Monte Walsh Totally Explained

Everything about Monte Walsh totally explained

Monte Walsh is a 1963 western novel by Jack Schaefer. It was directed in 1970 by cinematographer William A. Fraker in his directorial debut, and starred Lee Marvin, Jeanne Moreau and Jack Palance. A made-for-TV remake was produced in 2003 with Tom Selleck and Isabella Rosselini, and directed by Simon Wincer.

Plot

(This synopsis is of the movie; it has little to do with the plot of Jack Schaefer's book.) Monte Walsh is an aging cowboy facing the final days of the Wild West era. He and his friend Chet Rollins, another long-time cowhand, work at whatever ranch work comes their way, but "nothing they can't do from a horse." Their lives are divided between months on the range and the occasional trip into town. Camaraderie and competition with the other cowboys fill their days. They seek work and take a job at the ranch of Cal Brennan, where they meet an old friend, Shorty Austin, another ranchhand.
Monte has a long-term relationship with an old flame, prostitute and saloon girl Martine Bernard, who suffers from tuberculosis. Chet, meanwhile, has fallen under the spell of Mary Eagle, a widow who owns a hardware store. As barbed wire and railways steadily eliminate the need for the cowboy, Monte and his friends are left with fewer and fewer options. New work opportunities are available to them, but the freedom of the open prarie is what they long for. Shorty loses his job and gets involved in rustling and killing, gunning down a local lawman. Then Monte and Chet find that their lives on the range are inexorably redirected.
Chet marries Mary and goes to work in the store, telling Monte that their old way of life is simply disappearing. Monte asks Martine to marry him, but she declines and cites her deteriorating health as the reason for her refusal. Monte goes on a drinking binge and rides a wild horse through town. A rodeo owner, Colonel Wilson, sees him and offers him a job. Monte considers the high salary, but decides the work is too degrading and refuses. Eventually, they all must say goodbye to the lives they knew, and try to make a new start. When Shorty shoots and kills Chet while trying to rob the store, Monte, distraught after the death of his beloved Martine, goes after him.

Trivia

The 1970 film was set in Harmony, Arizona, while the 2003 remake was reset in Wyoming Territory.

Further Information

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