The story of a boy suddenly alone in the world. The men who challenge him.
And the girl who helps him become a man.

Starring: Kirk Douglas, Tom Burlinson, Jack Thompson, Sigrid Thornton, Lorraine Bayly, Terrence Donovan, Tony Bonner

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"You've got to treat the mountains like a high-spirited horse; never take it for granted." - Jim Craig

Why watch this? The horsemanship used to make this film is amazing and a thing of beauty.

Plot Summary: Following the death of his father, young Jim Craig leaves his mountain home to work on a cattle ranch in the lowlands where he falls for the wealthy rancher's daughter. Treated poorly by the other ranch hands, Jim must prove his worth and integrity when he is wrongly accused of setting a valuable horse free. He joins a thrilling pursuit to recover the horse, hoping to clear his name and earn the right to the woman he loves, all against a backdrop of breathtaking Australian wilderness.

Dad's Preview: This Aussie-Western features the wonderful Kirk Douglas playing two roles: Tough landowner, Mr. Harrison, and his peg-legged brother known only as Scar. Also turning in fine performances are the two young lead actors (and the subjects of the film's romance), Tom Burlinson and Sigrid Thornton. This rich story follows a young man's tragedy, and his eventual journey to manhood. It's all set against the backdrop of rugged 1880's Australian mountain ranges, and the tough people who call it home. The scenery is breath-taking, as are the horses used in the film. I think it is one of the best modern Westerns to date.

Cambridge Productions, Edgley Int'l, Snowy River Investment Pty. Ltd.;
20th Century Fox

The brute in every man was also in him... And the love and the violence!

Starring: Charlton Heston, Joan Hackett, Donald Pleasence, Ben Johnson, Bruce Dern, Slim Pickens, Lee Majors, Anthony Zerbe

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Leave him be. Out here, by hisself, no goods, winter coming on. He's gonna be a long while dying. And all that time, he's gonna know who done it to him. Yes, sir, a mighty long time, and then he'll be dead." - Preacher Quint

Why watch this? ... what happens when a loner suddenly starts to care for others?

Plot Summary: Aging cowboy, Will Penny, accepts a job as a line rider on a vast ranch during a harsh winter. He discovers a stranded woman and her son have taken refuge in his assigned cabin. Though initially resistant, Will allows them to stay, leading to a blossoming romance and a newfound sense of family. However, a past confrontation with a vengeful outlaw family threatens their fragile happiness.

Dad's Preview: This was a very realistic Western for its time. Heston delivers a career-defining performance as reclusive ranch hand, Will Penny, who encounters a woman, Catherine, and her young son living his line shack miles into the wilderness. He's torn between duty to his employer, and the affection he develops for the woman and son. Then a group of cutthroats show up at the cabin. This small, intimate film intensifies when the gang takes Will hostage and threatens to rape Catherine.  

Paramount Pictures

All they wanted was their chance to be men...and he gave it to them.

Starring: John Wayne, Roscoe Lee Brown, Bruce Dern, Colleen Dewhurst, Adolfo Martinez, Slim Pickens, Stephen Hudis

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"I'm thirty years older than you are. I had my back broke once, and my hip twice. And on my worst day I could beat the hell out of you." – Wil Anderson

Why watch this? Wayne has never been better, as a man desperate to drive his cattle to market.

Plot Summary: Wil Andersen, a rancher needing help for his cattle drive, is forced to hire on a group of inexperienced schoolboys after his regular crew leaves for the gold rush. He trains these youngsters, who learn about life and the responsibilities of being a cowboy during their arduous journey. Their challenging drive is complicated by the presence of a gang of rustlers who are after their herd.

Dad's Preview: This is a superb non-standard Western. Wayne has to holster his pistols and become a surrogate father for the young boys he has hired for the trail drive. I'll forever love Roscoe Lee Brown as Mr. Nightlinger, the cook, who breathes real life into his role. And who will ever forget Bruce Dern as "Long Hair", the film's creepy, murderous antagonist. I love it when the Dukes tells the boys each early morning, "We're burnin' daylight!"

Mark Rydell; Warner Bros.

Heat of the plains in his veins... the gunfighter's stain on his name, and now a woman's life in his hands!

