The Silver Screen Oasis

I have seen the original and I didn't quite care for it. I saw Selleck's version first so that may have clouded it. I did find Selleck's more melancholy which I think fits well the character's loss of his work.

Selleck, like you say, is one who can do a lot with just a look. Watching an episode of "Blue Bloods" the other evening there was a scene where a deputy to the mayor tries to talk him into doing a magazine spread. It's not for him and tells her. Her comment back was not very nice. Selleck's reaction was just facial but you could see he had been insulted. He then plainly and firmly announced the interview was over.

I think this is part of his strength in the Jesse Stone movies and adds a lot to his westerns. It helps he is built like the perfect cowboy but it takes more. He has it.

I like the old MONTE WALSH a lot. It's one of the most realistic westerns I've seen. Sensitive and touching in its rough-cut way.

I totally agree with your assessment, R.R. I find the original version of Monte Walsh one of the most affecting of Westerns. Nice atypical role for perennial baddie Palance and Lee Marvin's performance as the grizzled old cowpoke trying to come to grips with the inroads of modern society a brilliant performance. In a way, kind of a precursor to The Shootist. But it is a very sad, melancholy movie. Old cowboys being put out to pasture, having outlived their era.

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RedRiver and Western Guy:

Thanks for your responses, but . . . have you seen the Tom Selleck version? I'm not arguing with you because I have not seen the Marvin one, but I did admit that and stated that I couldn't make a comparison because I had not seen it. I am agreeing with movieman to the fact that Selleck gave a very world weary performance, and you really saw and felt the end of an era looming.
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No Anne, haven't seen the Selleck version so certainly cannot make an honest comparison. But with Marvin and Palance playing the saddle-weary pardners, would find it hard to do much better. Yet Selleck has certainly given some fine Western portrayals (especially in Louis L'Amour film adaptations) and so I must check out his version of Monte Walsh.

kind of a precursor to The Shootist

It is that.

Old cowboys being put out to pasture, having outlived their era.

The scene where Monte "breaks" the wild horse is unforgettable. It's his last hurrah and he knows it.

Another vote for the original here.