Johnson County War (2002)

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The backdrop for this epic Western, which aired in August 2002 on the Hallmark Channel, will be familiar to fans of the genre and students of Western history. The Johnson County War took place in northern Wyoming in April 1892, growing out of the familiar story of big-money ranchers who suspected… More The backdrop for this epic Western, which aired in August 2002 on the Hallmark Channel, will be familiar to fans of the genre and students of Western history. The Johnson County War took place in northern Wyoming in April 1892, growing out of the familiar story of big-money ranchers who suspected homesteader neighbors of rustling. Screenwriters Larry McMurtry and Diana Ossana adapted Frederick Manfred's 1957 novel, Riders of Judgment, which used some of the events and people but changed the names, including the county (which becomes Bighorn) and the main town (from Buffalo to Antelope). Michael Cimino's Heaven's Gate (1981) also employed elements of the Johnson County War in its story. Manfred's book and this film center on Cain Hammett (Tom Berenger), a lonesome cowboy who hankers for Rory (Michelle Forbes); she has married his younger brother Dale (Adam Storke) in spite of the fact that she really loves Cain. A third Hammett brother, Harry (Luke Perry), unlike his honest, homesteading siblings, is a rustler who runs afoul of Marshal Hunt Lawton (Burt Reynolds), who is in the employ of wealthy Lord Peter (Christopher Cazenove), an Englishman in cahoots with the owners of big ranches to exterminate all of the homesteaders, guilty or innocent. Cain Hammett's real-life counterpart, Nate Champion, was a prime target of mercenaries hired by the big cattlemen, and the siege of Cain's cabin, which was the opening salvo in the war, provides the film with its climax. ~ Tom Wiener, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 58 min.
Directed By: David S. Cass Sr.
Genres: Western, Television

In Theaters: Aug 24, 2002 Wide
On DVD: Sep 24, 2002
Studio: Artisan Home Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Walter Chaw, Film Freak Central
I suspect that supporters of this film are also fond of watching ice melt--which, long about the middle of the second hour, you'll either believe is what you're doing, or wish you were doing instead.

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Cast

            Tom Berenger as Cain Hammett

            Luke Perry as Harry Hammett

            Michelle Forbes as Rory Hammett

            Adam Storke as Dale Hammett

            Burt Reynolds as Marshal Hunt Lawton

            Jack Conley as Jesse Jacklin

            Silas Weir Mitchell as Mitch Slaughter

            P. Adrien Dorval as Timberline

            Christopher Cazenove as Lord Peter

            Rachel Ward as Queenie

            William Samples as Arthur

            Kirk Jarrett as Jim Albert

            Thomas Heaton as Sheriff Sine

            Fay Masterson as Clara Jager

            Stephen Bridgewater as Dencil Jager

            Blu Mankuma as Hambone

            Tim Koetting as Bat Waldy

            Ken Pogue as Wally Tascott

            Jimmy Herman as Sam the Wolfer

            Henry Beckman as Gov. Barb

            Ron Hartmann as Sen. Thorpe

            Hal Kerbes as Irv Hornsby

            David LeReany as Allen Stone

            Paul Coeur as Claybourne Rodney

            Doug Lennox as Texas Ike

            Joe Shaw as Bobby

            John Dodds as 2nd Horseman

            Stevie Mitchell as Joey

            Bunk Duncan as Butcherknife

            Steven Warner as Spade

            Lyle St. Goddard as Avery

            John F. Parker as Russell

            Steve Shayler as 1st Bad Cowboy

            Billy Morton as Ringbone

            Tom Carey as Texas Cowboy

            Peter Strand Rumple as Telegraph Operator

            Shawn Orr as Texas Gunman

            Chris Ippolito as Nightherder

            J.C. Roberts as Tom the Granger

            Jerry Wills as Skunker
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