User reviews

"Rustlers' Rhapsody" is a homage to Western movies, a sort of Luke Lucky, actually a satire to the Western movies. This film shows all the clichés usually presented in this genre in a funny and laconic way. There are the characters of the bar tender, the corrupt sheriff, the drunkard, the prostitute in the saloon, the powerful farmer, the 'bad guys' and the 'good guy'. The acting and the direction are very reasonable and Hugh Wilson is the director of the hilarious "Police Academy". In the end this movie is a forgettable and funny entertainment indicated for fans of Western flicks. My vote is six.

Title (Brazil): "Vaqueiro Cantador" ("Singer Cowboy")

I can only imagine the fun on the set for all in the creation of this tribute to the old Saturday matinee. Tom Berenger's portrayal of the hero in Rustler's Rhapsody is as tongue in cheek as the whole film.

The horse, Wildfire, is reminiscent of all the great old trick horses of the time. I am not quite old enough to remember the Saturday matinee serials at the corner theater, but I am old enough that I watched them on a black and white TV on Saturday afternoons. I would recommend this film because it's not just a great tribute but it is entertaining and you can watch it with your kids!!

To me, this type of movie is what made the TV show, Briscoe County so great!! So many hidden meanings and insider jokes. It is fun for all ages, but if you are over 35, and loved watching old westerns when you were a kid, this movie will bring back those memories, as well as make you smile to ourself for all the things they throw in here. But you'd better be quick witted, they'll sneak up on you.

I didn't really understand on why this movie was rated so low, until I realized that to really enjoy this film you needed to grow up watching horse operas on Saturdays. This means to appreciate the humor, you're probably closer to 40 than 20 or spend a lot of time watching TVLand. From what I've seen most members here are closer 20. This movie satires the Saturday matinee western where you can tell the good guys in the white hats from the bad guys. So it would be better for those of us who saw and liked westerns before the "anti-hero" westerns of the late 60's to present. Where the cowboy star has a new set of duds on for each scene, foils the bad guys and gets the girl but would rather kiss the horse. The storyline is thin because they were all pretty much the same back in the 50's. That's part of the joke. I'd forgotten about this little gem until I was looking at Tom Berenger's credits. He and the rest of the cast were really good. It may not be a great movie but its definitely worth a watch. Favorite line G.W. Bailey saying "Gee Rex, you really ARE a good guy!" 7 out of 10

Rustler's Rhapsody is a salute to those gazillion B westerns made back in the day of the studio system. Even those who were kids back in the day can enjoy this one as satire and as the real thing.

In those days westerns were just churned out because people could not get enough of them. Shot in the outdoors using stock footage over and over and over again lots of fly by night studios just shot out in the country and the plots just seem to run together. Reviewing as many films as I do I can tell you that. If it's a major western with some major stars you remember them, but these B westerns are where the clichés come from.

Just about all of them are used here as Tom Berenger plays the immaculately tailored western hero who just comes to town, rights all the wrongs of the town and then rides on. But here Berenger is facing villains Andy Griffith and Fernando Rey who are up on all the clichés and throw Berenger a few curves. We also find out about the sex life or lack thereof for a cowboy hero, but with Marilu Henner and Sela Ward in the cast one of them will cure that before the film is over.

Back in the day when Mel Brooks offered a role for John Wayne in that other great satire of the western Blazing Saddles Wayne turned him down. But the Wayne family got into this one with Patrick Wayne coming in to play the part of another western hero who's hired by the bad guys. He wars pretty good on Berenger psychologically but Berenger of course takes him on in the end. Wayne looked he was having a great old time in this film.

Rustler's Rhapsody is not as bawdy and outrageous as Blazing Saddles, but it certainly has good entertainment value. It also obeys one rule of the B western from the day. Westerns were often given titles that had nothing to do with the plot as they are here. There's not a bit of cattle rustling in Rustler's Rhapsody.

But there's a lot of fun.