Starring: John Wayne, Geraldine Page, Ward Bond, Michael Pate, James Arness, Leo Gordon, Lassie

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"You baked today. I can smell fresh bread on you. You smell all over like soap. You took a bath, and on top of that you smell all over like a woman. I could find you in the dark, Mrs. Lowe, and I'm only part Indian." - Hondo Lane

Why watch this? This was John Wayne's favorite Western novel and film. Mine, too.

Plot Summary: Set in Apache territory, cavalry dispatch rider Hondo Lane encounters Angie Lowe, a courageous woman raising her young son alone on an isolated ranch. He tries to convince her to abandon the dangerous area, but she insists on staying. A complex dynamic develops between Hondo, Angie, and the Apaches as tensions rise on the frontier.

Dad's Preview: John Wayne had a special place in his heart for this treasure. His estate kept the film out of public distribution for many years after the Duke's death in 1972. In 1990, I was working in California for EDS. It was announced that a local cable TV channel was going to air Hondo - in 3D! Special 3-D glasses were available at the station! It is so easy to watch. Wayne's so very comfortable as the independent, quiet, honorable man-of-action. Here he comes across a woman and her young son, living in Indian territory, and her husband hasn't been home for some time. I particularly admired the portrayal of Vittorio, the Apache Chief. He was as much a man of honor as Hondo.

Batjac Productions, Wayne-Fellows Productions; Warner Bros.

Dietrich goes wild over Jimmie Stewart!

Starring: Marlene Dietrich, James Stewart, Brian Donlevy, Charles Winninger, Mischa Auer, Allen Jenkins, Warren Hymer

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"You shoot it out with 'em and for some reason or other, I don't know why, they get to look like heroes. But you put 'em behind bars and they look little and cheap, the way they oughta look." - Tom Destry Jr.

Why watch this? The chemistry between Stewart and the sassy Dietrich burns up the screen. 

Plot Summary: In the corrupt town of Bottleneck, saloon owner Kent has the sheriff killed and appoints the town drunk, Dimsdale, thinking he'll be easy to manipulate. Dimsdale surprises everyone by enlisting the help of Tom Destry Jr., the peace-loving son of a legendary lawman. Despite initial skepticism due to his non-violent approach, Destry sets out to bring order to Bottleneck, and tame it's wildest dancehall gal, Frenchy.

Dad's Preview: Wait, a Western where the new sheriff doesn't use a gun? Stewart portrays the son of a famous gunfighter. On his father's reputation, he's hired as sheriff of dusty Bottleneck. His job is to clean up the raucous town... but he doesn't carry a firearm. This is another of Stewart's roles where he takes a character and molds it to be his own. He's calm, collected and will do what it takes to tame the town. We just hope he survives in a place ruled by crooks, brutes and murderers.

Universal Pictures

Wayne's greatest role as an Indian fighting Captain!

Starring: John Wayne, Joanne Dru, John Agar, Ben Johnson, Harry Carey Jr., Victor McLaglen, Mildred Natwick, Arthur Shields, Chief John Big Tree

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Captain of the troop one day: every man's face turned towards you; lieutenants jump when I growl! Now, tomorrow, I'll be glad if a blacksmith asks me to shoe a horse." – Capt. Nathan Brittles

Why watch this? Wayne's performance, as a retiring cavalry captain, was Oscar-worthy.

Plot Summary: Nearing retirement, Cavalry Captain Nathan Brittles is tasked with one last mission: to prevent an impending Native American uprising and transport two women to safety. This final patrol takes them through dangerous territory.

Dad's Preview: This the second of three cavalry films by director John Ford, and this is by far the best. A soon-to-retire outpost commander receives one last mission: handle the latest Indian uprising. The movie is a wonderful, beautifully shot, action-filled Western. Wayne, as Captain Nathan Brittles, has experience enough to use peace, keep his soldiers safe, and solve the issue at hand. This is one of the Duke's finest acting efforts, playing a man much older than his age.  

Argosy Pictures; RKO Radio Pictures

They were seven - And they fought like seven hundred!

