necks like a Vogue fashion model. I immediately read the book and acquired the DVDs. Thanks for the illuminating overall look at at McMurtry's masterwork. [They should have resurrected Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels and forced them to sit through the whole McMurtry epoch, a la 'A Clockwork Orange.']
Besides, rumor has it that Ranger wore his pants so tight in the LR series that he regularly split seams in their bum section, when he grappled with bad guys in a fisticuffs to-do. ;))
When I was a teen, I would get all my books at the thrift store, it’s how I discovered Larry McMurtry, he became one of my favorite authors. They should teach him in school.
We sure lost an era with the passing of Duvall. If they are making another “Lonesome Doves” I’m not interested. Hollywood has done remake after remake and I can’t say that one of them was better than the original. It’s a shame really because Hollywood is out of ideas. One thing you also never heard out of Robert Duvall? Him preaching at us over politics.
I was reading "Dead Man Walking" by McMurtry when Duvall passed away. It's one of the "prequels" to Lonesome Dove and covers the initial meeting of Gus and Call. Just two rowdy young men, unfocused, looking for excitement. They decide to join the Texas Rangers, and, as the saying goes. . . the rest is history. From the get-go these two characters carried both the ideals of the American "cowboy myth" and the faults of normal men. As I see it, it take one to carry out the other. The struggles build the man, the the Rangers was a way of molding them. Duvall and Lee are superlative in their portrayals of the characters and I can't read the books without seeing them in the characters. I think I'll watch the mini-series again, it's been awhile.
. . . nor another Robert Duvall. R. I. P.
"Gus was his Hamlet"... And yet, Duvall was so good in so many roles, before and after. Boss Spearman wasn't Gus, but it was a vintage Duvall western role. Good ride cowboy, rest in peace.
Absolutely loved your article. I read the book too, but I was very soft hearted and wanted a happily ever after ending. I’m going to have to read it again. And, I’m going to have to watch the miniseries after that. Thank you for your insights, thoughtful, as always.❤️
I’d never heard of it growing up. Then my friend got a tattoo of the ‘we don’t rent pigs’ sign and said it was from his favorite book that he reread every year. I later asked my very well-read uncle if he liked it and he handed it to me off his bookshelf. My husband and I have since read it together, listened to the audio version on long drives, and re-watched the miniseries time and again. He’s an incomparable character, on page and on screen, and that’s still my favorite tattoo I’ve ever seen.
When Gus is laid up in bed and the end is coming, he looks over at Woodrow sitting stoic and with those Robert Duvall twinkling eyes, says, “It’s been a helluva party.”
I’m hoping to use that line when
my time comes.
Hopefully now upon Duvall’s passing, some streaming platform will resurrect the original 1989 Lonesome Dove mini series and we can watch it. Ironically even though I was 36 when it came out in 1989 I never saw it.
I wasn’t much of a TV watcher back then.
It's available on Peacock Plus.
Yes I saw that. But I do not have Peacock or Peacock Plus nor do I want to pay for another streaming service other than the two I have. I don’t have cable TV either. Since I barely watch TV as it is I will have to find another way to watch . I think it is on YouTube.
I read Lonesome Dove somewhat randomly last year, then followed up with the tv series. I just loved the character of Gus, and simultaneously hated the non-storybook fate he encountered, but damned if it didn't make me question the common, simplistic, and yet deep capacity of a man. And it felt like Duvall was the man for the task. Feels like we lost McCrae all over again. 💔
An excellent assessment of McMurtry's fine work. Duvall has always been a favorite actor of mine and the whole (TV) epoch was remarkable. I was quite impressed, with McMurtry's 'no-nonsense' portrayal of hard-scrabble cowhanding and horse work, after too many years of watching Audie Murphy clones shoot'em up, wearing their 'just-so' designer Western outfits with the neckerchief positioned around their necks like a Vogue fashion model. I immediately read the book and acquired the DVDs. Thanks for the illuminating overall look at at McMurtry's masterwork. [They should have resurrected Clayton Moore and Jay Silverheels and forced them to sit through the whole McMurtry epoch, a la 'A Clockwork Orange.']
Besides, rumor has it that Ranger wore his pants so tight in the LR series that he regularly split seams in their bum section, when he grappled with bad guys in a fisticuffs to-do. ;))
When I was a teen, I would get all my books at the thrift store, it’s how I discovered Larry McMurtry, he became one of my favorite authors. They should teach him in school.
For sure, love that movie it never gets old. All great actors.
We sure lost an era with the passing of Duvall. If they are making another “Lonesome Doves” I’m not interested. Hollywood has done remake after remake and I can’t say that one of them was better than the original. It’s a shame really because Hollywood is out of ideas. One thing you also never heard out of Robert Duvall? Him preaching at us over politics.
I was reading "Dead Man Walking" by McMurtry when Duvall passed away. It's one of the "prequels" to Lonesome Dove and covers the initial meeting of Gus and Call. Just two rowdy young men, unfocused, looking for excitement. They decide to join the Texas Rangers, and, as the saying goes. . . the rest is history. From the get-go these two characters carried both the ideals of the American "cowboy myth" and the faults of normal men. As I see it, it take one to carry out the other. The struggles build the man, the the Rangers was a way of molding them. Duvall and Lee are superlative in their portrayals of the characters and I can't read the books without seeing them in the characters. I think I'll watch the mini-series again, it's been awhile.