With the enormous financial failure of United Artists' Heaven's Gate (1980), the era of grand epic scale Western films came to an end. Production companies were no longer going to be the victim of shoveling out money to any director unless otherwise stated no matter how talented the film crew was. And rightfully so, the risk was too high. Production companies should only give money to people who really know what they are doing and have a good feeling that the movie they're making will be a critical and financial success. Surprisingly midway through the 1980s, a few western movies were made but only to spoof the genre. In some ways it made fun of the previous films but in other ways paid homage to them because they did have a cultural impact when they were popular. This is one these movies.

Written and director by Hugh Wilson (best known for directing Police Academy (1984)), essentially this movie is a giant 4th wall breaker. The story follows the basic formula of how many westerns began in the past, which involved a lone cowboy who goes into town and notices corruption in the authority. There he takes it upon himself to solve the injustice. As a screenplay, it's not exactly a story. The execution is more like a walk through to how various western TV shows and movies were written at the time. This includes all the usual plot points. However, Wilson manages to use the clichés in a way that doesn't make them feel so contrived. But the fact that the movie doesn't have it's own story is it's biggest problem. With that the audience doesn't really get to know the protagonist as a character and instead as more of a callback to previous actors who had roles like the one depicted here. Also, since the playout feels more like run-through than an actual narrative, the film does drag which is odd since it barely has an hour and a half long run time.

The lone cowboy in this movie is named Rex O'Herlihan (Tom Berenger), the "Singing Cowboy". O'Herlihan is a flashy dressing dual handed gunslinger who only shoots his enemies in the hand, has ten of the same 10 gallon hats, eats desert roots and has a dancing horse. For Berenger's role, his acting is fine. Especially for not being an actor with much comedy in his filmography he does okay. The only part that doesn't look right is him singing. Eh,...it wasn't needed. Consequent to arriving at the corrupt town, Rex meets Peter the town drunk (G.W. Bailey) who ends up wanting to join him in his quest. Bailey even blurts out on screen that he is the comedy relief. That is how self-aware Wilson wrote the tone to his feature. Along with Bailey are a number of other decent cast members. Marilu Henner as a local filly, Patrick Wayne (son of John Wayne), Sela Ward as the Colonel's daughter and legendary Andy Griffith as the Colonel. All of which provide funny supporting roles. The best belonging to Griffith because of his experience and how subtle he is with his lines.

As a parody, it doesn't have high hilarity but it is funny at several moments. Besides the various actors chewing up the scenery, there are occasions where the common knowledge to certain tasks seems so obvious and yet the script will trick its audience on that. Also who knew there were so many rules on how a character is determined to be a good guy. Most of the action, which will resort to ridiculous shootouts make no sense but are fun to watch nonetheless. By the way, anyone who owns a dancing horse has skills. That was cool. The look of the film is adequate. For the budget that it had, it didn't appear cheap. Especially for the sets and backdrops. There were enough places to keep the eyes stimulated. José Luis Alcaine's cinematography had spacious scenery to present itself as a western. Alcaine really got some nice shots of the terrain which made this spoof feel as authentic as possible. The music composed by Steve Dorff doesn't offer his listeners a memorable theme but does incorporate other motifs that work well the comedic scenes depicted. An example of this is using men's choir humming a rather western-like acapella tune. It's a bit underrated and western fans should enjoy it.

It lacks any real compelling story, it drags at times and Tom Berenger actually singing isn't all that convincing. Yet with a self-aware 4th wall breaking script, a number of funny scenes, prudent production quality and a talented cast, the flaws are mostly made up for. For one thing, it'll at least give newer viewers an idea of what westerns were like back in the day.

