Customer Reviews

You Know My Name [VHS]

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This movie depicts the final days of my distant relative, Bill Tilghman. Tilghman enforced the law from the 1880's, as Marshal of Dodge City through the Indian Territory days in Oklahoma to statehood and Roaring '20s gangsters.
At 70, he was about the only man left alive who had tamed a wild cowtown. The Governor called on him to bring law and order to Cromwell, the oiltown known as "the meanest town in Oklahoma." He did it, though did not live to see his work totally completed.
Sam Elliott does a wonderful job of portraying this lawman who was better known in his day than the Wyatt Earps and such we are familiar with today. While a few cinematic prerogatives were taken, William Kent Harrison stayed pretty close to history and clearly did a lot of research. He beautifully depicts the wonderment of an old West lawman coping with gangsters in T-model Fords and ignoring the ethics that characterized even such desperadoes as Bill Doolin in the 1890's.
Particularly interesting were the vignettes of Tilghman's 1915 movie, "The Passing of the Oklahoma Outlaws," which he and many of the people who were really there starred in.
In the early 1900's, famed lawman Bat Masterson was asked about the old lawmen of the West. Without hesitation, he said "Tilghman was the greatest of us all."

Just who are our Old West heroes? Should they be vicious thugs like Jesse James? Lazy (albeit likeable) bums like Butch and Sundance? The outlaws get all the press but it was the folks like Tilghman who deserve our admiration. In recent years, some of the lawmen have gotten some credit; Wyatt Earp may or may not deserve admiration, but Tilghman certainly does. This film treats the last days of the last of the old west lawmen, a man whom Masterson called "the best of us all". Sam Elliott does a marvelous job of making Tilghman real; the movie, though, needs some work. I would love to see Hollywood apply some real muscle to the story of the Old West lawman, because Tilghman would be the best and only choice for a subject. Bring in Sam Elliott to reprise the role and let him really stretch his legs in this role. This movie though will serve until that happens. Watch this one and remember...this man was REAL and actually died with his boots on.

Most of the reviews of this movie say it has a lousy plot, what few critics probably realize,however, is that it is a true story (some liberties were taken of course.). I am Bill Tilghman's great-great granddaughter, and I had some problems with the story, too, mostly in what they chose to portray. I think that the early days of Bill Tilghman's life were much more interesting than the last few months. It's too bad they didn't focus more on the material in the "Passing of the Oklahoma Outlaws" movie that Bill made with his partner, Benny Kent. Unless the audience knows a lot about Bill Tilghman, they wouldn't understand the "flashback" sequences. I also think Sam Elliott was mis-cast ! I have spoken to many living old-timers that knew Bill - they say he was a very unassuming and quiet man. He wasn't a tough guy at all. Still, I was glad the movie was made - many people never read history unless they've seen the movie first !

As an Oklahoman, I remember thinking it was about time that Bill Tilghman had gotten his due when it came to a film about him. (I'd like to see Matt Braun's other book about him filmed.) I remember people in Oklahoma raising Cain, due to the fact it wasn't filmed in OK. However, if they don't make allowances to the film companies, it isn't going to happen. Some people complained about this and that when it came the the accuracy of the film, but this is based on a historical novel, aka fiction. It's not supposed to be 100% accurate. What is does do though, is entertain. Sam Elliot is perfect as Bill Tilghman, and I long for more films like this.

I loved the portrayal of a tough honest lawman who also showed a deep understanding of human nature. He was also a very warm family man. The way he handled the young man who wanted to become his assistant and how he became a role model for him while he was alive is interesting. I like certain westerns and this was a good one. I think Sam Elliott should have been aged a little more...it was too obvious that a young man was wearing props to make him look much older. I recommend this feel-good movie for a general audience.

Amazingly, 3 of the 8 reviewers (myself included) are related to Tilghman....which says more about Hollywood than the descendants of this great man. There is so much material from his life to base movies on and it simply hasn't been done for some reason.
I found this movie to be wonderful if only to let the world know that Tilghman even existed..and his death was an important event so I'm glad it was portrayed. The acting was well done and in general the casting was great. The Wiley Lynn character at first seems over the top but if you are familiar with the man you realize that this was a very accurate portrayal. Lynne was eventually brought down in a hail of lead but not after taking down another beloved man.
I had some problems with the accuracy of the film though...if you've ever been to Chandler, Oklahoma you won't see huge mountains in the distance, and Tilghman never rode his horse from Chandler to Cromwell..he loved his car. I love Sam Elliot (and he does a great job) but he's just not a 70+ year old man. I wish the older children (from his frist marriage) were shown and the funeral and multiple memorial services he was given could have been mentioned. Other than I highly recommend this film

Real life lawman, Bill Tilgham, was a giant in cow town law enforcement in the 1880's.
His stature in reality far surpasses history's sometimes myopic memory. The movie is an account of a passing era and breed. The 1920's Jazz Age was in full swing in a town still knee deep in mud streets and hitching posts. Cromwell OK had yet to be incorporated as a city, and little, if any law prevailed. Okalahoma still being somewhat new as a state. The corruption and tug of war for power as the community readies itself for impending official status as a city recalls the main plot of Deadwood, and that these true events were less than 50 years apart, is an interesting study in the country's development. Tilgham, now in the autumn of his life, has not, as most might assume, remained in the 19th century. When the film opens we find the retired lawmen in full steam at his new enterprise, film maker, producer, director of 'authentic', not Hollywood, westerns. SIDE NOTE: at the time (1924) this was happening in Okalahoma, out in Los Angeles, former contemporary of Tilgham, Wyatt Earp, was moonlighting from his newspaper journalistic prowess to be advisor to the early Tom Mix western films being made. Earp's real later life friendship with Tom Mix is depicted in book and movie as well. The cable movie, You Know My Name,was filmed with an admirable degree of authenticity and the juxtaposition of saloon girl chippies in the muddied streets of an Oil-Boom town are soundtracked by old-timey jug and string-band music, while the more "refined" brothel/speakeasies in town are red hot with jazz. Bootlegging (prohibition was in effect) and Whiz-Bang (a cocaine & morphine powdered mix) were the rage, and Kansas City corrupt politicos were looking to muscle in. The mid-west was still plenty wild and it looked like a job for, Sam Elliot, despite his darling wife's ardent fears. Perhaps mild by the standards of HBO's excellent series, Deadwood, You Know My Name is of a similarly historical significance in the growth of U.S. civilization.

I first learned of Bill Tilghman from the Wyatt Earp movies but could never find any information on him, till now. This is a TNT movie and is very well made, acted and directed. It depicts Tilghman's adventures in Cromwell. I am not a western movie fan. But the only westerns I do enjoy are Biopics such as this, and Clint Eastwood westerns. With the exception of the Magnificent Seven. This is one good movie.

Well done portrayl by Sam Elliot of noted law man Bill Tilghman. Gritty and realistic but less action than most of Sam's western films.

Sam Elliot is without a doubt the best modern western actor today. As with all his movies, he gives a stunning performance. While filled with a few historical flaws, it shows the general theme of Bill Tilghmans life. I admit that it would have been more interesting if they showed his earlier life and involvment with the likes of the Doolin gang. Some may say that is lacks a good plot, but the movie is a true story.