MovieChat Forums > Lonesome Dove (1989) Discussion > Most moving moments in the series...

Most moving moments in the series...

posted 15 years ago by jukebox_lucky
63 replies | jump to latest

Sorry if it's been done before on this board... but what moments in the series are the most emotionally moving for you? The top three for me...

1) Gus and Xavier are sharing one last drink in the little saloon in Lonesome Dove. Xavier says, "I would have given her money, bought her clothes. I love her." Gus replies, "Hell, we all love her." To which Xavier replies, "Yes. But I would have married her." Holy smokes. Makes me cry every time!

2) Gus has just gotten Lorena back and they're camped out at the adobe walls for the night. They play cards and Lorie starts to cry. She says, "They shouldn't have took me, Gus," and then breaks down completely. Wow. Such a powerful scene.

3) July cries when Clara tells him about his wife. I like how Clara's daughters react to seeing a man cry, "But he's a man." Clara replies, "Men got tears in them, same as you."

There are a ton of others that make me tear up. Share some of yours!

GK: Every show is your last show. That's my philosophy.
Rhonda: Thank you, Plato.

[–] dshivers 14 years ago

(1) When Gus reads the writing on Deets' gravemarker. He almost can't finish it himself.

(2) When Gus is preparing to ride off from his two loves: "Ladies" cue the music - wonderful scene

(3) When Call gently pats the marker on Gus' grave

Phantom Fan

[–] lee_73 14 years ago

When Call gives Newt his father's watch, then seems unable to get the words out he wants to say....

[–] Angelndisguise 14 years ago

All of the above! Great moments, each and every one of them. I could have teared up just thinking of a couple of them. Man makes me want to do absolutely nothing but go watch this in the peace and quiet and w/o interruption. Wish I could right now.

Words of advice: Don't expect me to hold my tongue :)

[–] mojorising_you 14 years ago

All great moments mentioned. I was taken back by the slaying of Roscoe, Joe and Janey. I knew Blue Duck was mean, I just wasn't prepared for that much meanness. Seeing July's regret for leaving them was gutting.

[–] rcjd1973 14 years ago

Just reading through this thread got some tears developing. Most or all of these have been mentioned already, but here you go, in order:

(1) Gus's death scene. Just incredible all around, possibly the most moving movie scene I've ever experienced. The "it's not dying I'm talking about, it's living" is the penultimate quote of the series, in my opinion.

(2) Call's burying of Gus. This was, I believe, the first (and maybe only?) time in the series we see Call really let his emotions (other than anger) show.

(3) The reading of Deets' gravemarker.

(4) The final scene, where Call is talking with the reporter and the flashbacks run.

[–] slou61 14 years ago

Woodrow's trek to fulfill his promise to Gus....to bury him by the river in the grove of pecan trees where he once picnicked with a pretty girl.

[–] kenobi7 14 years ago

My favorites are (in no particular order, I love them all!):
1. Gus' death scene
2. Lorena breaking down and crying at the Adobe Walls with Gus
3. Lorena telling Gus, "There ain't none like you, Gus'
4. Lorena saying "I won't ever forget you, Gus. Not ever." to Gus' coffin
5. Gus saying good-bye to Clara and Lorena
6. And of course the final scene! Woodrow's flashback is terrific and absolutely heartbreaking. The line he says to end it is perfect, especially for something of this caliber.

-Now, ready?
-Yeah, I guess so.
-Daniel-san, must talk.
-Walk on road, hm? Walk left side, safe. Walk right side, safe. Walk middle, sooner or later get squish just like grape. Here, karate, same thing. Either you karate do "yes" or karate do "no." You karate do "guess so," just like grape. Understand?
-Yeah, I understand.
-Now, ready?
-Yeah, I'm ready.
--- Daniel LaRusso and Mr. Miyagi, "The Karate Kid" (1984) ---

[–] trappershawn 14 years ago

Immediately after Deets' death.

Call(almost in tears): It's our fault, we shoulda shot sooner.
Gus (choked up): I don't wanna start thinking Woodrow, about all the things we should've done for this good man.

