rose@fluke.UUCP (Virginia Rose) (12/21/84)
Rancho Deluxe (circa 1976?) was a terrifically funny--albeit strange--
western, set in Montana in the late 70's. The screenplay was written by
novelist Thomas McGuane ("Panama", "92 in the Shade" ect.), who lives just
outside Livingston, Montana where the movie is set. (For you trivia buffs
out, there so does Jimmy Buffet; he played music at the local bar in the
movie).
The plot is pretty funny actually. Jeff Bridges and Sam Waterston (now
starring in "A Killing Place", the new film about the end of the Vietnam
War), play modern day cattle rustlers. In essence, they drive their pickups
out into the mountainous ranges, shoot cattle, butcher them and sell sides
of beef at VERY reasonable rates. This affords them an extravagent cowboy
lifestyle; they enjoy spending their money in very offbeat ways.
The photography is splendid. The mountains and meadows are so beautiful I
wanted to move there! (And I already live in a beautiful state!)
The local cattle baron (played by a very familiar character-actor whos name
I can't remember) becomes very irate and hires a hustler-detective, played
by Slim Pickens. Pickens reputation is awesome, and the cattle baron and his
wife (played deliciously by Elizabeth Ashley) have incredible expectations.
When Pickens shows up at their ranch (accompanied by his deceitfully
innocent alcoholic "neice"), he turns out to be a decrepit and nearly-dead
old poot who spends most of his days and weeks there inquiring about the
next meal. They are politely astonished.
The ranch hands (one of which is played by Harry Dean Stanton of "Repro
Man"), fly around in the baron's helicopter picking up cattle remains and
speculating about who's responsible. Since it's a small town they eventually
end up getting drunk with the rustlers and accusitions fly.
The dialogue throughout the movie is wonderful! Especially the scenes with
the cattle baron and Ashley! The continuous ribbing the rustlers (and
almost everyone) give the dumb-as-rocks ranch hands is also funny as can be.
The ranch-hands are eventually brought into the rustlers plans. The old poot
detective uses his neice's ample sexual charms to find out who they are and
somewhat redeems himself. (The seduction of Harry Dean Stanton in a field of
wildflowers has to be a classic!)
There are numerous funny sub-plots, one involving some rich and loose
rancher's daughters who get involved with the rustlers, and one involving
some sort of antique buffalo rifle the rustlers acquire and use.
Again, the dialogue in this movie is probably the funniest (and cleverest)
of any movie I can think of. There's lots of pot-smoking and sex and disdain
for authorities....so I guess some peoples mother would be offended by it,
but I recommend it anyway.
(I bet Joe Bob liked it even though there weren't any crash-and-burns and
the two gallons of blood were only cattle blood. Actually, come to think of
it, it would probably be a better recommendation if I said he DIDN'T like
it....)