First off, I enjoy westerns, that said, this is a very interesting modern western with a modern theme. I see how this could happen today and in the past. We don't have many movies that teach good morals these days. This movie brings out the blessings and hardships of having family and being a friend. It is nice to see the horse play and phrases that the cowboys would have used and the settings of the old west. A catchy line or two brings out the charm and creates a feeling of understanding. The directing was a little bland and made it seam like another old western at times. I would look forward to more work like this with a more modern directing theme to it. Look for more work by this writer. I felt it was fresh and witty with very little diversion from the quest we were on. Love, hate, violence, vengeance and of course greed played out well. But also present was duty, honor, family, friendship and the pride of doing what is right also played deep into this production. For a family movie, I would suggest (and I have) to my friends and family. Hallmark has pulled off another wonderful family movie that will entertain and enrich families.
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bkoganbing14 July 2008Desolation Canyon is a western that takes some of the themes from the John Wayne classic Big Jake and develops them a bit further. In fact it's quite the family tangle for Stacy Keach who essentially plays the Duke character and admirably fills his boots.
Some outlaws come to the town where Patrick Duffy is the sheriff and his old partner Stacy Keach lives in retirement and raising his two grandkids. The outlaws include his son who is the father of the grand children and on the way out of town grab the boy Drake Johnston.
The boy's mother Kelly Overton is divorced from the son Victor Browne and she's keeping company with David Rees Snell the town banker who is nearly killed in the robbery. He's an Easterner and insists accompanying Duffy and Keach.
In fact when the final showdown comes it's almost a relief because for what should be a straightforward story, the plot has an incredible amount of twists and turns. There are a couple of bounty hunters also on the trail with their own agenda, the outlaws have one aside from the robbery, it's all a bit hard to follow.
Still the players do very well in an extremely and needlessly convoluted story. -
classicsoncall7 July 2006With the Hallmark name attached I expected somewhat more from "Desolation Canyon" and was less than impressed and satisfied with this picture. The feature players were prominent enough to carry off their roles, but somehow Patrick Duffy didn't seem to pull it off as the grizzled sheriff of Green River. There was no hard edge to his demeanor, and even less urgency to taking up the chase after the Press Reynolds gang after they kidnap a young boy. Now I can bow to the wisdom of his older partner Sam (Stacy Keach) who seemed to know a whole lot more about the tracking business than sheriff Swede. As it turns out, the quarry includes Swede's own son turned outlaw, and the kidnapped boy is Sam's grandson Abe.
The good guys are aided by an uprooted Boston banker (David Rees Snell) who knows something about handling firearms, and that's one of the twists of the story. In one of the better conceived scenes of the film, Edwin confronts bounty hunter Winters, leaving him both confounded and weaponless when he simply takes a six gun right out of his hand. On the flip side, that probably would never happen in a real life situation.
Another scene defying credibility occurs when the good guy trio pauses on the trail at a saloon, soon followed by Press Reynolds (Kenny Johnson) and his main henchman Jack McAllister (Courtney Gains). Press and his boys blew up the bank at Green River, stole seven hundred dollars, and conspired with Johnny Kendrick (Victor Browne) to kidnap Johnny's son. With all the build up aimed at convincing the viewer what a fearsome reputation Sam Kendrick had as a gunman, the movie could have been almost over right then and there. But nothing happened.
At least some credit goes to the kidnapped boy Abe, wisely leaving a wooden toy horse on the trail as a clue to follow. Later when one of the wounded outlaws is left to oversee the boy, and just as I finished saying to myself the kid just ought to get up and go, the kid just gets up and goes! However take away points for running into an open field where the gang picks him up again to resume the cat and mouse game.
As other posters on the film have noted, clichés abound, mainly written for Patrick Duffy's character, but the one that came out wildly but unintentionally funny was uttered by hard boiled Sam at the final showdown - "Reynolds, you worthless piece of....dung!!! Obviously cleaned up for the Hallmark audience, the remark only drew more attention to itself as wholly unrealistic given the circumstances. It's soon overshadowed though when Reynolds sends Johnny out with a single bullet to kill his father. In probably the only moment they ever faced each other man to man, Johnny implores - "Make sure Abe don't turn out like you and me" - just before he's sent to Boot Hill by Reynolds.
Except for the gorgeous scenery and superb cinematography, "Desolation Canyon" winds up merely adequate as a made for TV Western, while the relentless pace of the commercials in the final third of the story didn't help. Even the title hearkens back to the days of the 'B' Western, when the name of the film had little or nothing to do with the story. There never was mention made of a canyon, desolate or otherwise, and the final showdown occurred at Antelope Springs. -
MagicStarfire2 July 20064 stars out of 10
Everyone's heard of the "chick" flick, but nobody ever says anything about flicks that would be of no interest except to guys. That's what this film is - it is the exact opposite of the chick flick - a word that I probably can't use here, so you can fill in the blank.
This thinly plotted, prodding western could have all been told in a half hour program, with commercials.
I had actually looked forward to this, having seen the previews, and also due to the fact it was being shown on the Hallmark Channel - which up until now I had always equated with quality films.