Starring: Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, Horst Buchholz, Brad Dexter, James Coburn, Jorge Martinez de Hoyos, Vladimir Sokoloff, Rosenda Monteros, Rico Alaniz

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Running a farm, working like a mule every day with no guarantee anything will ever come of it. This is bravery." - O'Reilly

Why watch this? It's a real treat to see all this star-power in one film!

Plot Summary: A poor Mexican village, repeatedly raided by bandits, sends three villagers to seek help. They encounter Chris Adams, a seasoned gunslinger, who advises hiring other gunmen instead of buying weapons. Chris recruits six other skilled fighters. The seven train the villagers to defend their homes against the bandits' inevitable return.

Dad's Preview: What's better than a classic Western? A classic Western with an all-star cast. In 1960, the top new talent list started with Brynner, McQueen, Bronson, Vaughn and Coburn. The film's showdown is very memorable, as the seven alone stand against a horde of assaulting bandits and their leader, the devious Mexican Calvera (played by Eli Wallach). This film was inspired by Akira Kurosawa's masterpiece Seven Samurai (1954).

The Mirisch Co., Alpha Productions; United Artists

Four strangers became friends. Four friends became heroes. On the road to... Silverado.

Starring: Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Rosanna Arquette, John Cleese, Kevin Costner, Brian Dennehy, Danny Glover, Jeff Goldblum, Linda Hunt

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Now, I don't wanna kill you, and you don't wanna be dead." - Mal Johnson

Why watch this? It is a fun-filled, all-star, modern homage to Western buddy films of old.

Plot Summary: Silverado tells the story of four unlikely companions who come together on their journey to the frontier town of Silverado. This group, each with their own past and motives, soon discovers the town is under the thumb of a corrupt sheriff and a ruthless rancher. With their lives and the town's future at stake, they must decide if they will unite and fight for justice.

Dad's Preview: There were only a few good oaters from the 1980's. This is one of the best. It's full of Western staples: gun fights, the cocky kid, greedy landowners, a stampede, a final quick-draw showdown. What helps this rise above the rest is Kasdan's superb direction, and our lead actors' performances. NOTE: My Texas cousin, Roy McAdams, a former bull-rider and Hollywood stuntman, is listed in the credits as the "Tall Outlaw". Atta boy, Roy!

Delphi III Productions; Columbia Pictures

In the tradition of Shane and High Noon, a new Western Classic is born! BITE THE BULLET

Starring: Gene Hackman, Candice Bergen, James Coburn, Ian Bannen, Jan-Michael Vincent, Ben Johnson

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"When I cross the finish line, I get to be a big man. Top man. A man to remember." – Mister (the old cowboy)

Why watch this? ... it's an outstanding Western cross-country race.

Plot Summary: This oater centers around a grueling 700-mile endurance horse race held at the turn of the century. A diverse group of participants with varying motivations and personalities enters the race, including two former Rough Riders, a woman of questionable virtue, a gunfighter, and an aging cowboy. As the competition pushes them to their limits, their true characters are revealed.

Dad's Preview: There were tons of Westerns made in the 1970's. Leone was making "Spaghetti Westerns". John Wayne was was still going strong. Some were masterpieces, some were cow dung. This little-known gem surprised me. It's a grand adventure, a cross-country race on horseback, plagued by natural hazards and man-made obstacles. This is one exciting film. We are blessed to have two great stars, Hackman and Coburn, both "men of action" who seek the $2,000 prize.

Persky-Bright Productions, Vista; Columbia Pictures

Justice is Coming

Starring: Kurt Russell, Val Kilmer, Michael Biehn, Powers Boothe, Dana Delany, Sam Elliott, Charlton Heston, Stephen Lang, Thomas Haden Church

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ - near perfect

"Make no mistake, it's not revenge he's after... it's the reckoning." - Doc Holliday, speaking about Wyatt Earp

Why watch this? ... Val Kilmer as Doc Holliday. It's one of the great modern performances ever, with memorable quotes galore.

Plot Summary: Former lawman Wyatt Earp, seeking a peaceful life, moves to the booming town of Tombstone, Arizona, with his brothers. Already there is his ailing friend Doc Holliday. Their aspirations for a quiet existence and profitable business ventures are disrupted by the menacing presence of the Cowboys, a ruthless outlaw gang led by Curly Bill. As tensions between the Earps and the Cowboys escalate, an unavoidable confrontation looms, forcing the brothers to take a stand.

