Monte Walsh is taken from the title of a 1963 western novel by Jack Schaefer.
The movie has little to do with the plot of Schaefer's book.
It was directed in 1970 by cinematographer William A. Fraker in his directorial debut,
and starred Lee Marvin, Jeanne Moreau and Jack Palance.
The movie was set in Harmony, Arizona.
A made-for-TV remake was set in Wyoming and directed by
Simon Wincer, with Tom Selleck and Isabella Rossellini playing the parts of
Monte and Martine. The story has elements of a tragedy.
User Review
QuoteDisplay MoreAn unusual western with a poetic touch
11 September 2001 | by Jugu Abraham (Trivandrum, Kerala, India)
This is one of my favorite Westerns.
Yet, it cannot boast of a gunfight or excessive action that is a trademark of westerns.
There are several reasons why I love this film. It is a reflective sensitive film,
with the main character trying to come to terms with change.
It deals with people and nature--fodder for good poetry.
That gets a fillip when the director William Fraker, is an accomplished cinematographer.
Lee Marvin is great when he is brooding and therefore a superb choice.
Jeanne Moreau is a delight to watch in any film but her performance in this film is one
I will never forget.
Yet when I asked Ms Moreau some 15 years after the film was made about this film,
she didn't even appear to recall the name of William Fraker--but merely referred to him as another
cinematographer-turned-director.
I have always wondered at that reaction....Jack Palance is another wonderful actor
who makes this movie great.. In retrospect the casting was superb.
A good western needs good music.
This one has one of the finest songs I have heard "the good times are a'coming" by
Mama Cass Elliot.
I recommend this film and "Will Penny" as great unusual westerns that touch you if you appreciate good filmmaking--and do not evaluate a western by the action sequences.