parsifalCSA I happened upon this modern traditional Western by accident, and it turned out to be well worth watching, indeed, a movie that I would watch again...and again. The plot is a good one, with a number of quirks that keep one involved and wondering what just might happen next. I found the script writing to be terse and believable. Duffy and Keach work well together, and, in fact, the entire cast does well. Photography is almost entirely outside, with good shots of mountainous scenery and good camera work. Additionally, this is a movie that you can watch with the entire family, without fear that over-the-top "adult" situations will mar the viewing. I hope that it will show up on DVD.

classicsoncall With the Hallmark name attached I expected somewhat more from "Desolation Canyon" and was less than impressed and satisfied with this picture. The feature players were prominent enough to carry off their roles, but somehow Patrick Duffy didn't seem to pull it off as the grizzled sheriff of Green River. There was no hard edge to his demeanor, and even less urgency to taking up the chase after the Press Reynolds gang after they kidnap a young boy. Now I can bow to the wisdom of his older partner Sam (Stacy Keach) who seemed to know a whole lot more about the tracking business than sheriff Swede. As it turns out, the quarry includes Swede's own son turned outlaw, and the kidnapped boy is Sam's grandson Abe.The good guys are aided by an uprooted Boston banker (David Rees Snell) who knows something about handling firearms, and that's one of the twists of the story. In one of the better conceived scenes of the film, Edwin confronts bounty hunter Winters, leaving him both confounded and weaponless when he simply takes a six gun right out of his hand. On the flip side, that probably would never happen in a real life situation.Another scene defying credibility occurs when the good guy trio pauses on the trail at a saloon, soon followed by Press Reynolds (Kenny Johnson) and his main henchman Jack McAllister (Courtney Gains). Press and his boys blew up the bank at Green River, stole seven hundred dollars, and conspired with Johnny Kendrick (Victor Browne) to kidnap Johnny's son. With all the build up aimed at convincing the viewer what a fearsome reputation Sam Kendrick had as a gunman, the movie could have been almost over right then and there. But nothing happened.At least some credit goes to the kidnapped boy Abe, wisely leaving a wooden toy horse on the trail as a clue to follow. Later when one of the wounded outlaws is left to oversee the boy, and just as I finished saying to myself the kid just ought to get up and go, the kid just gets up and goes! However take away points for running into an open field where the gang picks him up again to resume the cat and mouse game.As other posters on the film have noted, clichés abound, mainly written for Patrick Duffy's character, but the one that came out wildly but unintentionally funny was uttered by hard boiled Sam at the final showdown - "Reynolds, you worthless piece of....dung!!! Obviously cleaned up for the Hallmark audience, the remark only drew more attention to itself as wholly unrealistic given the circumstances. It's soon overshadowed though when Reynolds sends Johnny out with a single bullet to kill his father. In probably the only moment they ever faced each other man to man, Johnny implores - "Make sure Abe don't turn out like you and me" - just before he's sent to Boot Hill by Reynolds.Except for the gorgeous scenery and superb cinematography, "Desolation Canyon" winds up merely adequate as a made for TV Western, while the relentless pace of the commercials in the final third of the story didn't help. Even the title hearkens back to the days of the 'B' Western, when the name of the film had little or nothing to do with the story. There never was mention made of a canyon, desolate or otherwise, and the final showdown occurred at Antelope Springs.

b_shiznit Desolation Canyon is a great movie; however, don't watch it if you don't have an appreciation for movies or only see the worst in everything. I would imagine that those posting negative comments on this movie simply don't understand thoughtful writing and would be more receptive if the writers broke the mold of a western and never got it produced. If you enjoy Westerns with a little bit of thinking and a feeling of a good old fashioned moving picture, you will enjoy Desolation Canyon. If you enjoy your movies to have super-heroes, crazy special effects and astronomical budgets, you will NOT enjoy Desolation Canyon.

mike This little western surprised me with a few twists and I reluctantly found myself buying into the heart of the story. Though the budget was obviously modest, the film was at times beautifully photographed and the dialogue took me back to old westerns I watched on lazy weekends as a kid. Old-fashioned and easy to watch, even if at times cliché and predictable. There were a few one liners that worked and the general story of child abduction seems to me unique to the western genre. How about that? A storyline with some originality in the western genre. Basically, a must-see for true western fans. Could have been much more fascinating on the big screen with more grit and money behind it, but all-in-all a nice little ditty for the Hallmark Channel. Easily the most engaging western I've seen on Hallmark. Worth watching even to the casual fan of westerns. Oh yeah, Patrick Duffy makes a very credible cowboy. Who knew? and watch out for David Snell, he turns in a fascinating portrayal of Edwin. I got my hands on a screener and watched it in advance, but am about to tune in again tonight to the premier...