The Quick and the Dead

In the year 1876, Duncan McKaskel, his wife Susanna, and their young son Tom leave Pennsylvania, embarking on a journey through Wyoming- a land ripe with promise and peril. As they traverse the rugged terrain, they encounter Doc Shabbitt and his felonious gang of ruffians, who shadow their every move. It's in this precarious moment that a mysterious stranger, Con Vallian, emerges from the wilderness. Vallian's decision to aid the McKaskels sets the stage for their survival, but at what cost? In a land where justice is often dispensed down the barrel of a gun, Vallian's skills become their lifeline.

A TV movie directed by Robert Day, and based on the novel of the same name by Louis L'Amour, 'The Quick and the Dead' is a predictable but entertaining western of the old style. Much like other L'Amour works, such as 'Hondo,' 'Connagher' and 'Crossfire Trail,' the narrative deals with disparate characters who are emblematic of the cultural divide between the American East and West; characters who must learn to work together if they are to survive.

Although enjoyable, screenwriter James Lee Barrett tends towards the cliched, especially with regard to characterisation. Vallian's stoicism, Susanna's defiance, Duncan's inner turmoil, Shabbitt's eloquent villainy, Tom's awakening- all echo familiar Western archetypes, adhering to traditional character tropes of the genre. Their linear journey provides few surprises and the sparse moments of action within lack excitement or tension. Moreover, when closely examined, some aspects of the plot lack credibility. Vallian's self-sacrifice for a family he barely knows seems contrived, as does the hackneyed, underwhelming ending.

Additionally, Dick Bush opts for a conventional cinematographical approach, meaning the visuals lack flair or originality. While he adeptly captures the stark beauty of the American West, when filming in exquisite locations like Coconino National Forest and Sedona, Arizona, it would be challenging not to showcase their splendour. Furthermore, while Bush's use of close-ups and wide shots adheres to traditional Western filmmaking, tension-building techniques- such as creative framing, dynamic camera movement, or unexpected angles- are somewhat absent.

Moreover, Steve Dorff's score is overblown to the point of parody. His melodies sound like someone trying to mimic, or mock, the sentimental ballads found in your average John Wayne film; a sweeping undercurrent rolling like amber waves of grain in the wind. Conversely, Barbara Weiss's costume design brings a most welcome authenticity to proceedings, while A. Rosalind Crew's minimalistic set decoration and Chester Kaczenski's production design further enhances this visual appeal.

Sam Elliott stars as Vallian, opposite Kate Capshaw as Susanna. Elliott is pitch-perfect as the stoic, rifle-toting stranger, utilising his world-weary charm to full effect. Capshaw does commendable work as Susanna, elevating what could have been a one-note character into a believable, multifaceted personality. Tom Conti subtly underplays it as Duncan, and is very effective in a role that seems somewhat out of his comfort zone. Additionally, Matt Clark- who has appeared in many of Hollywood's best westerns- makes for a fantastic villain as Shabbitt, unhinged yet calculated, and always entertaining.

Although cliched and predictable, Robert Day's 'The Quick and the Dead' still holds entertainment value, especially for fans of old-school westerns. Despite unremarkable cinematography and an overblown score, it's a compelling piece, thanks in large part to the efforts of the cast- especially Sam Elliott and Matt Clark. While this might not be the best Louis L'Amour adaptation, it still rollicks along, like a thoroughbred at full gallop, faltering here and there; but never knocking its rider from the saddle.

...with Tom Conti and Kate Capshaw as settlers in post-Civil War Wyoming. They, along with their young son (Kenny Morrison), run into a band of outlaws and cutthroats led by the deceptively-avuncular Doc Shabbit (Matt Clark). The family seem doomed until the intervention of the mysterious Con Vallain (Sam Elliott), who escorts the family across hostile territory.

Director Robert Day tells the story competently and in a straightforward fashion, with no stylistic excess. Elliott is well-cast, as is Conti as the kindly war veteran suspicious of Elliott's motives, as well his attention toward his wife. Capshaw looks nice, but her performance is spotty. She seems to adopt a period-specific speech pattern in many scenes that is admirable in its intent, but questionable as the others in the cast don't attempt the same. Still, I enjoyed this minor film well enough, and would recommend it to western fans.

