Rustlers' Rhapsody (1985)

Admirable film.

A great movie, one of the best of this year. There was a bit of confusion at one point in the plot, but nothing serious.

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

As others have said, this movie is a gentle, loving, homage/send-up of early Westerns. The basic premise is what would happen if a '40s B Western were updated to modern realism. The results are very funny. "Rex O'Herlihan, The Singin' Cowboy", played terrifically by Tom Berringer, pulls a traveling armoire (you gotta get those outfits from somewhere) stacked with white hats, terrific outfits and guitars. He spends time washing and ironing (someone's gotta do it) and is through-and-through a "good guy". There are so many scenes and lines that we love:Spoilers may follow:It's the old theme of Sheep Herders vs Cattle Ranchers. Andy Griffith is terrific as the power-mad cattle baron "Colonel Ticonderoga". You hear lots of cows, but you never see one. Blackie is one of his men, in town to give the sheep herders a bad time.Blackie (black hat) in the saloon: "I smell sheep!" Sheep herders son, standing up and opening his jacket to demonstrate: I'm-a not wearin' a gun, and I'm not going to do ANYTHING that in ANY way ..." "Blam blam blam" Blackie shoots him. Real Estate Guy: "You can kill me too, Blackie, but it's just this kind of violence that drives down property values here in Oakwood Estates" "Blam!" Property values! ha ha haBlackie to Rex: "You look like one of those fellers who's attracted to other men" Rex: "How a person dresses is nobody's business but his or her own" Politically correct Rex.I guess you have to see it to appreciate it. Along with the general send-up of early westerns, I see a sub-text of the difficulty men have in being "good" while navigating this difficult world. That may be a stretch, but I see it. Great movie!!!

I was born in 1952, so I must have been about 10 years old when my brother and I were dropped off at the local theater in Waukegan along with a couple of hundred other kids to watch the Saturday morning matinées. In our days it was Flash Gordon, Sky King, and Commander Cody, all legendary "cliff hangers", which meant they would always end the episode with the hero in danger and you would have to come back next week to see what happened. In the 1930's and '40's, the theme was the American West, and the heroes all rode stallions of white or gold, had two guns, sang and played guitar, and wore white hats. Tom Mix was the silent movie hero, then came Gene Autry, Randolf Scott, and later Roy Rogers. This well written parody takes all those memories and rolls them up in a pleasingly benign story that incorporates the old and the new. Language and sexuality are not an issue, so the kids can watch without worry. While there is a lot of innuendo, nothing is explicit enough to warrant anything more than a PG rating, and I think that is a little excessive. Not necessarily a collectible, but worth a viewing on a Saturday morning with the kids, just before they head out to play.

Having grown up watching the old Black and White westerns, early TV serials and a hundred Good Guys vs Bad Guy movies, this one was certainly a fantastic culmination. From first to last, one cannot help but split a rib while viewing it. Despite it featuring major star Tom Berenger as Rex O'Herlihan the real headliner should have been G.W.Bailey. Having watched him in dozens of movies where he is pretty much the heavy, this role was a surprising and refreshing change. In the hilarious film called " Rustler's Rhapsody " he not only is the narrator, he also plays the 'side-kick' Peter. Once you get into this western tale, you become privy to the change of story where "maybe all the bad guys weren't such cowards." Throughout the movie, one is treated to all the cliques of the past and some which create humor in their updated use. If you can identify with the early westerns, you are in for a real treat when you see the ending and a guest appearance by Patrick Wayne as Bob Barber. A remarkable movie in any case and one which definitely made the Classic's list. Andy Griffith and Fernando Rey also add panache to this great addition to our western lore. ****

This movie is a delight from start to finish. From the hilarious 50's B&W B-movie flip-flop to present day color realism gag at the beginning, to the big bash and ride into the sunset at the end!! Tom Berenger shows his acting versatility once again, this time out as Rex O'Hurlihan (The Singin' Cowboy). There's sight gags and punchlines galore and one cannot help but love the title character as well as his (about to become) new sidekick. You'll split your sides at the demise of "Blackie" and the scene immediately following at the Colonel's ranch house. I'm sure there's many a young boy imagined that he could be someone like Rex O'Hurlihan. Ride into town, defeat the bad guys, then ride on to the next town (he's on a circuit, its his karma) and repeat the process. Why the critics consistently panned this movie is beyond me. There's great performances (Andy Griffith is great) all around and if one cannot believe in all thats good (& that good will always overcome evil)....then there's not much hope for mankind or the planet! **********A TREAT FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY**********