The Shadow Riders (1982) (TV)

Director:

Andrew V. McLaglen

Writers:

Louis L'Amour (novel)
Jim Byrnes (written for television)

Release Date:

28 September 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | Western

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Texas | Slave Trader | Posse | Labor Camp | Escape

Cast

Tom Selleck	...	Mac Traven
Sam Elliott	...	Dal Traven
Ben Johnson	...	Uncle 'Black Jack' Traven
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Major Cooper Ashbury, Comanchero Leader
Jeff Osterhage	...	Jesse Traven (as Jeffrey Osterhage)
Gene Evans	...	Colonel Holiday Hammond, Gunrunner
Katharine Ross	...	Kate Connery / Sister Katherine
R.G. Armstrong	...	Sheriff Miles Gillette
Robert B. Craig	...	Laird
Marshall R. Teague	...	Lieutenant Butler (as Marshall Teague)
Ben Fuhrman	...	Devol
Jane Greer	...	Ma Traven
Harry Carey Jr.	...	Pa Traven
Dominique Dunne	...	Sissy Traven
Natalie May	...	Heather Traven

Also Known As:

Louis L'Amour's The Shadow Riders

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Columbia State Historic Park - 22708 Broadway, Columbia, California, USA

Company:

CBS Entertainment Production

Trivia:

In the book, the descriptions for Mac and Dal are flip-flopped. Selleck should have played Dal and Elliott should have played Mac.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Dal is rescued by the rebels just before being shot by a Union firing squad, he is seen in conversation removing the rope that has been tied around his wrists. The various camera angles show him removing the rope, without the rope, with the rope and still removing the rope.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "E! True Hollywood Story: Dominique Dunne: An American Tragedy" (1997)

Not exactly the best western I've ever seen

I gave this film 4 stars out of a possible 10

This is a western which will probably appeal far more to the male audience then the female audience.

The main problems with this film, in addition to a thin storyline are: #1. Uncle Jack #2 Uncle Jack #3 Uncle Jack -- I'm sure you're getting my drift here.

The film begins in an interesting fashion. We meet Tom Selleck at a bordello and learn the Civil War has just ended, this is followed by us meeting Sam Elliot - who as a Confederate soldier, is facing a firing squad.

Then there's the sisters and girlfriend of Tom, Sam and their younger brother--who have been captured by a group of Confederate soldiers who have turned to criminal activities.

The guys have got to rescue the girls, plus rescuing their younger brother who is also being held captive. If they don't succeed, the women will be sold to brothels in Mexico and the brother will be sent to slave away in a silver mine--apparently also in Mexico.

There's your plot line, folks, for what its worth.

Then, unfortunately, we meet Uncle Jack, (played by Ben Johnson), and it's pretty much downhill from there. Uncle Jack is a criminal who is full of himself, a smart-a*s user/loser and sleazy womanizer--which his nephews and the writer of this story laugh off as just "amusing" character traits of good old boy--Uncle Jack.

Probably most men will also just dismissively laugh off Uncle Jack's attitude, behavior and crimes, however, I tend to think the majority of women viewers will not find Uncle Jack that appealing.