The story, such as it was, revolved mainly around two ancient, grizzled old-timers, Swede (Patrick Duffy) and Samuel (Stacy Keach.)
Samuel's estranged adult son, Johnny and his gang rob the bank, and Swede as the Sheriff and Samuel as a former bounty hunter, along with Edwin, a banker previously from Boston, go slowly ambling after them.
Swede (and why he's called that is anybody's guess, since he obviously is Irish and not Swedish), and his old friend, Samuel, neither one seem to be in any hurry to catch up to the bank robbers. Swede is so reluctant, I could only wonder why he kept running for the office of Sheriff, since he obviously didn't care for the job.
In addition to robbing the bank, Johnny stops by the home of his estranged wife, Olivia, and picks up his son, Abe, a kid around six years old. Yeah, I know that's what I'd do if I were on the run--take a six old along with me.
Johnny and Olivia also have a daughter, maybe a year or two older, named Molly, but Johnny doesn't make much effort to snag her.
Samuel's Mexican wife, who is young enough to be his daughter, comes and stays with Olivia and Molly during this time. Like everything else in this film, this comes to nothing in particular, beyond her telling Olivia about her own young son's tragic tale.
At one point, Swede, Samuel and Edwin arrive at a tavern in an area considered so rough Swede takes off his badge before going in. There they encounter one of the bank robbers but Swede, as Sheriff, does nothing about it, neither does anybody else. There's some words exchanged, trouble started by the bank robber, but it doesn't come to anything much.
At another point in the film, young Abe decides to run off during a shoot-out between the bank robbers and the trio who have been slowly following them. Now the intelligent thing to do would have been for the kid to run in the direction of his grandpa Samuel, (or hide) but no, he doesn't do either--instead he goes fogging across the prairie through grass higher than his head, no doubt getting a mess of ticks in the process.
There is some very boring dialog between Swede and Samuel, with Edwin as the outsider.
There is some more boring dialog between two bounty hunters who are trailing along behind Swede, Samuel and Edwin -- these two consist of a mountain man and a philosophical Mexican.
There is some shooting, with the bad guys being the usual very bad shots, and with the so-called good guys walking into ambushes and gimping across a wide street in plain sight but with only one of them taking a non-fatal bullet in the leg.
This film was only two hours (with commercials making it less actually), but it seemed like two weeks. -
Desolation Canyon is quite possibly the worst "made for TV movie" I've seen in the past 10 years. The writing was very amateurish and predictable. Patrick Duffy is totally unbelievable as a "cowboy" and Stacey Keach delivered so many ridiculous lines that I constantly had to remind myself that it wasn't his fault that the movie was so bad. I actually snickered a few times at the ridiculous writing and by the end of the movie I was hoping someone would say "Let's head them off at the pass!!" I have long maintained that the most important aspect of any movie is NOT the acting but rather the writing. I also maintain that more recognition should be given scriptwriters than actors at the Academy Awards. Well, the writers of Desolation Canyon should probably have their writing credentials suspended until they can show some originality. Hallmark can do much better than this and usually does; shame on you Hallmark for foisting Desolation Canyon on your viewers.
b shiznit questions my appreciation for a good movie but I stand by the above review and invite him/her to watch "Broken Trail" with Robert Duvall. AMC aired Broken Trail over two nights and it was simply outstanding. Minimal if any special effects were used and Robert Duvall is most likely going to be nominated for a "Best Actor" award. Broken Trail makes "Desolation Canyon" look like an inferior high school play!! Mr/Mrs Shiznit is obviously easy to please. -
onairbob7 July 2006After seeing Robert Duvall in "Broken Trail," I guess nothing much can compare to that. "Desolation Canyon" was awful. First of all, where did they get the name? One hour Republic Studios films used to have titles like that that bore no relation whatsoever to the movie. This was a one hour Roy Rogers movie that was dragged out to two unbelievable hours, but didn't even have the comic relief of Gabby Hayes. Everybody in the movie was Canadian except for the leads. I'm fed up with that. The only highlight for me was Patrick Duffy. No, not his acting. I saw an amazing resemblance to Hopalong Cassidy. I'm going to write a screenplay for a bio-pic of William Boyd and try to sell it to Duffy. Who can we cast in Andy Clyde's old part?
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FloridaLady6 July 2006This was a very nice story but felt the flow of the movie and some of the acting were weak.
It was nice to see a western that instilled basic family values and had a heartwarming plot. I did like the acting of the outlaw son, the little boy and his mother.
The written story and concept was excellent and I look forward to seeing more stories of this type.
The movie so-so, the bounty hunter plot was somewhat confusing. There was also confusing moments when outlaws, bounty hunters and rescue team were face to face, but then all walked away to meet at a later time. The flow was just not good in those sections.
Stacy Keach did not seem to be dynamic enough in this role.
