Back to the Future Part III (1990)
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After discovering his friend is trapped in the 1880s, a time traveler must journey into the Old West to rescue him.
The story
Following the events of the previous film, Marty McFly learns that his friend, Doc Brown, has been stranded in the year 1885. To save Doc and return to the present, Marty must travel back to the Old West. Upon arrival, he finds himself in a harsh frontier environment where he must navigate the dangers of the 19th century. The situation becomes complicated as Doc falls in love with a local woman, Clara Clayton. Marty must navigate the complexities of the past, deal with a local outlaw, and find a way to get both himself and Doc back to 1985 before the timeline is permanently altered.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After learning Doc Brown was sent to 1885, Marty McFly travels there to rescue him. He finds Doc's notes and a tombstone indicating Doc was killed by Buford 'Mad Dog' Tannen. Marty arrives in 1885, survives a bear attack, and assumes the name 'Clint Eastwood'. He finds Doc, who is alive but has fallen in love with Clara Clayton. They realize they need a way to reach 88 mph to travel through time, as the DeLorean's fuel line is damaged. They plan to use a steam locomotive. During a town festival, Buford challenges Marty to a duel. Marty survives the fight and, along with Clara, helps Doc and Marty escape. They use a locomotive to push the DeLorean to high speeds. Marty returns to 1985, where he avoids a fatal accident. In the finale, a steam-powered time machine appears, revealing Doc and Clara have stayed in the past with their children, and they bid Marty a final farewell.
- First release year
- 1990
- Runtime (minutes)
- 118
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Robert Zemeckis
- Writers
- Bob Gale · screenplay; Robert Zemeckis · story; Bob Gale · story
- Cast and characters
- Michael J. Fox · Marty McFly; Christopher Lloyd · Doc Brown; Mary Steenburgen · Clara Clayton; Thomas F. Wilson · Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen; Lea Thompson · Jennifer Parker
- Genres
- science fiction; Western
- Themes
- Time Travel; Fate
- Tone and mood
- Adventure; Comedy
- Premise and plot tags
- Time Travel; Western
- Franchise connections
- Back to the Future
- Reception
- The film received a positive response from critics, who noted it as an improvement over Part II.
- Awards and nominations
- Saturn Award · Best Music · Win; AOL Movies DVD Premiere Award · Best Special Edition of the Year · Win
- Production trivia
- The film was produced on a $40 million budget back-to-back with Part II.; The film featured cameo appearances from veteran Western film actors Pat Buttram, Harry Carey Jr. and Dub Taylor.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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