THE SHADOW RIDERS
US, 1982, 100 minutes, Colour.
Tom Selleck, Sam Elliott, Katharine Ross, Ben Johnson, Geoffrey Lewis, R.G. Armstong, Jane Greer.
Directed by Andrew V. McLaglan?.
The Shadow Riders is a telemovie based on a western novel by Louis L'Amour. With the same stars as the mini-series, The Sacketts, based on a L'Amour story, it seems to be something of a sequel. The Civil War has ended. Geoffrey Lewis is the Commander of a Southern Troop who wants to wage the war and kidnaps men and women from a Texas town to sell them into slavery. Tom Selleck and Sam Elliot are brothers, from opposite sides in the war, who return to pursue and rescue their families. Also in the cast are Ben Johnson enjoying himself as the basically Uncle Jack, and Katherine Ross as the heroine (real life wife of Sam Elliott). The film, is directed by Andrew McLaglen?, veteran of many action features and westerns.
1. Entertaining western? The aftermath of the Civil War? The history of Texas?
2. The location photography, the atmosphere of the 1860s, of Texas? Special effects and stunts? Musical Score?
3. The title, the theme? The two brothers, opposite sides of the war, peace? The pursuit and rescue?
4. The opening, the Civil War, executions? Mac and his surviving the war? Del and his being about to be hanged, rescued by the major? In further difficulties and rescued by Mac? The forgetting of the past? The major and his wanting to continue the war and the way of life of the South?
5. The two brothers, their relationship? Coming home together? Meeting their Mother and Father? The situation in the town? The decision to pursue the kidnappers? Travelling together? Reflecting on their lives? Del and his disappointment that Kate was engaged? Finding Jessie? The plan with Uncle Jack, the prison, dynamite? Going to the camp, the infiltration of the camp? Kate's being taken? The plan, Uncle Jack and the explosion? Taking the slave dealer prisoner? The pursuing Sheriff, bargaining Uncle Jack for the slave trader? Returning home Del with Kate? Mac to run for Sheriff? Portrait of Texas men?
6. Kate and the women, captured, Kate's leadership, giving the knife to Jessie, her contacts with the Major? Being sold to the dealer? The rescue? returning as the nun, caught? The final mission? Her confrontation of Del, wanting to be asked to marry? The happy ending? The sketch of the sisters and the other women captured?
7. The major, the aftermath of the war, the gentlemanly way of life, the rebel? Clash with Del after rescuing him? Confrontation with Kate? The gun deal, the betrayal, his escape? Del's saving his life? His followers? The Mexicans?
8. The dealer and slave trader? Dealing with the major? The proposition? his luxury train?
9. Jack, in prison, his laconic style, his crimes, the Sheriff pursuing him? His plan for the future? The final bargain?
10). A picture of Texas, the frontier, war and danger, slavery? An enjoyable western?