[–] Homestead2 14 years ago

As another poster said, Capt. Call's promise to bury his friend in Texas and his thoughts once he completed the journey - I had a similar experience when traveling a distance to visit the gravesite of someone in my immediate family that was very close to me, and on arriving there on a hot summer morning and sweat pouring down my brow, similar to Capt. Call, I couldn't resist saying the same thing, "I'll have to watch what I promise, in the future" (though I didn't tear my shirt to wipe my brow - but I did pull it from my pants waist to use to wipe the sweat)...

I had to smile when saying it and I'm sure someone in Heaven also smiled at my trying to have a sense of humor at that moment, similar to Capt. Call - but like the Captian, I still didn't regret having traveled the distance...

[–] cockeye991 14 years ago

I remember watching this masterpiece the first time and alot of scenes made me cry, but the one that always does make me weep after about 5 or 6 times that i've watched it is the scene when Gus says goodbye to Loraina for the last time at clara's ranch, " Lora darlin' ", shot switches to Loraina weeping with Basil's magnificent score in the background, this gets me every damn time.

- Jesus Christ !
- ... on a bike...

[–] mikekrit62 13 years ago

I really can't add to any of the above, but one of the most emotionally satisfying is when Woodrow beats the army scout to within an inch of his life for whipping Newt.

The fact that even Gus won't get near him, and instead throws a rope on him while holding his pistol at the ready as a club tells you he'd seen Woodrow like that before, and knew better than to get in the middle.

There are so many moving moment, but the ending is the most personal for me. Woodrow walks up to the burned down saloon back in Lonesome Dove, the theme music starts to play, we hear about the last tragedy of the story, and we see his "vision". At that moment I can't help but think of the many people who have come and gone from my own life, the things and places that are no longer there. It's sad, but at the same time, a "hell of a vision".

[–] katherine5832 13 years ago

I've watched this movie so many times and just finished it again. It never fails to make me cry to the point of exhaustion. I agree with everyone else's moving scenes. Pretty much Part 4 in its entirety makes me cry. Tonight, the scene that had me sobbing was when Call is watching Newt break horses and he slightly nods his head as if to say, "Yep, he's my son." Soon after he gives Newt the Hell Bitch and his watch, then struggles as he tries to tell Newt he's his father. Damn, that just about killed me.

[–] jkingqm-1 12 years ago

The look on Newt's face is heartbreaking as he is listening to Call, wanting so much to hear the words "You are my son" but doesn't.

The scene where Call goes into a murderous rage against the man who was whipping Newt is stunning.

[–] Sanpaco13 13 years ago

When July tells Ellie that he got Joe killed.

"Diane I'm holding in my hand a small box of chocolate bunnies..."

[–] jking143 12 years ago

Over 3 years later and we're still responding... What a great, GREAT movie! All the above and 2 more I can think of that I love: Gus beating the crap out of the rude bartender and showing him their picture behind the bar and telling him the people back then had wanted to make them senators, and when he got up out of the water butt naked and told them all he was ready to go. :) I bet he really was naked--the grin on Tommy Lee Jones face looked pretty tickled!

[–] cmfalf 12 years ago

Well, the whole series was emotional torture.
I agree with everyone.
But when they found Pea Eye sitting alone on the prairie and he says :Whar's Deets? The way he said it, his bloody feet and how they thought he was crazy.I bawl every time. That whole Deets thing just kills me. Danny Glover was awesome as was every one. Bravo

[–] historiclincoln 12 years ago

It was so damn sad when they hung Jake. You could tell Gus was torn up about it inside.

[–] bluesman-20 12 years ago

The most moving moment for me was when Woodrow leaned over to Guw. When he thought he was dead.
And Whispered "Augustus".
Just the way It was delievered and the look in his eyes as he said this.
Sums up the way he feels about Gus. He's losing his best friend and his brother.

I Hate Rude behavior in a man. I Won't tolerate it.-Captain Woodrow F. Call.