The Quick and the Dead (1987 film)

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For other uses, see The Quick and the Dead (disambiguation).
The Quick and the Dead
The Quick and the Dead VideoCover.jpeg
DVD cover
GenreWestern
Based onThe Quick and the Dead
1973 novel
by Louis L'Amour
Written byJames Lee Barrett
Directed byRobert Day
StarringSam Elliott
Tom Conti
Kate Capshaw
Kenny Morrison
Matt Clark
Music bySteve Dorff
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producerJoseph Cates
ProducerPhillip Cates
CinematographyDick Bush
EditorJay Freund
Running time90 minutes
Production companiesHBO Pictures
The Joseph Cates Company
DistributorWarner Bros. Television Distribution
Release
Original networkHBO
Audio formatMono
Original release
  • February 28, 1987 (1987-02-28)

The Quick and the Dead is a 1987 made-for-television western film based on the 1973 novel by Louis L'Amour, directed by Robert Day and starring Sam Elliott, Tom Conti, Kate Capshaw, Kenny Morrison and Matt Clark. The plot of the film bears a strong resemblance to the novel Shane.[1]

Plot[]

In Wyoming Territory in 1876, Duncan McKaskel (Tom Conti), his wife Susanna (Kate Capshaw), and their 12-year-old son Tom (Kenny Morrison) are travelling West to start a new life. They have left a cholera-stricken wagon train and arrive in a small, dilapidated town, where they meet villainous "Doc" Shabbitt (Matt Clark) and ask for directions. He suggests they stay in a deserted local building, but McKaskel senses danger, so they leave. Shabbit steals two of their horses.

Con Vallian (Sam Elliott) is chasing a mixed-race Indian, the latest recruit to Shabbit's gang whom, it transpires, he has tracked for hundreds of miles for personal reasons. Vallian witnesses the homesteader's encounter with Shabbit and arrives at the McKaskel's wagon during supper. He notifies them their horses have been stolen. Against Susanna's advice, Duncan rides into town and tries to reclaim the horses. An intense gunfight ensues when Vallian, who has secretly followed him, shoots some of the Shabbit gang. When Doc Shabbitt finds that his son, who was about to shoot McKaskel in the back, has been killed, he vows to pursue the family and seek revenge.

Susanna, Duncan, and Tom flee in their covered wagon, trying to outrun their pursuers. Vallian continues to help protect them from Shabbitt and his gang. Vallian manages to kill the bandits one at a time, but a remaining four maintain their pursuit. Vallian is obviously attracted to Susanna, and she to him. Following a moment of high drama, she succumbs to his advances, and they share a passionate kiss. McKaskel never learns of the kiss, but several times he tells Vallian, who is critical of his apparent pacifism, to back off. In an encounter with Indians, Susanna learns that her brother, an army officer, has likely been killed at the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Out hunting, Vallian is ambushed and shot by the Indian. McKaskel removes the bullet, but Vallian runs a high fever and falls on the trail. He is rescued and nursed back to health by Susanna.

Eventually, they arrive at the small cabin Susanna's brother had built for them, on the spread where they intended to raise cattle. The family begins settling in the house, but Shabbitt and his gang arrive for their revenge. A showdown ensues in which Vallian and the McKaskels triumph. Vallian bids farewell to the family and leaves to resume his solitary life.

Cast[]

Production[]

Filming locations include Coconino National Forest, Kaibab National Forest, Wupatki National Monument and Sedona, Arizona.

References[]

  1. ^ Scheer, Ron. "Buddies in the Saddle: The Quick and the Dead (1987)". buddiesinthesaddle.blogspot.com. Retrieved 20 March 2019.

External links[]

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