Thursday, May 3rd at 7:00 p.m.
Admission: $25.00 all tickets
at the Loft Cinema, 3233 E. Speedway
All proceeds benefit Empire Ranch Preservation
for tickets, call 888-364-2829
http://empireranchfoundation.eventbrite.com/
Tickets will also be sold at the door, beginning at 6pm.

Don’t miss a very special screening of a classic movie for a classic cause when Empire Ranch Foundation presents MONTE WALSH, the epic 1970 Western starring LEE MARVIN, JEANNE MOREAU and JACK PALANCE, and partially shot here in Southern Arizona! All proceeds from this screening will benefit the preservation of Empire Ranch, the local historic landmark used in the making of numerous classic Hollywood Westerns.

Featuring a post-film Q&A with PAM MARVIN (Lee Marvin’s widow), TODD ROBERTS (son of Monte Walsh producer Bobby Roberts), actor MITCH RYAN (Magnum Force, High Plains Drifter) who played Shorty Austin in the film, and actor BO HOPKINS (The Wild Bunch, Midnight Express) who played Jumpin’ Joe Joslin in the film.

“The performances are extraordinary. Marvin has seldom been better; he leaves in the toughness of his usual screen character, but he also reveals a lot of depth.” – Roger Ebert, THE CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

Oscar-winning Hollywood legend (and former Tucsonan) LEE MARVIN stars, along with a stellar cast including Jack Palance, Jeanne Moreau, Mitch Ryan and Bo Hopkins, in this gripping saga that covers the tumultuous final days of the Old West. Facing a changing landscape where barbed wire and railways are fast replacing the freedom of the open range, Monte Walsh (Marvin) and his fellow cowboys consider new work opportunities, toy with the idea of “settling down,” and draw their pistols for one last showdown. Widely considered to be one of the very best Westerns of the 1970s, MONTE WALSH features one of Lee Marvin’s greatest performances, as an aging cowboy looking for one last shot at relevance in a world that’s passing him by.

This special event is generously underwritten by THE GREEN VALLEY PECAN COMPANY:
http://www.greenvalleypecan.com/

VISIT THE EMPIRE RANCH FOUNDATION WEBSITE:
http://www.empireranchfoundation.org/

UPDATE: Lee Marvin’s widow Pam, Bo Hopkins, John White (stuntman), Professor Richard Shelton, Todd Roberts (son of producer Bobby), and Mark Hedley (producer of Westerns) were on the panel tonight, prior to the film showing. Pam said that the movie was of a “time long gone by, about the “demise of ranchers & cowboys”, that it was a “homage to cattle hands & the untamed West.” The others spoke of the movie’s filming at Old Tucson as well as the Reynolds Ranch nearby, about the late Lee Marvin (even driving his truck around Tucson hauling stuff in his neighborhood). Actor Hopkins said that Marvin was “great to work with”, that this film was his 3rd of 150 movies. Hedley was an extra in this film and remembered Lee Marvin as “gracious.” Q & A were questions about Western remakes, successors to great film stars, Marvin’s favorite restaurant in Tucson (Pam’s answer: Casa Adobes Drug Store for a good burger), importance of cowboy history, digital technology.

The film itself was well shot through Southern Arizona, had quite a few dramatic moments, as well as humor, with a bittersweet ending. It was mostly about the life & times of the cowboy out West, and decisions about the job or settling down with a family.

This movie showing was well attended and a successful benefit for the Empire Ranch Foundation. District 4 Supervisor Ray Carroll and “Inside Track” radio talk show host Emil Franzi (1030 AM KVOI) were in attendance.