Yep, the reason is the man who wrote it - Louis L'Amour. Most of his stories, although about tough men, always had women in them - and they were strong women. Women with common sense who knew how to get things done. In the Quick and the Dead it was Susanna McKaskel played by Kate Capshaw. Sam Elliott had it right when he said she was a handsome woman. Kate Capshaw was indeed beautiful in this film. She reminded me of a clean-scrubbed, Debbie Boone type "real" woman! At least in this movie, who knows what is in anyone's home life. In the story, she is traveling by covered wagon with her husband and son to a new log cabin home in the wilderness. They had set off alone due to disease sweeping the wagon train. They are beset by a group of "bad guys" who follow them relentlessly, thinking they can steal their horses, goods and one of the outlaws wants Kate. Of course they never figured on Sam Elliott as Con Vallian mixing in to help the pilgrims. I'm not going to give the details of the story away, except to say it was well done and one of those movies that you "know", that's the way it really was in the old West - not fancy dressed gunslingers parading up and down the town street. The western landscape was beautifully photographed. This is a Conagher type movie that is down to earth with hard living and real drama. As for the actors of course Sam Elliott is always great, with his smartest move marrying that pretty Katharine Ross in real life. He fits in somewhere between John Wayne and Clint Eastwood in the resourceful, tough guy roles. And he has that deep voice that allows no argument. He has so many great movies to his name like Gettysburg, We Were Soldiers, Conagher, Road House and Shadow Riders. He's a top hand at acting. Tom Conti as Duncan the husband was a bit of a disappointment for me. Not that there was anything wrong with his acting, he is good. I just think he was miscast and looked too much like a soft modern man instead of a disillusioned ex soldier from the Civil War taking on the extremely dangerous trek to the West. Then again that was the part he was playing, and if it hadn't been for that lean, mean mountain man helping, he and his family would have been dead. Kate Capshaw whose real last name is Nail, got her name from first husband Robert Capshaw. Then she married Steven Spielberg, her director in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. Spielberg may be way out in left field politically, but he sure knows how to choose a good woman for a wife. Unfortunately, Kate's career has been up and down but don't think she has to worry with the Spielberg bucks. I like Kate's style and wish hubby Steven would get her more work back into the movies. The McKaskel's young son in the movie is played by Kenny Morrison. He was no Brandon De Wilde in Shane, but did fairly well for the part given him. He continues to work in film including some CSI TV work. He is just coming into his prime so who knows. The actor playing the half-breed Indian tracker was Patrick Kilpatrick is certainly a good actor. However, I'd have liked to see a real American Indian play the part, but I guess they couldn't find a Graham Greene. I have to mention the leader of the outlaws, Matt Clark. This guy has been in so many movies and TV shows his face is like a member of the family. I've never seen him do a bad acting job - he's a professional. I especially remember his great supporting acting in Emperor of the North Pole as the yard worker bullied by Earnest Borgnine, a part in The Outlaw Josey Wales and a host of others. I have no idea why another movie in 1995, took the same title as this The Quick and the Dead. It's a silly excuse for a Western fantasy starring Sharon Stone, and who knows why a good actor like Gene Hackman would associate himself with it. Stone doesn't surprise me as she uses her sexuality to get roles then pretends she is morally superior in real life. Be sure not to confuse the two movies - the Louis L'Amour/Sam Elliott 1987 version is the real Western. If you like westerns with a truer to life flavor, and if you like Louis L'Amour, this movie will appeal to you. It is well worth watching.

Beautiful scenery of Sedona and Flagstaff AZ, not Wyoming in 1876 as advertised. Good acting and quality filming. Casting was pretty good especially Sam Elliott and the bad guys but the half breed Indian looked like a runway model.

The Louis Lamour plot was, as usual for the genre, a little contrived as Sam Elliott's character lives a charmed life in the film. I recommend it if you are a sentimentalist and believe in honor, valor, unrequited love and taking on the bad guys.

I might mention that one item in the movie about Custer's last stand where one of the characters relatives was assumed to be killed could have had a more hopeful outcome as not all of the Seventh Regiment was killed at Little Bighorn since Custer split his command and several hundred survived.

RELEASED IN 1987 and directed by Robert Day, "The Quick and the Dead" is a made-for-HBO Western starring Sam Elliott as Con Vallian, a mysterious stranger who helps a family heading West in their conflict with a group of ne'er-do-wells. Vallian's desire is piqued by the wife (Kate Capshaw), is that interest mutual? Will the family make it to the Bighorn Mountains alive-and-well or will violence and adultery destroy them?

If you don't remember Kate Capshaw, she was the blonde in 1984's "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom" and later married director Steven Spielberg.

I was impressed with this little-known Western. Although made for cable, it's based on a Louis L'Armour book and is actually better than some theatrically released Westerns. There are flaws, like the kid's questionable acting skills and the fact that the film was noticeably shot in Northern Arizona rather than Eastern Wyoming, but -- all things considered -- this is a solid realistic Western in the tradition of "Shane" and "Will Penny." Don't expect the mythic tone of 1995's big-budget Western of the same name.

Highlights include the breathtaking cinematography, a believable and mature approach, Kate's beauty, a hackneyed plot redeemed by quality characters (like Tom Conti as the settler husband/father), insightful drama & plot surprises and, of course, Sam Elliott as the quintessential Westerner. Really, Elliott is as good or - more likely - better than any Western icon you care to name (Wayne, Eastwood, Cooper, Scott, Stewart, Costner, etc.).

There are mature and insightful themes, like the undeniable connection of Vallian and Susanna. Most of us can relate: You stumble across someone of the opposite sex and instinctively sense a palpable connection, some kind of profound mutual fascination, yet - for whatever reason - pursuing an intimate relationship is not an option. In an entire lifetime you will only experience a handful such 'connections,' or less. These exchanges are permanent because they are so potent they are forever burned into one's psyche.

"The Quick and the Dead" may not be a top-notch Western like "Dances With Wolves" or "The Outlaw Josey Wales," but it's certainly a quality Western and well worth your time.

THE MOVIE RUNS 91 minutes.

GRADE: B.