Tom Berenger is Rex O'Herlihan, the singing cowboy... clearly a take-off of Roy Rogers and his trusty horse Trigger. Fun co-stars... Marilu Henner (who, oddly, has a perfect memory) as Tracy, the bar maid. Andy Griffith is the bad guy ranch owner. Some funny gags, and western film puns, but it's a very slow boil, as grandma used to say. The running gag of where Rex has a new, dashing, fancy outfit every couple minutes. And Andy Griffith never gets his way, and keeps saying "Gee Whiz". Keep an eye out for Patrick Wayne, John Wayne's son; he has a long, philosophical discussion with Rex before the big showdown. GW Bailey (Peter) was also in the police academy films, so you'll see a bunch of those same actors in minor roles here. It's all pretty good. Nothing too amazing. Written and directed by Hugh Wilson, who also created and wrote the WKRP tv series. Wilson has a cameo as the unhappy customer coming down the stairs about 35 minutes in. Berenger was nominated for Platoon in 1987.. he didn't win, but the film Platoon did win a couple. Berenger looks much younger than 36 in this!

Maybe you have to be very familiar with old B-movie American westerns to fully enjoy Rustler's Rhapsody and since I'm not all that familiar with the genre I don't think too highly of this film.

That's not to say it's unfunny, it truly has it's moments but they're not very many and a bit far between. Tom Berenger does well as The Singing Cowboy who rides alone and squares matters in every town. The main spoof here is that every western followed the same formula and so Berenger can predict what's gonna happen each time.

The cast is earnest. G.W. Baily is sporadically funny as the town drunk who becomes Berenger's sidekick, Fernando Rey is very good as the embodiment of a Spaghetti Western villain (one of the film's more funnier scenes is the spoof on their wardrobe and better background music) and the rest (Andy Griffith, Marilu Henner and Sela Ward) fare well enough. I just wished they could have used Jim Carter more (Déja Vu from Top Secret). His confrontation with Berenger in the beginning is a riot.

The problem is mainly that it's paper thin premise doesn't go many places. Berenger's ability to predict what's gonna happen takes up most of the film's jokes. As said I'm not all that familiar with the genre apart from a few movies so I could well enough have missed some jokes.

Rustler's Rhapsody is thus an O.K. way to spend an hour and a half but I didn't laugh out loud that often.

Absolutely side splitting satirical look at the early singing cowboy western. Tom Berringer plays Rex O'Herlihan the singing cowboy who spoofs every western cliché in the book. Great comedy performances are made in this movie by Andy Griffith, Mary Lu Henner, Sela Ward and Fernado Rey plus a lot of great supporting actors. Also Patrick Wayne makes a guest appearance in the movie.

If you are looking for a sophisticated film that the critics all love, this probably won't be it. But if you're regular folks that enjoy the old time western, you'll bust a gut laughing at this movie. Side note, the main musical theme is performed by Rex Allen Jr. as well as the love theme by Country Artist Garry Morris.

Tom Berenger ("Platoon") stars in this so-so send-up of 30s & 40s Saturday matinee Westerns, playing a singing cowboy named Rex O'Herlihan. He comes to a very typical Old West town called Oakwood Estates, where he makes the acquaintance of requisite characters like town drunk Peter (G. W. Bailey, the "Police Academy" series), hooker-with-a-heart-of-gold Miss Tracy (Marilu Henner, 'Taxi'), and powerful villains Colonel Ticonderoga (Andy Griffith, 'Matlock') and The Railroad Baron (Fernando Rey, "The French Connection").

Written and directed by Hugh Wilson, the creator of 'WKRP in Cincinnati' and director of the original "Police Academy", this is the kind of movie I would have liked to enjoy more than I did. Unfortunately, I didn't find Wilsons' script to be very inspired, nor his direction. For a while, he just can't give this picture much energy or momentum. He does give it some good moments, as O'Herlihan is such an experienced cowboy star that he can predict virtually every character type and plot development. In the end, there were enough decent, laugh-out-loud gags and enough sheer likability on display for me to rate this as generally watchable.

