Larry McMurtry’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel was adapted into an Emmy-winning mini-series. The epic novel was broken up into four parts, with the first part debuting on 5 February, 1989. It was adapted by William D. Wittliff, and the opening feature-length episode was directed by Simon Wincer.

I remember the ads for this on television, and at the time, neither the book nor the mini-series made an impression on me. Westerns, on the whole, were not my thing. But as you saw with The Book Shelf this week, I finally read the book and greatly enjoyed it, so I wanted to follow it up with the experience of watching the mini-series.

Wittliff’s script for Leaving hits all the big points, and a lot of smaller character bits that helped make the book so engaging. A pair of former Texas Rangers, Gus (Robert Duvall) and Call (Tommy Lee Jones) are setting out on a new adventure.

Thanks to an idea planted by Jake Spoon (Robert Ulrich), who shows up at their outfit wanted for murder, they decide to run a herd of (stolen) cattle up to the unclaimed territory of Montana. Jake, after reeling off the idea, is more interested in running off with the local prostitute, Lori (Diane Lane), who wants to go to San Francisco.

So they all gear up, Gus, Call, Call’s unacknowledged son, Newt (Ricky Schroder), Deets (Danny Glover), Dish (D.B. Sweeney), Pea Eye (Timothy Scott), Lippy (William Sanderson), and a pair of Irish brothers.

Not too far behind them is July Johnson (Chris Cooper), a sheriff tasked to bring Jake to justice. He’s travelling with his adopted son, Joe (Adam Faraizl), while his wife, Elmira (Glenne Headly) hops a whiskey boat to get away from them and track down a former love, leaving a slightly inept deputy, Roscoe (Barry Corbin), in town.

There are dangers in the land, not just men, but plants, animals, and countless untold dangers, and before the first episode ends, we’re going to see one brutal death.

The production design for the series is great, the costumes top-notch, and a number of the scenes played out just as I had visualized them in my head. Obviously, there is some compression of story, and changes to allow for the visual medium, but it plays damned close to the original text.

Lovingly shot, the actors all seem to be intent on giving their all and bringing these characters to life in a memorable way. Leading the cast, Jones and Duvall perfectly embody their roles, something I couldn’t see in my head originally, but now, couldn’t see it any other way.

I’m looking forward to riding the trail with these boys despite knowing what awaits them.