The Long Riders (1980): The "Green Western" of Dreamlike Violence and Flat History

What makes Walter Hill's The Long Riders a sweeping but violent historical biographical western?The Long Riders just about broke even at the box office (according to star Stacey Keach), and it doesn't seem the film that gets a lot of play nowadays.But this biographical western about the James-Younger gang, to this day, is well-reviewed by fans and critics alike.The movie is probably most remembered as the "brothers" film, because it cast four real-life sets of brothers to play the gang.But there's more than just a casting gimmick behind the movie, and its dreamlike storytelling helps set it apart.Join me for this episode as I discuss David Carradine's impressive performance, an amazing horse stunt, and whether or not the movie can overcome its lack of commentary on the gang's historical place in American history.Directed by Walter Hill. Starring David Carradine, Keith Carradine, Robert Carradine, James Keach, Stacy Keach, Dennis Quaid, Randy Quaid, Christopher Guest, and Nicholas Guest.Connect with us on Bluesky:@not-ni-theaters.bsky.socialAnd to read more of Will's writing or check out more podcast episodes, you can visit him at: willturntale.com