The earnestness of the cast helps a lot: Berenger is perfectly sincere, Ms. Henner and Sela Ward ("The Fugitive") are of course just gorgeous as the leading ladies, Bailey is quite engaging as the wannabe sidekick (and also does the narration), Griffith & Rey are amusing bad guys, and the supporting cast also includes familiar faces such as Patrick Wayne ("Texas Detour") as hired gun Bob Barber, Wilson semi-regular Brant von Hoffman ("Dudley Do-Right"), Christopher Malcolm ("The Empire Strikes Back"), Jim Carter ("Shakespeare in Love"), Paul Maxwell ("Aliens"), and Billy J. Mitchell ("Top Secret!").

If you're a fan of the cast, you'll certainly want to give this a look. A nice score & songs by Steve Dorff, striking cinematography by Jose Luis Alcaine, and excellent location shooting in Spain are also assets.

Six out of 10.

Writer-director Hugh Wilson must have been a big admirer of those gentle, low-keyed western serials from the 1930s and '40s, but how he managed to sell this homage in 1985 is a mystery. Deliberately mild outdoor yarn stars Tom Berenger as a singing cowboy and Andy Griffith as a corrupt sheriff. Both actors are nicely cast with tongue-in-cheek, but the movie's anachronistic handling is a prolonged in-joke which ultimately leaves the viewer shut off from the humor. The plotting is incidental and slim, and the affection Wilson has for the lead character is translated too coyly. Almost completely inoffensive, it's a picture that barely lingers in the memory. *1/2 from ****

This 1985 film became a family favorite as soon as we taped it from a TV broadcast 20 years ago - it ran as part of an interesting Western double-header on City-TV (R. Rhapsody, followed by Silverado, another sort of tribute western, albeit with more serious themes). In time, we acquired both on VHS, replacing our creaky, worn-out tape.

I didn't realize how funny Andy Griffith was till I saw him in this flick. Sela Ward sparkles, and looks like a teenager, but she was actually born in 1956. She recently performed in "House, M.D", still looking 10-15 years younger than her age.

Some of the funniest lines remain in our family vernacular: "See somebody about yer hearing"; "She's probably out riding Wildfire"; "That leg will have to come off for sure"; "Who-oo iiiiis it?".

There are 2 brilliant scenes with Berenger and Patrick Wayne - 1 turns more sinister, just briefly.. listen for the 'Psycho' background music.

Hollywood's not making Westerns any more - but we could argue that they're not really making comedies either. Why? the art of 'wit' or 'satire' has sadly been lost. *sigh* You can see both here.

I avoided this movie like the plague when it came out. Looked too much like it woukd be another dumb crude bro humor Hollywood hack job western spoof in the era of Porky's and Police Academy. It was probably marketed the same way. Occasionally it pops up in a reference somewhere being praised by people I respect. I finalky checked it out and it's well worth the effort.

It's definitely a bit corny and weak in places but so generous to the age of the white hat cowpoke movie, a genuine feelgood movie with sone stellar one-liners. "Oh it's just something I through together", referencing one of Berenger's elaboratee be fringed ensembles. The sight gags are great too: multiple guys falling out if 2nd stories into water troughs...and of course there are a few Nudie Suits thrown in for good measure.

It's good to see Fernando Rey cut loose and do some comedy instead of just brooding. Same joes for Berenger, to whom 1980's Movie star maker machinery was nit all that kind to: anyone remember Last Rites, Betrayed?

I realize that a sense of humor varies from person to person,but this movie just isn't very funny to me.I saw this film in the summer of '85 when it was released with a group of friends.We gathered every Friday to take in a movie.We took turns picking the film we would see,and regretfully,I chose this one. This movie is labeled a comedy,and it just doesn't work.I will give the actors credit here,as they did the best they could do with what they were given,which was not much at all.The jokes fell horribly short of their goal,which of course is to generate laughter.It has been a long time,but I don't recall a single laugh among my friends and I while watching this movie.I felt the need to apologize to them for choosing this one,and I did. I felt especially bad for Andy Griffith,a man I deeply admire as an actor.This is something he will not want to be remembered for,I am sure.Overall,I will give them credit for their attempt here,but it just didn't work out.Save your money.

