I was young when I first saw Lonesome Dove and had never seen Apocalypse Now. But you make a good point. I too thought Blue Duck was more sinister in the book. Bardem might have made a great Blue Duck.Longhorn Nation said:While I will agree that they did a phenomenal job on casting this, I just never saw Frederic Forrest as Blue Duck. I think some of the best villains in movies are actors you haven't seen before - like Wes Studi (Magwa - The Last of the Mohicans), or Javier Bardem (Chigurh - No Country for Old Men). Every time I saw Forest, I couldn't separate him from Chef in Apocalypse Now. But I've read the book and I don't know that any actor could have captured how evil Blue Duck was.aggierogue said:Trajan88 said:
Reading Lonesome Dove now... just finished Part I ... looking forward to the rest of the book.
Will finish the book then will watch the tv movie if it is available
I am planning to watch the series again too.
The entire book I imagined Duvall, TLJ, Urich, Glover, Schroder, the young and beautiful Diane Lane, and the rest of the cast. The cast was perfect although they describe Gus as a taller man in the book. That being said, I can't imagine a better Augustus than Robert Duvall. Also Blue Duck's character (Forest) is described as a very large man as well in the book.
+1 on this being the best book I've ever read. Like many of Ken Follett's books . . . and I agree on Pillars of the Earth being in the same conversation . . . the character development is the key.
I'd love to see a thread about who else could have been cast for Lonesome Dove.
I have always been under the impression McMurtry "sold his soul" to write Lonesome Dove. It was the first of his books I ever read and was excited to read more. I quit trying after about the 3rd one.Average Joe said:
I'm convinced McMurtry stole LD. I've read a few others by him and they don't compare. LD is just so damn good.
Average Joe said:
I'm convinced McMurtry stole LD. I've read a few others by him and they don't compare. LD is just so damn good.
Kelton was one of the nicest people you would ever meet, a true gentleman. His books are in two categories, the standard "shoot 'em up" Western and his more literary efforts. "Stand Proud," "The Good Old Boys" (made into a a good TV movie starring Tommy Lee Jones and shot just a few years after Lonesome Dove), "The Time It Never Rained" (about the drought of the 1950's) and "The Wolf and the Buffalo" are some of my favorites of his in the more literary genre.StarMan said:
Great thread ! Also a big fan of McMurtry's works & watch Lonesome Dove every couple of years & savor it each time . If one is inclined to enjoy reading Texas / Western themed books , then you should also try some of J.Frank Dobie ( from Live Oak / Bee County area ) & Elmer Kelton ( from West Texas , San Angelo area ) both of these men lived the life of Texas cattle ranching's trials & tribulations . Two great & often overlooked authors of Texas historically based books . Though Kelton was a tea-sip , he was a damn good author .
LD is so damn good, but I agree that "Last Picture Show" is the better book. Maybe not in terms of pure entertainment, but in terms of "literature" (whatever that means). I think it stands at the top of McMurtry's work.Duncan Idaho said:Average Joe said:
I'm convinced McMurtry stole LD. I've read a few others by him and they don't compare. LD is just so damn good.
Hot take. I thought Last Picture Show was the better book.
"Blood and Thunder" is amazing. Kit Carson was like a real-life Forrest Gump of the American West. Apparently, Hampton Sides is working on or soon to release a book on Captain Cook that's probably going to be great.Quote:
Another really good "Western," but nonfiction, is Hampton Sides' "Blood and Thunder." Kit Carson is its central character. I thought it was very well done.
I agree. I knew who he was, of course, but I had no idea how much he did or how much ground he covered. Reminded me of Daniel Boone a little bit (and by the way, "Blood and Treasure," a Boone biography, is an excellent read as well).TexjbA&M said:"Blood and Thunder" is amazing. Kit Carson was like a real-life Forrest Gump of the American West. Apparently, Hampton Sides is working on or soon to release a book on Captain Cook that's probably going to be great.Quote:
Another really good "Western," but nonfiction, is Hampton Sides' "Blood and Thunder." Kit Carson is its central character. I thought it was very well done.
There may be folks out there who think Clooney was the best Batman. Anything is possible.MAROON said:
Yep. I'm not sure I've ever heard another human being utter that opinion
Lol, yeah, you may want to skip it.aggierogue said:I may check out Comanche Moon. I'm not sure I want to know what happens after Lonesome Dove as I like to imagine Call going back to Montana with Newt.Hubert J. Farnsworth said:
It really is a great book. I'm not sure if you know, but Lonesome Dove is part of a series. There are 3 other books. "Dead Man's Walk", "Comanche Moon" and "Streets of Laredo". They cover other parts of Augustus and Woodrows lives. You really should read them. Comanche Moon is still my favorite of the four. I blame Larry McMurtry for hooking me on bittersweet stories. He really was an American treasure.
P.S. I've always liked Bob Schneider. Great music. That's pretty cool that he talked about Lonesome Dove at a concert and convinced you to read it.
Yeah, Bob is great. His Lonelyland shows are great if you've never taken one in.
Head Ninja In Charge said:
Thread got me hyped. Just ordered the book. Had no idea it was part of series. I've seen the movie plenty of times, but now I want to read it.
210 said:
Love Bob Schneider and Lonesome Dove.
This thread inspired to go see another Bob Schenider show. Looks like he plays every Monday here in Austin.
Don't think anybody is going to be talking to Mr. McMurtry in this earthly realm.Straight Talk said:
Any one here ever read "Log of a Cowboy" by Andy Adams? If you ever talk to McMurtry, don't mention this book to him!
Jab said:
Here's a good Texas Monthly article on the casting of the miniseries. I was not a fan of Duvall's performance as Gus, but I know I am in the extreme minority with that view.
https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/true-west/
MAROON said:
Yep. I'm not sure I've ever heard another human being utter that opinion
BlasphemyJab said:
Here's a good Texas Monthly article on the casting of the miniseries. I was not a fan of Duvall's performance as Gus, but I know I am in the extreme minority with that view.
https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/true-west/
Reading Lonesome Dove first helps you appreciate Dead Man's Walk and Comanche Moon and the development of the relationship between Gus and Call.13B said:
For those that have read the series to those of us who haven't: In what order should the series be read? Published order or chronological order?
