Pale Rider (1985)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Clint Eastwood

Writers:

Michael Butler (written by) &
Dennis Shryack (written by)

Release Date:

28 June 1985 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Western

Tagline:

Hell comes home

Plot:

A mysterious preacher protects a humble prospector village from a greedy mining company trying to encroach on their land.

Plot Keywords:

Preacher | Sheriff | Gold | Small Town | Train

Awards:

2 wins & 1 nomination

Cast

Clint Eastwood	...	Preacher
Michael Moriarty	...	Hull Barret
Carrie Snodgress	...	Sarah Wheeler
Chris Penn	...	Josh LaHood (as Christopher Penn)
Richard Dysart	...	Coy LaHood
Sydney Penny	...	Megan Wheeler
Richard Kiel	...	Club
Doug McGrath	...	Spider Conway
John Russell	...	Stockburn
Charles Hallahan	...	McGill
Marvin J. McIntyre	...	Jagou
Fran Ryan	...	Ma Blankenship
Richard Hamilton	...	Jed Blankenship
Graham Paul	...	Ev Gossage
Chuck Lafont	...	Eddie Conway (as Chuck LaFont)

Runtime:

115 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Iceland:16 | Spain:13 | Argentina:16 | France:Unrated | Brazil:16 | Peru:PT | New Zealand:PG | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1985) | Sweden:15 | UK:15 | USA:R | West Germany:16 | Australia:M | Singapore:PG | Canada:AA (Ontario) | Netherlands:AL

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

Malpaso Company, The

Trivia:

The first horse assigned to Richard Kiel collapsed the first time he climbed aboard. He was then assigned a stronger horse.

Goofs:

Miscellaneous: When Preacher splashes the man holding a lit match over Barret's wagon with a bucket of water, he actually fails to put the match out.

Quotes:

Teddy Conway: Where are you going Mr Hull?
Hull Barret: I'm going into town
Teddy Conway: Ain't that kinda dumb after what happened last time?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Munchies (1987)

Definitely the greatest western of the 80's

"Pale rider" is truly a spectacular film and unquestionably the very greatest western of the 80's. The fact that western was slowly dying as a genre already in the 70's is a sad but regrettable truth. Clint Eastwood still appeared in three of 'em: he played the amusing leading role of "Joe Kidd" (1972) - great, peculiar and funny little film - and he directed two magnificent masterpieces "High plains drifter" (1972) and "The Outlaw Josey Wales" (1976). What else did the 70's had to offer? Not too much. "Little big man" (1970), "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" (1973) and "The Shootist" (1976). At the dawn of the 80's western was pretty much dead. "Silverado" and exceptional "Pale rider" (both released in 1985) are quite likely the only notable westerns of the decade in question.

And "Pale rider" is the better one - Clint Eastwood's last traditional western. Of course he climbed back to saddle in terrific and highly awarded "Unforgiven" (1992) but it was no longer a traditional western - more like an unusual anti-western. In "Pale rider" Eastwood is was once again (and for the very last time) the quiet, calm, cool and mysterious cowboy, (called "the preacher") classic and almost a supernatural character that rides into small, dusty town. Late John Russell with his terrific Lee Van Cleef-like looks is outstanding as the ruthless villain Stockburn. Movie is simply marvelous: amusing, well-written and exciting and it has a superb acting. This is a fantastic, gripping film that future generations will remember as one of the last real westerns. "Pale rider" is just one of the many reasons why I adore Eastwood. 10 out of 10.