Dad's Preview: Of the two Wyatt Earp films in 1993-94, this is by far the best. Here the focus is less on historical accuracy, and more on making a good Western. The story hinges on the relationship between Earp and Doc Holliday. Their friendship is a rock. The OK Corral gunfight is not the film's climax, but rather the start of a mission to rid the country of the murderous group of thugs calling themselves the "Cowboys". This film takes the time to build its characters, both main and secondary. And that's your huckleberry.

Hollywood Pictures, Cinergi Pictures; Buena Vista Pictures Dist.

One of the Most Thrilling Pictures Ever Filmed!

Starring: Claire Trevor, John Wayne, Andy Devine, John Carradine, Thomas Mitchell, Louise Platt, George Bancroft, Donald Meek, Tim Holt

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Well, there are some things a man just can't run away from." - The Ringo Kid

Why watch this? This is the first great Wayne-Ford collaboration.

Plot Summary: This oater follows a diverse group of passengers on a stagecoach journey through the dangerous American frontier in the 1880s. The characters, including an outlaw, a prostitute, a gambler, a drunk doctor, and a banker, are forced to confront their prejudices and vulnerabilities as they face the threat of a looming Apache attack. Their perilous journey tests their courage and reveals surprising truths about human nature.

Dad's Preview: This early John Ford Western featured a new actor, a young man named Marion Michael Morrison. His stage name? John Wayne. This classic film introduces the viewer to each stage passenger, one by one. Just outside of town, they stop to pick up "The Ringo Kid". The scene in which he stops the stage instantly made Wayne a star. As word of Indian problems reach them, the stage must race across the Great Salt Lake to the nearest fort. As the pursuing natives catch up to them, it's a question of who will survive the bullets and flying arrows! There's action, poignant moments and a little romance, too.

Walter Wanger Prod.; United Artists

the story of a man who was too proud to run!

Starring: Gary Cooper, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges, Katy Jurado, Grace Kelly, Otto Kruger, Lon Chaney Jr., Henry Morgan

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You risk your skin catching killers and the juries turn them loose so they can come back and shoot at you again. If you're honest you're poor your whole life and in the end you wind up dying all alone on some dirty street." - Martin

Why watch this? Watching Cooper act is like butter melting on a piece of toast.

Plot Summary: On the day of his wedding and retirement, Marshal Will Kane learns that Frank Miller, an outlaw he sent to prison, has been released and is returning on the noon train for revenge. Despite his new wife's urging to leave, Kane feels a duty to stay and confront the threat, but finds the townspeople, including his deputies and friends, unwilling to help him. As the clock ticks towards the inevitable showdown, Kane must grapple with the decision to face Miller and his gang alone or abandon the town that has abandoned him.

Dad's Preview: It had all the ear marks of a standard Western drama: a sheriff has to stand against outlaws, backed by his deputies and concerned citizens. Except that is not what happens. This sheriff is forced to really stand alone. His friends and deputies quit, one by one. Even his fiancé leaves him. Yet this lawman, portrayed by the great Gary Cooper, knows he has to stay - this is his job, and a man does his job. This simple plot element makes this Western classic unique and feel more real.

Stanley Kramer Productions; United Artists

Big as the men who faced this challenge! Bold as the women who loved them!

Starring: John Wayne, Montgomery Clift, Walter Brennan, Joanne Dru, Harry Carey, John Ireland, Noah Berr Jr., Coleen Gray, Chief Yowlachie

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You're soft, you should have let 'em kill me, 'cause I'm gonna kill you. I'll catch up with ya. I don't know when, but I'll catch up. Every time you turn around, expect to see me, 'cause one time you'll turn around and I'll be there." - Tom Dunson

Why watch this? Wayne rarely played against "the good guy" character. Here he is downright nasty as a Western Captain Ahab.

Plot Summary: Thomas Dunson is a determined rancher leading a massive cattle drive from Texas to Missouri after the Civil War renders his land valueless. Faced with Dunson's increasingly tyrannical methods during the arduous journey, his adopted son, Matthew Garth, must choose whether to challenge his adoptive father's authority for the sake of the men and the herd. This conflict between father and adopted son unfolds against the challenging backdrop of the cattle drive.

