Last Stand at Saber River

This is a great film that grabs the attention and holds it all the way through. The story is excellent, the history convincing and the acting is superb throughout. It may be a 'made for TV' movie but this is about as good as a Western can get. It should definitely receive more recognition than it does. Perhaps it's movie snobbery because it was made for TV, maybe people don't like Ted Turner or Tom Selleck - who knows?

This is one of those DVD's that doesn't come down in price too often - a sign of a good film. If you watch it you'll know why. This is one for the DVD library. I'll never part with my copy.....

The secret of a watchable western is a rugged cowboy and his 'Annie get your gun' moll/wife, a wild west terrain, spectacular scenery and a story like this of a returning "reb" soldier having to make peace with himself, his family and then be involved in a land dispute etc or whatever with the Yankie occupiers.

It is also about people coming to terms with the new order of things if they can.

I like a good Western and this is one even though the tale is in some respects often weak and far fetched yet the stunning scenery and great photography makes up for that, so this is worthy of at least: 6/10

Last Stand At Saber River finds Confederate veteran Tom Selleck mustered out of the army a few months before the end of the Civil War come home to his family in Texas to start his life again. The problem is that a family of Unionists played by David and Keith Carradine and Tracy Needham are sitting, nay squatting on the land that was his. As he's recently been making war on the US government, Selleck's rights and title to the land are in question. Forms the basis for the conflict throughout the film.

Selleck's wife is Suzy Amis and during the war she lost a child which Selleck finds out on his return. They've got their problems to get through as well including the eternal one of the veteran coming home and just wanting to get back to civilian life.

Playing the small role of Amis's father is Harry Carey, Jr. for whom this is his last screen role. He's reason enough to see this film which in the old days would have had theatrical release.

Last Stand At Saber River is a good made for TV western and fans of Tom Selleck should approve.

Last Stand at Saber River is directed by Dick Lowry and adapted to teleplay by Ronald M. Cohen form the novel of the same name written by Elmore Leonard.It stars Tom Selleck, Suzy Amis, Tracey Needham, Keith Carradine, David Carradine, Haley Joel Osment and Rachel Duncan. Music is scored by David Shire and cinematography by Ric Waite.

"Texas 1865. The war between the States continues to rage. Texas remains deeply committed to the Confederate cause."

Nicely mounted Oater from the tail end of the Civil War, Last Stand at Saber River does, however, suffer from predictability. Selleck is Paul Cable, who is back from fighting for the Confederates in the war, he finds that his family thought he was dead and his homestead has been claimed by Union men. A feud ensues between Cable and the Kidston family, while Cable and his wife Martha (Amis) struggle to reform their love in a haze of confusion and bitterness. Cue some Western movie staples that file in and out of the plot and a finale that turns on an unlikely character switch around.

There's something wrong with this valley. The war's over but the killing don't stop.

Characters are nicely drawn, though, with the script allowing some mature conversations and themes to be born out within the plot. The New Mexico locations are nicely photographed by Waite, and the colours are unobtrusive and keep the feel authentic. Selleck manfully carries the film on his tall frame, he looks the part and conveys great acting skills with face and body. Rest of cast are up to a required TV Western standard, with Amis standing out by expertly portraying guts and emotional turmoil without histrionics.

A good and safe time filler for the Selleck and TV Western watchers, but it really doesn't linger in the memory once the predicted ending has closed. 6/10

Released to TV in 2007 and directed by Dick Lowry based on Elmore Leonard's novel, "Last Stand at Saber River" is a Western starring Tom Selleck as Cable, an aging Confederate who knows the cause is lost and thus comes home prematurely in the last couple months of the war (1865). He picks up his wife, Martha (Suzy Amis), and two kids (Haley Joel Osment & Rachel Duncan) in west Texas and proceeds to their small ranch in Arizona, which they discover has been confiscated by Union settlers. They understandably fight for their homestead. David Carradine and Keith Carradine play the pro-Union antagonists, one bad and the other reasonable. Tracey Needham is on hand as the former's daughter while David Dukes appears as a shady Confederate gunrunner.

This is a solid Selleck Western with a unique plot and awesome New Mexican cinematography. Cable and Martha have an interesting and satisfying story arc, as does the character played by Keith Carradine, at least as far as a secondary character goes. Needham stands out as the minxish babe while the revelation about the Confederate die-hard isn't surprising. This is a quality modern Western about making a bold stand when you have to, doing what's right even when you feel like doing what's wrong, confessing past mistakes or regrets and moving on, inner healing, living and let living. There are numerous tense standoffs and brief thrilling shootouts.

The film runs 95 minutes and was shot in Santa Fe, Las Vegas, Santa Clara & Valle Grande, New Mexico.

GRADE: Borderline A-/B+