Why would a really funny movie like Rustler's Rhapsody get passed over and over and over?

Because most times these over-the-top parodies stumble all over themselves, then fall flat. RUSTLER's RHAPSODY hangs right in there, start to finish.

It starts with a really b-list cast---Tom Berenger as the lead, G.W. Bailey as the town-drunk, Marilu Henner as the saloon girl…..but the basics of comedy, strictly applied set this Wild West Farce right there with Blazing Saddles.

Andy Griffith has NEVER BEEN funnier, as the effeminate cattle-baron, set on taking over the dusty old town.

Take, Tom Mix, add the Marx Bros, and a little something extra, and you've got Rustler's Rhapsody. A must see.

It's too bad more people haven't had the pleasure of watching this hilarious send-up of the Western genre. For those of you who thought that Blazing Saddles said everything there was to say on this subject, give Rustler's Rhapsody a whirl. I promise you, it'll be worth your time.

8 out of 10.

Gentle and loving send-up of the Singing Cowboy westerns of the 30's and 40's with Tom Berenger playing it absolutely straight as a "good guy," complete with more matching ensembles than Oscar de la Renta. Berenger is very good; Andy Griffith and Fernando Rey are suitably sinister as the "Colonels"; both Sela Ward and Marilu Henner are gorgeous and funny. G.W. Bailey steals the show as the town drunk/sidekick/narrator.

It's clear the filmmakers loved the genre they were spoofing. An especially poignant touch is the closing theme music "The Last of the Silver Screen Cowboys," sung by Rex Allen Jr., the son of Rex Allen, who starred in many of the films which are lampooned in this picture.

Your kids will enjoy it, but not as much as you will -- especially if you grew up watching all those wonderful old Westerns on tv.

Personally, I think this film is one of the cleverest and funniest spoofs I've ever seen, and in many ways even warmly uplifting. I have to imagine that the well matched cast had a great time doing this one, and that there were more than a few retakes because the actors kept cracking up at their own performances, which are, in my humble opinion, universally and hilariously well executed without ever retreating into slapstick. I was especially floored by the sidekick/narrator (that first bar scene is priceless). The humor is ongoing, and the film pokes fun at a dozen social stereotypes as it seeks, tongue-in-cheek, to resolve an unexpected and not so unfamiliar wrinkle in the problem of "good vs. bad" using the 1930's Western as a template for the tale.

That said, I've recommended "Rustlers Rhapsody" to a variety of people, but have been completely unable to predict with even remote accuracy who will like it and who will not; just one of those movies, I guess. So I've given up on that approach and now I don't try to guess; I just recommend it to everybody.

If you love the western genre, this is a must see! A delightful homage to westerns of the 1930's up to the 1960's. Unlike BLAZING SADDLES, this intelligently scripted film doesn't hit you over the head with the jokes - it kind of "eases 'em on in" at a leisurly pace, and on repeated viewings, you'll pick up more and more delights! Tom Berenger is perfect as Rex O'Herlihan the Singing Cowboy, who, along with his marvelously clever horse, Wildfire, brings peace and order to the town of Oakwood Estates. With a teriffic supporting cast, including Andy Griffith as Colonel Ticonderoga, the evil cattle baron, and Fernando Rey as the wicked railroad baron, who both seem to be having a hoot of a time in this delightful comedy. I hope it comes out on DVD 'cause I'm wearing out my VHS copy!

It has been a few years since I last saw this film, but I remember it being very funny. G.W. Bailey's narration is comical, Andy Griffith is hilarious, and Tom Berenger does a great job as the flawed hero who only shoots people in the hand. Funny little movie, give it a look.

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. ****

A humorous spoof on all the western cliches that we all know too well from old westerns. Berenger is fantastic because he plays it straight -- he doesn't try to yuk it up or overdo his role. He lets the humor of his role and his situation create the comedy.

One of those movies that you'll see over and over, and will discover something new and funny each time. A new subtle sight gag, and new funny line -- there's a lot here to enjoy! Let it sink in!