Dad's Preview: This picture is hailed by many as one of the greatest Western ever made. I love it, too, but feel there are many better Westerns. This features does, for historical purposes, depict the drama and dangers along the epic "cattle drive". I grew up working on a Texas cattle ranch hand so the topic of herd beef rings true to me. Wayne's performance, channeling Mutiny on the Bounty's Captain Bligh, is excellent as a herd owner who pushes his men too hard. This results in a mutiny, led by his adopted son, Matt. They leave Wayne on the trail with barely enough water to survive. Don't ever strand The Duke alive... There's lots of great cowboy action and an excellent ending.

Monterey Productions; United Artists

There never was a man like SHANE. There never was a motion picture like SHANE.

Starring: Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, Van Heflin, Brandon deWilde, Jack Palance, Ben Johnson, Edgar Buchanan, Ellen Corby, Emile Meyer, Elisha Cook Jr.

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Joey, there's no living with... with a killing. There's no going back from one. Right or wrong, it's a brand. A brand sticks. There's no going back." - Shane

Why watch this? An epic tale of the loner who tries to help a family in need.

Plot Summary: A mysterious, soft-spoken ex-gunfighter becomes entangled in the lives of a family of homesteaders in 1889 Wyoming. The homesteaders, led by Joe Starrett and his family, are facing a bitter struggle against a powerful cattle baron, Rufus Ryker, who wants their land for his herds. Shane's presence brings a glimmer of hope to the settlers as they fight to protect their homes and way of life against Ryker's increasing intimidation tactics, including the hiring of gunslinger Jack Wilson.

Dad's Preview: This is the quintessential Western story: A stranger joins settlers in need of help. He has a hidden, violence-filled past, but is trying to put that behind him. When a greedy landowner brings in thugs to run the settlers off the land, Shane has a choice to make. I love the little boy in this film (Brandon deWilde) because he reminds me of, well, me.

George Stevens; Paramount Pictures

No place to run. No reason to hide.

Starring: Robert Duvall, Kevin Costner, Annette Benning, Michael Gambon, Michael Jeter, Diego Luna

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Men are gonna get killed here today, Sue, and I'm gonna kill 'em." - Charley Waite

Why watch this? ... the respect-filled relationship between cowhands Costner and Duvall.

Plot Summary: Boss Spearman and his cattle crew, as free-grazers, are driving their herd across the vast prairies of the Old West. When they encounter a town ruled by a corrupt rancher and sheriff, their peaceful existence is threatened. Forced to defend their values and way of life, Boss and his second-in-command, Charley Waite, find themselves drawn into an inevitable confrontation.

Dad's Preview: Costner (as actor and director) and Duvall deliver one of the best Westerns ever made. And I mean EVER! This film has breath-taking scenery, great action sequences (one of the best, and most realistic gun battles ever filmed), and many of the classic Western elements. That said, the film's true strength is its character-building. There are numerous, small interactions that acquaint us with Charley, Boss, Sue, and the rest. Costner should have taken home at least one Oscar for his efforts here.

Touchstone Pictures, Cobalt Media Group, Beacon Comm., Tig Productions;
Buena Vista Pictures Dist.

They fought back to back...No quarter given...No quarter asked...No way in...No way out...of Rio Bravo

Starring: John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Angie Dickinson, Walter Brennan, Ward Bond, John Russell, Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"Well, they call it the "Degüello"... the cutthroat song. The Mexicans played it for those Texas boys when they had 'em bottled up in the Alamo." - Colorado

Why watch this? This is one of Wayne's best films.

Plot Summary: In the small town of Rio Bravo, Texas, Sheriff John T. Chance arrests Joe Burdette, the brother of a powerful rancher, for murder. The rancher, Nathan Burdette, then uses his resources to try and break his brother out of jail. Chance, with the help of a diverse and sometimes unlikely group of allies, must hold the jail against Burdette's forces until a U.S. Marshal can arrive.

Dad's Preview: John Wayne is sheriff John T. Chance. He locks up the arrogant son of a wealthy landowner. He and his two deputies decide to hole up in the jail and wait for the federal marshal. Overall, the film is superb. The surprise for me is the performance by Dean Martin, who plays the town drunk, and past deputy. The ever-dependable Walter Brennan is once again excellent as the Duke's crusty old sidekick. This time he's referred to as Stumpy.  

