Customer Reviews

The Sacketts [VHS]

5 star:		(64)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

This is a motion picture I could watch over again and again, if only to see the terrific collection of Western film icons. An early scene features Ty Sackett (Jeff Osterhage) trying to sign on with a cattle drive. Around the campfire sit the owner of the cattle (L.Q. Jones), the foreman (Glenn Ford), and the top hand (Ben Johnson). Right then the viewer knows that he's in for first-rate entertainment.
The story line is split between Tell Sackett (Sam Elliott) trying to steer clear of three brothers (Jack Elam, Gene Evans, and Slim Pickens) out to revenge Tell's killing of their card shark brother, and Orrin and Ty Sackett (Tom Selleck and Osterhage) doing their best to bring law and order to Sante Fe despite the diabolical dealings of the town's richest man (the always oily John Vernon).
But the focal point of the picture is the underrated Glenn Ford as the mysterious Tom Sunday -- one time attorney, marshal, and even murderer. He begins the film as a mentor to Orrin and Ty, but eventually time and fate pit the three against each other.
Don't get me wrong, "The Sacketts" is not in the league of "The Wild Bunch," "High Noon," or "Ride the High Country," but I can't think of a much better way to spend three hours of my time.
Except for maybe doing a little riding on my old Buckskin on a cool, clear Saturday morning.

The Sacketts was one of the first instances of Hollywood getting the Western look on a scale bigger than episodic television series. Before Lonseome Dove and its sequels, this miniseries combines a great story and and an awesome cast to maximum effect.

Tom Selleck, Sam Elliott, and Jeff Osterhage play three brothers whose family becomes embroiled in a good old-fashioned Tennessee feud, causing the oldest brother to head out west. The younger brothers follow later, and all three get involved in gunplay with old enemies, and even old friends.

Selleck, Elliott and Osterhage make great Sacketts, and the supporting cast, including Ben Johnson, Glenn Ford, Jack Elam, Gene Evans, Paul Koslo, and others are terrfic. When TV had stopped making western television series, and the genre had just about dried up even on the big screen save the occasional Eastwood Western, The Sacketts were a welcome return to a sadly neglected genre. And the film still is a welcome return, especially now on DVD.

Tom Selleck, Sam Elliot, Ben Johnson, Glen Ford, Slim Pickens, John Vernon, Gene Evans, Gilbert Roland, Gene Evans, LQ Jones, Jeff Osterage and Jack Elam. I firmly believe we'll never see such an ensemble again. The movie is a little predictable in places, however, that doesn't take anything away from the fine acting.

Tom, Sam and Jeff really click as the Sackett Brothers and Elliot looks as if he just stepped out of a time machine. It's always a pleasure to see Ben Johnson. Who, IMHO, was one of Hollywood's finest character actors. His roll as Sgt. Tyree in "She wore a Yellow Ribbon" is a prime example.

This film will probably never reveive kudos as similar films like Tombstone, True Grit or Will Penny. But, if your looking to spend some quality time with some good old fashion storytelling. This film will rise to the occaision.

I aslo might add, this film really deserves to be re-released on DVD.

ALL RIGHT!!! It's about time. This is one of the best westerns ever filmed. It is the best Louis L'Amour story put on film and Sam Elliott and Tom Selleck are the best at bringing the Louis L'Amour cowboy to life. All of the actors are perfect including Ben Johnson, Glenn Ford, Jack Elam, John Vernon and Slim Pickens. My VHS version is almost worn out. Look out for that Arkansas toothpick!

THIS TV MINI SEIRES MAY WELL BE THE LAST GREAT ROUND UP OF WESTERN CHARACTER ACTORS, AND WHAT A LOSS THAT IS.
THE SUPPORTING CAST READS LIKE A WHOS WHO OF COWBOY GREATS; SLIM PICKENS, JACK ELAM, BEN JOHNSON, GLENN FORD, BUCK TAYLOR AND OTHERS, MOST OF WHICH HAVE GONE TO THAT GREAT CORRAL IN THE SKY.
CONTEMPORARY ACTORS SAM ELLIOTT AND TOM SELLECK STAR IN THIS STORY OF BROTHERS DISCOVERING THE AMERICAN WEST AND EACH OTHER IN THE PROCESS.
BASED ON LOUIS LAMOURS NOVEL "THE DAYBREAKERS" 'THE SACKETTS'
IS A CLASSIC SHOOT EM UP WITH ROMANCE AND SUSPENSE THROWN IN FOR GOOD MEASURE.
THE DIALOUGE IS GREAT, ESPECIALLY THE SCENES WITH SAM ELLIOTT.
AS ELLIOTS CHARACTER ENJOYS A STEAK WITH FELLOW PROSPECTOR BEN JOHNSON, A YOUNG UPSTART GUNSLINGER INTERUPPTS CHALLENGING THEM TO A WALK DOWN.
WITHOUT LOOKING UP FROM HIS PLATE ELLIOTT WARNS THE WANNE BE OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF PUSHING HIS LUCK.
BUT THE PUP IS INSISTANT TO WHICH ELLIOTT REPLIES, FINALLY LOOKING AT THE KID."YOURE FIXIN TO MAKE ME TAKE HOLD OF THAT PISTOL (WHICH SITS ON THE TABLE) AND THEN ILL HAVE TO KILL YA.....AND KILLIN DONT MIX WELL WITH A MANS SUPPER."
IT DONT GET ANY BETTER THAN THAT.
GLENN FORD PLAYS CONVINCINGLY AS AN EX LAWMAN GUNFIGHTER WHO BECOMES OBSSESSED WITH HATRED AND DIES BECAUSE OF IT.
THE ONLY DOWNSIDE TO THIS HORSE OPERA IS THE 1979 T.V. CINEMATOGRAPHY WHICH LEAVES A LOT TO BE DESIRED. OTHER THAN THAT IT IS TOP NOTCH WESTERN ENTERTAINMENT.

