Treck nach Missouri

A great cast for a television remake with the exception of Gregory Harrison. He couldn't sweep the floor John Ireland walked on yet alone give a performance like in the 48 version of this rugged western. Lets face it, some just aren't meant to be cowboys even if they can't surf. Boxleitner and Arness work good together and pretty much carry this production. A probable reason why they paired again for the 1994 made for television film "Gunsmoke: One Man's Justice." I'll have to admit that I kept waiting for Peter Graves to come on after commercial breaks and announce "and now, back to Gunsmoke, staring James Arness !"

This movie made for TV. Aired on April 10 1988 starring James Arness as Thomas Dunson, Bruce Boxlietner as Matthew Garth and Ty Hardin as Cotton. Thomas Dunson as a dream and the dream is to have the biggest cattle ranch in Texas. Years later, Dunson has forefeel his dream, however he has one problem? There know place to take his cattle to market unless he takes his cattle across 1000 dangerous miles of Texas land. Dunson also doesn't have to much help and there's several dangerous. Not only does Dunson have to deal with the dry conditions, he also has to deal with Indians, Cattle Rustlers, and a few unexpected circumstances that Dunson didn't count on. This wasn't a bad TV movie because it had what makes a good western. Plenty of action adventures and cows. Based on that I give this movie 6 weasel stars.

A nice story, but pales compared to the John Wayne, Monte Cliff original of 1948. Too many subplots, confusing characterizations and a wandering theme of a troubled trail drive and its boss driver...Arness is one-dimensional, lacks the charisma of a John Wayne (don't they all)...Bruce Boxlietner is a good looking stud, but could never give the penetrating characterization portrayed by Monte Cliff, a truly remarkable performance. The original offered a clean plot and built to a great conflict between a father and son...this made for TV version is action packed, but is totally unremarkable. See the 1948 Red River for a genuine treat of the classic western and Hollywood at its finest.

Everybody knows that John Wayne was the King of the westerns, but dumping on this TV movie remake is really unfair. Compared to all the reality and talent shows, this was a nice change of pace. Lots of us wish more westerns were made but it is a genre that is sadly overlooked with all the spy, war, kung fu and bizarre sex shows being produced nowadays. The story line for this remake was an improvement over the original. Bruce Boxleitner is still a hunk. James Arness played against type which had to be a real challenge. I believed he was an embittered old man who was used to his word being law. I always thought Clift was a little over-the-top and tried too hard as opposed to Boxleitner who showed the change that comes over a man who sees too much of the horrors of war. Gregory Harrison tried a little too hard as well, but the young cowboy and the black horse-breaker as well as Ray Walston more than made up for what Harrison lacked. If you judge the movie on its own merit and without comparing it to its predecessor, I think a good western story still beats out most of the trash passing for entertainment on TV. So give these guys a break, why don't you?

Watch the original and don't waste you time on this flick. Wayne and Clift are perfectly cast, and while I always enjoyed James Arness as Marshall Dillon...he is not right for this movie. This movie re-make should have never been made. On a lighter note, I remember actor Victor Mature was offered the role played by John Wayne in the original film by actor Sylvester Stallone who was intending to play the Montgomery Clift role in the film. Mature's response was "I'll play his (Stallone's) mother for the right money!" Fortunately, somebody got this one right...and didn't to it. Truth is some classics are best served by just leaving them alone.