The outlaws did a great job. -
mook-81 July 2006This little western surprised me with a few twists and I reluctantly found myself buying into the heart of the story. Though the budget was obviously modest, the film was at times beautifully photographed and the dialogue took me back to old westerns I watched on lazy weekends as a kid. Old-fashioned and easy to watch, even if at times cliché and predictable. There were a few one liners that worked and the general story of child abduction seems to me unique to the western genre. How about that? A storyline with some originality in the western genre. Basically, a must-see for true western fans. Could have been much more fascinating on the big screen with more grit and money behind it, but all-in-all a nice little ditty for the Hallmark Channel. Easily the most engaging western I've seen on Hallmark. Worth watching even to the casual fan of westerns. Oh yeah, Patrick Duffy makes a very credible cowboy. Who knew? and watch out for David Snell, he turns in a fascinating portrayal of Edwin. I got my hands on a screener and watched it in advance, but am about to tune in again tonight to the premier...
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b_shiznit2 July 2006Desolation Canyon is a great movie; however, don't watch it if you don't have an appreciation for movies or only see the worst in everything. I would imagine that those posting negative comments on this movie simply don't understand thoughtful writing and would be more receptive if the writers broke the mold of a western and never got it produced. If you enjoy Westerns with a little bit of thinking and a feeling of a good old fashioned moving picture, you will enjoy Desolation Canyon. If you enjoy your movies to have super-heroes, crazy special effects and astronomical budgets, you will NOT enjoy Desolation Canyon.
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This movie is sad, I didn't expect the ending, but it was a good ending. Wish there weren't commercials, when it came to the good parts.I would recommend this movie to my friends. Patrick Duffy goes a great job. And Victor Browne is one of the hottest bad boys I've seen on t.v lately. There are lots of twists and shocking parts in this hallmark movie. I wish that the outlaw father wouldn't have died , but he risked his life to save his father's and his son's. The best part was probably when the outlaw father told his father he loved him and his father said it back. It was such a tender warming moment. It was also sweet when the boy was reunited with his sister and mother.
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chipe4 April 2015The movie is a double treat because it offers plenty to those (usually me) who like to nit pick at the flaws in a movie, and it also offers plenty to those who want to sit back and relax and enjoy the movie's complex plot, enjoyable characters and happy family ending (as I do for the film). To enjoy the many fine qualities of the movie, you have to shrug-off the many small absurdities and filler in the plot. For example the story tells us that the two leads are expert experienced outdoors-men and trackers, so I believe it. Thus, it doesn't bother me when I see some amateurish moves on their part — like letting some bad guys walk away from an encounter in a saloon; and being shot at in the open so many times and surviving unhurt. There are a lot of unlikely plot coincidences that I just brush off.
I know IMDb has its own method to get a rating average, but I think this film should have a higher average. I see that about 150 voters gave 6 or better, and about 75 gave it 5 or worse — so how did it end up with a 5.7 average? For me the movie is an unexpected pleasure. I agree with those who laugh at the stupid title to the movie, that has nothing to do with anything in the movie — "Desolation Canyon." -
parsifalCSA29 December 2007I happened upon this modern traditional Western by accident, and it turned out to be well worth watching, indeed, a movie that I would watch again...and again. The plot is a good one, with a number of quirks that keep one involved and wondering what just might happen next. I found the script writing to be terse and believable. Duffy and Keach work well together, and, in fact, the entire cast does well. Photography is almost entirely outside, with good shots of mountainous scenery and good camera work. Additionally, this is a movie that you can watch with the entire family, without fear that over-the-top "adult" situations will mar the viewing. I hope that it will show up on DVD.
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Colonial-Oak14 April 2022It may not be awarded as a "classic western", but this is a great flick. Albeit simple dialog (to help those woke kids understand what a western is), Keach and Duffy make a great team. Edwin the Eastern wimp turns out to have more grit than anyone expected.
If you are a good-old-boy like me who enjoy's westerns, and want to see one not repeated over the last 40 years, this will not dissapoint.
If you are a anal movie critic and do not care about the "spirit of the west", and western movies in general, then skip it and go get an ice-cream with Joey-Biden. A good movie doesn't have to "rate" with critics to be a good movie, lol. -
JenExxifer15 January 2022I give this TV movie 10 stars because it's a refreshing change of pace for a Hallmark movie!
Instead of a working woman romance which is the status quo for Hallmark movies these days, the main relationship in this film has to do with fathers and sons, and the story focuses on men more than women; while the acting may not be Emmy material, I still enjoyed the actors, from Courtney Gains to Patrick Duffy.
It's a standard story as far as westerns go and I wouldn't say the writing is awful, but it's not the same as older westerns from the '50s or '60s.
It's a clean movie with no sex, innuendos, or swear language; there is gun play of course, but that's to be expected in a western, yet it's not over-the-top, tough-guy action; all reasons why I enjoyed it for the 80 minutes it was on.
Thanks to the Starz Encore channel for airing it in high definition without commercials! -
jett_julie20 February 2019I thought it was pretty darn decent western. I've seen a lot worse. I thought there were some great comedic moments. Edwin being a "rooster" was funny. I love Duffy and Steach. The woman who played the mom couldn't act her way out of a paper bag but otherwise, good entertainment.