Silverado (1985)

Director:

Lawrence Kasdan

Writers:

Lawrence Kasdan (written by) &
Mark Kasdan (written by)

Release Date:

10 July 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Western

Tagline:

Get ready for the ride of your life.

Plot:

A misfit bunch of friends come together to right the injustices which exist in a small town.

Plot Keywords:

Small Town | Pinto | Scenic Vista | Tumbleweed | Jail

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Kevin Kline	...	Paden
Scott Glenn	...	Emmett
Kevin Costner	...	Jake
Danny Glover	...	Malachi 'Mal' Johnson
Marvin J. McIntyre	...	Clerk at cavalry outpost
Sheb Wooley	...	Cavalry Sergeant
Jon Kasdan	...	Boy at Outpost
John Cleese	...	Sheriff John T. Langston
Todd Allen	...	Turley Deputy Kern
Kenny Call	...	Turley Deputy Block
Bill Thurman	...	Carter
Meg Kasdan	...	Barmaid at Sang's Saloon
Dick Durock	...	Turley Bar Fighter
Gene Hartline	...	Turley Bar Fighter
Autry Ward	...	Hat Thief

Runtime:

133 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | Dolby (35 mm prints)

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Iceland:12 | West Germany:12 (f) | South Korea:12 | UK:PG | Argentina:13 | Chile:14 | Finland:K-16 | France:U | Norway:15 | Singapore:PG | Sweden:15 | USA:PG-13 | Australia:PG

Filming Locations:

Abiquiu, New Mexico, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

The set for Silverado was built for this movie and has since been used in such movies as Young Guns (1988), Wyatt Earp (1994), Last Man Standing (1996/I), "Lonesome Dove" (1989), All the Pretty Horses (2000) and Wild Wild West (1999). In Wild Wild West "Kasdan Ironworks" can be seen on the side of one of the buildings as a reference to Lawrence Kasdan.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The Henry rifle used by Mal is neither an original nor an accurate reproduction. There is a loading gate on the right side of his. Henry Rifles had a tubular magazine loaded from the muzzle end by pushing a detent, twisting the last inch or so of the barrel to the side, then dropping cartridges in one at a time, "business end" up.

Quotes:

[first lines]
[Emmett saves Paden's life with a sip of water from his canteen after discovering him abandoned and baking in the desert]
Paden: Pleased to meet you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Monster Squad Forever! (2007) (V)

Great entertainment

I love this movie, so much that I finally got tired of renting it and bought a copy. I tell anyone who asks that it's "...the western for 12-year-old boys of all ages." I'd guess that women would enjoy it also, if for no other reason than the superb male cast. I can't think of a film which has a cast with greater depth. I love the humor woven through the episodes of action and buddyhood, and nearly fell out of my seat laughing when John Cleese first appeared on screen. His first line is an all-time great, right up there with Tommy Lee Jones' "My my, what a mess" in The Fugitive (I won't quote it, in case you haven't seen the film). If you want to be thoroughly entertained for a couple of hours, and don't require powerful social import in your viewing choices, I'd recommend Silverado strongly. Actually, the relationship of Danny Glover to the main protagonists IS socially important, so enjoy that too.