A Última Conquista

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+

Although made for television, this is an excellent western; far better than the usual fair one finds on the tube. I bought the DVD after watching Selleck in Crossfire Trail, The Sacketts, and The Shadow Riders . No doubt about it: Tom Selleck makes a Hell of a cowboy! The plot has been described in previous reviews so there is little point in repeating what has already been said.

The actors are uniformly fine especially Suzy Amis, Keith and David Carradine, and Tracey Needham. Haley Joel Osmet was also fine in a relatively minor (but important part)and Rachel Duncan was marvelous as Cable's daughter Clare (watching her ride side by side with Selleck on a horse drive mimicking his actions is great fun). I have to also mention western character actor extraordinaire' Harry Carey, Jr., who was fine as Cable's father-in-law in an all too brief roll at the beginning of the movie Carey was once a member of John Ford's stock company with John Wayne, Ward Bond, and many other western genre greats.

In a sense this is an anti-war movie as it certainly does not glorify the Civil War (or the War for the Southern Confederacy). Indeed, it rather accurately portrays Bedford Forest's roll at Fort Pillow, Tennessee but Forest was the only Confederate leader to murder black Union Troops. This atrocity was committed during the battle of Petersburg (if my memory serves me correctly at a fight called "The Crater"). The confederate gun runner offered a accurate statement when he said that war changes men and that it makes those who survive killers. Afterall war is simply murder wrapped in a flag. Sam Elliott said much the same thing as Sheriff Bucky O'Neil in the movie Rough Riders. I thought Selleck's portrayal as Cable and Keith Carradine as Vern Kidston were right on target. Calling Vern a bad guy is hardly accurate and frankly, this is a movie with no quintessential bad guys with the possible exception of David Dukes as Edward Janroe. Janroe, an ardent Confederate nationalist, however is far more of a tragic figure having lost the use of his right arm in the war and remaining extremely bitter as a result. Janroe said he fought in Virginia with Kirby Smith. Although Smith is better known for his leadership in the Transmississippian Department after 1863, he did in fact fight in Virginia during 1861. Smith was the last Confederate general to surrender in May 1865. The ending of the war in favor of the north seems to have caused Janroe to lose his senses...a tragic (bot hardly sympathetic) figure indeed.

In sum, this movie has enough action to keep it exciting but it is honestly a human interest movie about how war effects those who participate in it and those left behind. It never drags and the 96 minute duration passes by all too quickly.

WOW this is a good movie. Tom Selleck joined forces with Turner Pictures for 3 westerns. and all 3 of them are superb. this was the first of the 3 (Crossfire Trail, Monte Walsh).

this has a great plot as Selleck's character, a former confederate soldier returns home and things are what they should be. And he has to put his life back to gether.

I also loved the scenery and the attention to detail. It's not your typical shoot'em up bang bang western. the plot is good the background music is good, its all good

great movie!

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

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.