LAST STAND AT SABER RIVER (DVD)

The age of the Hollywood western had its apex in the middle of the 20th century, then with the change of modern society in the 1960's, the western genre lost its allure and Hollywood abandoned westerns for other fare. Thanks to Ted Turner and his love for American Western film making, the long lost western has been reborn in a big way. Tom Selleck continues to impress audiences as a true western hero in the tradition of John Wayne. Selleck is more than adequate for the part, big in body and big in acting skill. He takes the part of Paul Cable, and turns his character into someone we can believe, like, and respect.Cable comes back from the Civil War months before its official end. He is tired of war and killing, and wants to return home to raise cattle in his home state of Arizona. In trying to escape his wartime experiences, Cable runs into more trouble at home. He finds his wife terribly embittered by his absence, and his home farm is now run by former union soldiers who are naturally hostile to a returning Confederate soldier. Cable must not only fight to regain his farm, but he must also try to rekindle the love that has been lost in his marriage.The story by Elmore Leonard is a solid one and very believable. There are no dull or boring scenes, the picture grabs you and holds you throughout. Selleck is terrific as Paul Cable, fighting for his family, his woman, and his life. Selleck once again establishes himself as a solid western actor in the mould of John Wayne. He is every man's western hero. Selleck carries the picture on his broad shoulders with ease. He is supported with a fine ensemble cast, including Suzy Amis as his embittered gritty wife, and Haley Joel Osment (of "The Sixth Sense" fame) in a minor role as Selleck's son. Amis portrays a western pioneering woman in perhaps one of the most realistic role ever portrayed. Too many times we see western wonmen portrayed as prissy and prim, dressed in their long skirts and blouses without a scuff or mark of western sand or dirt. Amis' portrayal as Mrs. Cable breaks the mould; we see her with dirt and dust on her face, with sweat dripping in lines across her face, and with a surprising ability to hold her own with wagon reins in her hands, or for that matter, a rifle. I personally welcome this portrayal of western women, as it is undoubtedly more realistic than the western wife sitting pretty in her muti-layered petticoats. David and Keith Cariidine are fine antagonists in the fight for the family farm. Harry Carey Jr. plays a small role as Selleck's father-in-law.As a collector of fine western films, I intend to keep "Last Stand at Saber River", as it is an excellent western film in the tradition of the great Hollywood westerns; it's not an epic, but it is fine film-making and will please those craving for a fine western drama. I recommend it.James "Konedog" Koenig

"Last Stand At Saber River" stars Tom Selleck and Suzy Amis as a couple being reunited at the end of the Civil War, as Tom Selleck's character returns from Confederate soldier duty. Upon arrival back with his pioneer woman spouse (staying with her father in TX), he discovers one of his children has died while he was away, and returning to his home in Arizona, also finds out his property there has been confiscated by the opposing side Union army. As the story unfolds further, Keith Carradine and David Carradine (Union army sympathizers) tangle indirectly with Tom Selleck and Suzy Amis. Tracey Needham portrays her role as sister to Keith Carradine, and visits Tom Selleck while Suzy Amis is away. It's just a movie, so even though she's living in the raw wilderness of circa 1865 as a seasoned mustang handler amidst an otherwise male bastion crew, naturally Tracey Needham is absolutely drop dead gorgeous and looks like she just walked out of Saks Fifth Avenue; so lovely you can smell her perfume just watching the movie. Made me wish this movie had been rated "R" instead of being a made-for-TV flick. Suzy Amis is attractive too, don't get me wrong, and I'd definitely want Suzy Amis on my side of a gunfight. The movie flows along nicely, with a sort of sluggish start. The bad guy gets his due, and as the movie draws to conclusion, Suzy Amis decides to be less spiteful and angry, which means Tom Selleck is going to finally get to have Sir Lancelot make a significant deposit with the Fort Knox vault. Which gives a whole new meaning to otherwise ending a movie by horseback riding off into the sunset as the camera fades to black. Hi Ho Silver, awaaayy !!

Not outstanding, not bad; just a good solid western starting a good solid actor. Well worth a couple of hours for any western fan

All I can really say at this time (it's been a few years since I've seen it, which is why I'm in the process of ordering it) is the "Last Stand at Saber River" is, along with "Crossfire Trail," Tom Selleck's best western. It is set in The Arizona Territory in the time period immediately following the Civil War. The plot, the acting, and especially the weapons used are all superb, and in the case of the firearms very authentic to the period! In fact Sellecks's character, Paul Cable, is first seen coming home from the war and stopping off in Texas to gather his family. It is here where Cable is given a beautifully engraved, ivory handled Colt conversion revolver that his father in law gunsmith built for him while he was away. (The gun itself was actually custom built for Selleck on an actual Colt 1851 Navy revolver by R&D Gunshop and is a museum quality reproduction - correct in every detail.) And which he uses, along with his Henry rifle, to great affect during the many shootouts to protect his life, land, and property. If you love western movies, and especially if you love authentic western firearms, you'll love this movie. I heartily recommend it!I truly believe that if westerns were as popular today as they were in John Wayne's time, Tom Selleck would have become an even bigger star than the Duke himself, and this is coming from a huge John Wayne fan!Jeremy L ArmourP.S. I've you don't already have it, buy "Crossfire Trail" to go along with it. You won't regret it!

bon film.

Ich muss gestehen, ohne Tom Selleck in der Hauptrolle hätte ich mir den Film nie angeschaut. Und dann noch auf Englisch? Für mich ist Tom Selleck auf deutsch mit "seiner" Synchronstimme Norbert Langer einfach noch etwas sympathischer als im Original. Da auf absehbare Zeit wohl keine deutsche Fassung des Films herauskommt, habe ich ihn mir doch auf englisch gekauft...Der Film handelt von dem ehem. Südstaatensoldat Paul Cable, der mit seiner Familie darum kämpft, auf ihrem Land wieder Pferde züchten zu können. Während des Krieges wurde es von Kidston Brüdern (gespielt von David und Keith Carradine) "konfisziert". Die Vorlage für den Film stammt aus der Feder von Elmore Leonhard, der auch schon die Vorlage für "Jackie Brown", "Schnappt Shorty/Chilly" und "Out of Sight" lieferte.Der Film zeigt tolle Landschaftsaufnahmen, braucht aber für meinen Geschmack etwas zu lange bis er richtig spannend wird (so nach 45 Minuten). Dann fand ich "Last Stand" richtig fesselnd und so gefällt er mir letztlich sehr gut. Tom Selleck hat schon mehrfach in seiner Karriere Cowboy-Rollen gespielt, und auch diesmal überzeugt er mich, als von den Greuel des Krieges gezeichneter Soldat. Auch wenn neben den Carradine-Brüder niemand bekanntes mitspielt, so machen auch die unbekannteren Schauspieler ihre Sache gut und spielen ihre Rolle überzeugend. (Paul Cable`s Sohn spielt H.J. Osment, besser bekannt als "Tote-Menschen-Seher" aus "The Sixth Sense". Die Handlung empfand ich als sehr realitätsnah, und könnte sich damals sehr gut so abgespielt haben.Ich empfehle den Film jedem Tom Selleck Fan und Western-Fans, die sich besonders für die Zeit nach dem US-Bürgerkrieg interessieren.

A movie is a movie. Pas de sexe, pas de F word. Rafraichissant!!!

Gut

This is a B movie western, very entertaining but haVE SEEN BETTER