Armada Productions; Warner Bros.

... an army of one.

Starring: Clint Eastwood, Chief Dan George, Sondra Locke, Bill McKinney, John Vernon, Sam Bottoms

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

"You gonna pull them pistols or just whistle Dixie?" -  Josey Wales

Why watch this? Star/Director Eastwood hits his stride with this memorable Western.

Plot Summary: A Missouri farmer's family is murdered by pro-Union militants during the Civil War. Driven by a desire for vengeance, he joins a Confederate guerrilla band, becoming a feared gunfighter. After the war, he refuses to surrender and becomes an outlaw pursued by bounty hunters and soldiers. He must navigate the treacherous landscape of the post-Civil War West, encountering allies and enemies as he seeks to survive and find a new path for his life.

Dad's Preview: In a performance chock full of iconic quotes, Clint Eastwood created one of the great Westerns, and characters, of all time. Wales is a man driven by revenge, but also justice, as he hunts the men responsible for murdering his wife and son. It is set immediately after the Civil war when gangs of ex-Union soldiers roamed the West using their power, and the lack of valid law enforcement, to murder and pillage. The scene where Wales parlays with Chief Ten Bears is one of my all-time favorites.

The Malpaso Company; Warner Bros.

The strangest trio ever to track a killer.

Starring: John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glenn Campbell, Robert Duvall, Jeremy Slate, Dennis Hopper, Strother Martin, Jeff Corey, John Fieldler

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #41 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of True Grit

"They say he has grit. I wanted a man with grit." - Mattie Ross

Why watch this? For his role as Rooster Cogburn, the Academy finally delivered Best Actor to John Wayne.

Plot Summary: A determined teenager, Mattie Ross, hires a gruff, one-eyed U.S. Marshal named Rooster Cogburn to track down Tom Chaney, the outlaw responsible for her father's murder. They are joined by a Texas Ranger, La Boeuf, also pursuing Chaney for a separate crime. Despite the Marshal's initial reluctance to allow Mattie on their dangerous journey into Indian Territory, her tenacity and courage earn her a place alongside the two lawmen

Dad's Preview: Wayne was in movies all his life, mostly Westerns. He finally won the Best Actor statuette for his role as the cantankerous, one-eyed, bounty hunter Rooster Cogburn. In the film, young Mattie Ross sets to avenging the death of her father. She hires Cogburn because he "has grit". A Texas Ranger joins in and they head into Indian Territory to find the wanted man. This wonderful film, at Wayne's high point, is engrossing, fun, and at times more violent than Wayne's previous oaters. There are many iconic film moments.

Hal B. Wallis; Paramount Pictures

An Epic Film as Big as The West

Starring: Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones, Danny Glover, Diane Lane, Robert Urich, Frederic Forrest, D. B. Sweeney, Ricky Schroder, Anjelica Huston, Chris Cooper, Barry Corbin, William Sanderson, Steve Buscemi

DML Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ - perfect

DML Top 50 #4 - Dad's Full (Spoiler) Review and Deep Dive of Lonesome Dove

"By god, it ain't dyin' I'm talkin' about, it's livin!" - Gus McCrae to Captain Woodrow Call

Why watch this? An American masterpiece that perfectly balances Western myth and Western realism.

Plot Summary: Two aging former Texas Rangers, Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call, now running a small cattle company near the Texas-Mexico border. Dissatisfied with their routine life, they embark on an ambitious cattle drive to establish a new ranch in the Montana territory, a land described as a cattleman's paradise.

Dad's Preview: This epic saga is unforgettable, with its wonderful characters, converging story lines and brutally honest plot points. Capt. Call is a hard, determined leader. He's kept in step by his more laid-back partner, Gus, whose warm smile reminds me of my grandfather, Charley Straley. Charley was a lifelong Texas rancher... humble, hard-working, intelligent, apolitical. He loved to joke, smoke his pipe and partake in an occasional sip o' whiskey down at the barn's tackroom. He and Gus would have been good buddies, for sure.

Motown Productions; CBS