
Quigley Down Under, An adventure for men
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Tom Selleck is best known for his hit TV series Magnum P.I. and his Three Men and a Baby hit (along with its sequel). His films, Her Alibi, High Road to China and Mr. Baseball were other clever roles for Selleck. Yet many casual viewers are not aware of his prolific participation as an actor in Western Drama. Selleck was under appreciated by both critics and audience, in Quigley Down Under. His character, Matthew Quigley, an American Sharp shooter, the plot, lured to Australia for $50 dollars in gold, to eliminate (he thinks) wild dingoes (Australian wild dogs), Matthew is bound for adventure. After an altercation with some local mates upon arriving in Australia, Quigley discovers that the mates (or fellows) are those sent to fetch him. He is then escorted to the remote lands of a despicable land baron named Marston. Quigley is paired with a somewhat crazy, woman a.k.a. town prostitute (from America) Crazy Cora. This unlikely alliance grows as Quigley soon discovers he is not to kill dingoes but Aborigine's.
After learning of his real purpose as a sharpshooter, Quigley throws his host through his own dining room window, holds off the other cowboys (mates) and is eventually subdued after a servant (an Aborigine abused by Marston ) whacks him over the head. He is thoughly beaten and carried off in a wagon, semi comatose, with his new found side kick, Crazy Cora. The goal of Marston is to leave both Quigley and Cora to die in the great outback. After a clever ruse, Quigley gains his freedom, kills the two men sent to dispose of him and throughout the remainder of the movie, develops his mission to avenge both his beating, the senseless murder of Aborigines by Marstons men, and to save both himself and his new found friend from the dangers of the outback. Marston’s attempts to track him down and kill him, the Aborigines and other innocent bystanders, fuels Quigley’s determination to eliminate Marston and any of his men who get in his way.
Various scenes of his shooting expertise enhance the plot of the film. In addition the movie appeals to those would be western heroes, who yearn to fulfill the role of a “Quigley”, to satisfy their quest for adventure, fantasy and manly development. This film speaks to all those who want to be real men in the western tradition. This role for Selleck is not an aberration in his film career.
Selleck’s portrayal of one of the Sackett brothers Orrin (in Louis L'Amour’s The Sacketts), is not as well known, but is in the same western genre. He teams with other western stars, Sam Elliot, Glenn Ford, Ben Johnson, Slim Pickens and others, to present this L'Amour character. He has among the other credits in Quigley and The Sacketts: Last Stand at Sabre River, The Shadow Riders, and Monte Walsh. Quigley Down Under is a stellar achievement in a long career which includes these other western. Those who love westerns will love Quigley!
If not, maybe Matthew Quigley can give them a lesson in the art of firing his unique Sharp long rifle (specially made for the Movie). Selleck, a pro-gun advocate along with this reviewer, respects the rights of the second amendment.
All in all, Quigley Down Under is a splendid adventure, well acted and directed, beautifully filmed, and designed to capture the hearts of men and women who crave for a return of the American Western (though this was filmed in Australia). The adventure and quest is timeless and never ending. Five Stars for Quigley!
Reid Farrow Movie Buff
Review ID: 10000000001804608

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