The Quick and the Dead Review

MPAA Rating: NR
Released: 1987

The Quick and the Dead is a made-for-TV Western that stars Sam Elliott as a mysterious drifter who provides some unwelcome assistance to a family of naïve Easterners being pursued by a band of vicious outlaws. But does the stranger have hidden motives of his own?

Based on a Louis L'Amour novel of the same name, The Quick and the Dead is a smooth-paced HBO film that possesses the same authentic feeling of Westerns of the 50's and 60's.

Westerns were as rare in supply as water in the west Texas desert during the 1980's, but luckily once in a while a gem would slip through to provide fans of the genre hope that the frontiers lived on. The Quick and the Dead is one such gem.

Duncan McKaskel (Tom Conti) is leading his wife Susanna (Kate Capshaw) and son Tom (Kenny Morrison) across the country from their previous home in Philadelphia to Big Horn, Montana, where they will meet Susanna's brother. The loving family is accustomed to the law and order of city life, and is not in the least bit prepared for the dangers of the wild frontiers.

On their journey they stumble across a gang of outlaws led by Doc Shabitt (Matt Clark). The seedy individuals greedily eye the family's horses and goods-laden covered wagon, though one particularly repulsive outlaw named Red Hayle (Jerry Potter) fancies Susanna herself for his own nefarious purposes. When Duncan gets himself in too deep with the gang, an enigmatic stranger named Con Vallian (Sam Elliott) comes to his assistance.

After a close brush with death, Duncan and his family attempt to put some distance behind the outlaws, but the criminals aren't so easily shaken. Angered about the casualties inflicted on his gang, Shabitt vows to get his revenge against the family, and with the aid of a half-breed Indian tracker (Patrick Kilpatrick) they take pursuit. But the outlaws aren't the only ones stalking the McKaskel family; Vallian comes and goes with the wind, offering assistance each time he appears.

But Duncan isn't certain what to think of this dangerous stranger, for although he is clearly helping them survive against the elements, Indians and the pursuing outlaws Vallian also makes no attempt to hide his appreciation for his wife Susanna.

The Quick and the Dead features a small cast of characters since the majority of the story takes place in the wilderness, but this is actually a strong point for the film since it allows us to get a good feel for each of the characters. Another point in the movie's favor is its adherence to the old style of Westerns; unlike Young Guns and most Westerns from the 90's on, there is no pop culture influences slipped in to dilute the frontier atmosphere of the film.

Sam Elliott is one of the best actors in Hollywood; he exudes a rugged charisma that makes him perfect for Westerns (as proven by the fact that he's starred in quite a few!). Tom Conti was wonderful as a proud Eastern professor that may be inexperienced with the lawlessness of the frontiers, but possesses an inner strength that cannot be underestimated. Kate Capshaw and Kenny Morrison round out the family very well; both were very convincing in their roles.

Although the outlaws were not fleshed out as well as the main stars, I particularly liked Matt Clark's performance as the gang leader, although quite frankly none of them turned me off in the least. The acting in The Quick and the Dead may not be Oscar-worthy, but it was very solid and entertaining.

Although this is an HBO film and thereby was not rated by the MPAA, it if was to be rated it would be the equivalent of a PG. The Quick and the Dead is a family-friendly film with a simple yet absorbing story, likeable characters, some decent gunplay and most of all, heart. Fans of the genre likely won't go wrong with this film.

Movie rating : 9 stars

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