originally a 1980 tv mini series and this movie be the series turn into a 3 hour video . at least that be what this vhs tape appear to be that i pick up at a local church rummage sale . i somehow miss this show when it be on tv and but i be happy i find it a many of the theme be reminiscent of louis lamour story . i do not write many commentary but you will find mine tend to go more into the story of the actor in the movie than the movie itself ( although some of that too ) . therefore please excuse the history nut in me . this movie have so many top star it be truly amazing . so who else for the lead but sam elliott and star of a number of louis lamour story turn to movie like the sacketts and conagher ( in which he star with wife katharine ross . they meet on the set of butch cassidy and the sundance kid and where elliott have a bit part but katharine take a shine to him and they be still marry . that speak well of them a real people in plastic hollywood ) . sam elliott almost always play the tough and wiry part and do it well . he be great in gettysburg a cavalry general john buford . i like the fact that the wild west show that become part of this story first take place in the change west and to keep it a western and not have them run around in the east playing at be westerner . penny peyser be his love interest and i remember that cute face from somewhere else and she be in a number of movie and but i remember her from the blue and the gray where she play a daughter in the central family . for some reason she apparently do not get much more movie work and but she deserve more a she play her part well . bruce boxleitner be the bad guy in this and he play it excellently but i like him well a a good guy . just show his good acting ability to play either well . he be marry to little house on the prairie laura star and melissa gilbert ( another favorite actress of mine and i be happy to see the two get together ) . you may remember boxleitner in some of the gambler movie with kenny rogers and general longstreet in god and general and in babylon 5. ah and now to one of my favorite from way back and ben johnson . i remember him in the old john wayne movie where he and harry carey jr. ( in this movie too ) would ride like real cowboy that because they be the real thing . ben johnson first arrive at hollywood by bring in some horse for howard hughes and decide to stay and watch . he be a real cow hand and would one day win the world champion steer roper later . he play stand in for john wayne and gary cooper and james stewart . john ford give him his start but then they have a fall out and johnson do not work for him for year . a a testament to ben johnson and in the last picture show and producer want him so badly that they agree to let him take out the curse word from his part a they offend him . well he show them what be right and win an academy award for that part and so hollywood take note of the garbage you often put out a entertainment today . dennis hopper play doc holliday in this and i do not know why they bother a it be just a couple minute cameo part where he go up against elliott . an old timer who be a great actor be cameron mitchell who be on the tv show high chaparral . he be a head hand on the tyree ranch . i mention harry carey and jr. who be in this and a always and a great actor and real person . do you know that during wwii he be assign to the o. s. s. and work under john ford and that he speak navaho and grow up on a cattle ranch . do you remember him in disney spin and marty show . then there be the fellow who play the foreman for boxleitner and buck taylor . what a family history with this man . a good actor who play the blacksmith and sometimes deputy on gunsmoke a newly obrien . he be the son of dub taylor . don not remember the name . well you would know the face a he be in so many support role . he play many part include the father of michael pollard in bonnie and clyde . buck be the father in law of actress anne lockhart from battlestar gallatica and her mother be june lockhart from lassie and lose in space and anne grandfather be the famous actor gene lockhart . the history in this family boggle the mind . by the way and i meet anne lockhart and shake hand one time back in the early 90 and she be still just a lovely and ladylike a ever . there be so many good actor in the movie that i have to stop but first and let me mention pat hingle and another great actor . do you know he be the commissioner in two of the batman movie . he star in an amish movie from about the 1970s too . follow sam elliott and company through cow punching and sharp shooting and tall tale telling and indian fighting and indian friendship and bad guy fighting and fist fight and shoot and love interest and friendship and buffalo hunting and and wild west show . if you like western and especially one that have part that remind you of louis lamour tale and and if you like top level acting and then this be a show you want to see .