This is a three hour, two disk barn burner. The late Louis L'Amour (Lamoore) wrote half a library full of Westerns and a few contemporary novels. He churned them out like there was no tomorrow, but he knew of what he wrote. He had been a cowhand, miner, merchant seaman, circus roustabout and a few other things. I think that he said he'd been a U.S. Marine, too, bless his heart. He did the narration on this film.

L'Amour did a bunch of books on the Sackett family of Tennessee, and this is a sort of compilation of some of them. Tell Sackett is the oldest brother (Sam Elliott), Orrin is the middle one (Tom Selleck), and Tyrell was the youngest (Jeff Osterhage). All played their parts very well. The bad guys included (but were not limited to) Jack Elam, Slim Pickens and L.Q.Jones. Mercedes McCambridge played Ma Sackett. Gilbert Roland played a Spanish (read Mexican) land-owner who the anglos were trying to push off his land in the new territory of New Mexico.

I liked the way everyone played their parts, but particularly Sam Elliot, when he was strolling drunkenly down the main street of Pugatorie, singing quietly to himself in his deep bass, "That's the way she goes, first your money and then your clothes..." just before he caught the guy who was trying to roll him, and shaved him with an Arkansas toothpick with a foot-long blade. Shaved his mustache clean off!

This is a wonderful L'Amour Western. I hope you like it as much as I did.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books

I waited a LONG time for this to come out on DVD. This is one of those rare 'Modern Era' westerns. I don't classify it based on being a movie or being made for TV, because a great western needs no classification, it stands by itself as this does. Next to Lonesome Dove this stands out as arguably the finest work of that modern era of westerns. Tom Selleck and Sam Elliot were of course BORN to play in this format. It is just too bad there aren't enough opportunities anymore for them to do that. Louis L'Amour of course has largely been responsible for some of the finest book to celluloid material ever. Ben Johnson, Glenn Ford, et; all combine their supreme talents in this one also.
If you have not seen this...by some strange stretch or you are new to westerns and want to see the cream of the crop, you could do no better than this. A fine set and worth every minute of time you spend on a lazy weekend watching it. Excellent!

First saw this as released on TV, then bought the VHS tape, and finally now have the DVD.

The movie is taken from two of Louis' better books: SACKETT, Bantam paperback, May, 1961; and THE DAYBREAKERS, Bantam paperback, February, 1960, both from his almost 2 dozen books on the Sackett, Talon, and Chantry families. In these inter-related books, Louis L'Amour hoped to tell the entire western saga. Sad to say, he did not live to finish the series. Happy to say, no one was ever hired to finish it for him. But the film version on this DVD represents two of the best books in the Sackett family saga. And no matter how many times you view this made for TV movie, the 2 books will continue to hold your attention, too.

Doesn't get any better than this film. Sit back an enjoy.

Semper Fi.

The box indicates "in the tradition of Lonesome Dove". Pretty strong words. But at about half the length, and predating Lonesome Dove by ten years, or so, it compares pretty favorably. Perhaps not the depth of character of the classic but a great cast and plenty of action. Newcomer Tom Selleck before Magnum fame, Sam Elliott, Glenn Ford and other venerable cowboy actors pull off an entertaining and colorful two part TV mini-series, about the Sackett brothers. Herding cattle, hunting for gold, and enforcing the law these brothers talk straight and shoot straighter. Good fun and quality production values add up to a very enjoyable viewing experience.

I have been a big fan of Louis L'Amour for a good many years. The Sacketts is a fun ride with what feels like a group of guys you could hang with and feel the time was well spent. The books are fun to read as well and the films have brought familiar characters to life for you.

Chas E. Moser