Silverado (1985)
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A group of disparate individuals find their paths intertwined as they navigate the dangers of the American frontier.
The story
After surviving an ambush in an isolated shack, Emmett sets off for the town of Turley to reunite with his brother, Jake. Along the way, he rescues Paden, a man left for dead in the desert after being robbed. The two men eventually encounter a wagon train of settlers and a Black cowboy named Mal. As they navigate the dangers of the frontier, they become entangled in a series of conflicts involving a local sheriff, a corrupt rancher seeking revenge, and a group of outlaws. The journey leads them toward the town of Silverado, where their individual goals and survival instincts collide.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Emmett survives an ambush by three armed men and travels toward Turley to find his brother, Jake, who is facing execution for murder. Along the way, Emmett rescues Paden, a man robbed and left in the desert. They meet Mal, a Black cowboy, and together they defend a wagon train from attackers. After a series of events where Paden is imprisoned and Emmett sets fire to the gallows as a diversion, the four men escape and recover a stolen money box. They eventually reach Silverado, where Paden finds work as a pit boss and Mal reunites with his family. However, the rancher McKendrick—who seized land from Emmett's past—hires a corrupt sheriff, Cobb, to kill the brothers. After a series of betrayals and violence, including the burning of a land office and the kidnapping of Jake's son, the four men launch a final assault on McKendrick's ranch. In the ensuing chaos, Emmett kills McKendrick, Mal rescues his sister, and Paden kills Cobb in a duel to become the new sheriff of Silverado.
- First release year
- 1985
- Runtime (minutes)
- 133
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Lawrence Kasdan
- Writers
- Lawrence Kasdan · writer; Mark Kasdan · writer
- Cast and characters
- Kevin Kline; Scott Glenn; Danny Glover; Kevin Costner; Brian Dennehy; Rosanna Arquette; John Cleese; Jeff Goldblum
- Genres
- Western
- Themes
- Revenge; Brotherhood; Justice; Frontier Survival
- Tone and mood
- Action-packed; Epic; Traditional
- Premise and plot tags
- Western; Revenge; Action; Road Movie
- Reception
- The film was generally well-received by critics, praised for its visuals, action, and adherence to Western traditions, though some noted its plot complexity and script.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 78% · review count: 36; Metacritic · score: 64% · review count: 14
- Awards and nominations
- Academy Awards · Best Sound · Nomination; Artios Award · Best Casting for a Feature Film (Drama) · Nomination; AFI's 100 Years of Film Scores · Nominated · 2005 · Nomination; AFI's 10 Top 10 · Nominated Western Film · 2008 · Nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was shot primarily on location at the Cook Ranch in New Mexico.; The film was released on RCA CED videodisc format and VHS in December 1985.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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