Reviews

I enjoyed this program back in the sixties and just purchased the remastered version from Amazon. I am amazed. Every episode is gripping. The stories of survival, coping with wild animals and both friendly and unfriendly Indians, and good and bad people, kept me on the edge of my seat. The fact that many of my favorite actors, including Ben Johnson and Barbara Hershey, are in the series, makes it even better. The episode with the wild animal stalking the family is terrifying. I think the best of all is seeing the beautiful Teton Mountains, Jackson Lake and Jenny Lake in every episode. The music is great, but the dialogue is a bit difficult to hear unless the volume is turned up. I recommend this series wholeheartedly.

Filmed in 1979, this trilogy still feels fresh. Even though the most important events receive very brief attention, the viewer still feels the experience of life in those times. The books by John Jakes were very much enjoyed by many people. As I say, I could hardly stop watching the nine hours of historical fiction! I haven't seen this before. I think the sex and bosoms are unnecessary distractions, and not very historical!!! However, they do add interest!!! I very much enjoyed seeing so many of my favorite actors in cameo roles, too.

While I admit that having the same music for all of John Wayne's Wild West movies from 1933-1935 is somewhat tiresome, the movies themselves are really great. On critic complains that the heroine in Paradise Canyon wears modern dress, and the medicine show drives a model T type truck with a homemade trailer attached, I think this indicates that the movie is set in the twenties and not the 1890's. Also the villain is Yakima Canutt who is never boring, at least to me. Modern movies could take a lot of pointers from these old ones. I love the humor, romance, fantastic horseback riding and stunts, and the gorgeous scenery, even if it is black and white. I highly recommend all of these early movies featuring John Wayne. And don't miss "The Big Trail" from 1929 either!!!!! WOWEE!!!

A very different and interesting western. The subject is the creation of a Sioux Indian reservation. The Indians concerned had lived in the Black Hills of South Dakota. While they are trying to survive on the new reservation, they need to buy some cattle because they can't "eat grass." The movie concerns the opposition of the ranchers who had previously owned/used the reservation areas, who poison the water, commit murder, etc. Another interesting plot line is the young Indian girl whose father was white and sent money to the tribe for years to take care of the girl. When the Indians find a trail drive that will sell them the cattle,they run into heavy opposition from the whites. Only the Indian agent and the sheriff, and the cattle driver, try to help the Indians. This is an aspect of western history that is not widely known or discussed. It is worth trying to gain an understanding of the beginnings of the reservations, and of the Indians themselves.