Salvador (1986)

A journalist, down on his luck in the US, drives to El Salvador to chronicle the events of the 1980 military dictatorship, including the assasination of Archbishop Oscar Romero. He forms an... See full summary »

Director:

Oliver Stone

Writers:

Oliver Stone, Rick Boyle

Stars:

James Woods, James Belushi, Michael Murphy

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 6 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Woods	...	Richard Boyle
James Belushi	...	Doctor Rock
Michael Murphy	...	Ambassador Thomas Kelly
John Savage	...	John Cassady
Elpidia Carrillo	...	María (as Elpedia Carrillo)
Tony Plana	...	Major Maximiliano 'Max' Casanova
Colby Chester	...	Jack Morgan - State Department Analyst
Cynthia Gibb	...	Cathy Moore (as Cindy Gibb)
Will MacMillan	...	Colonel Bentley Hyde Sr.
Valerie Wildman	...	Pauline Axelrod
José Carlos Ruiz	...	Archbishop Romero
Jorge Luke	...	Colonel Julio Figueroa
Juan Fernández	...	Army Lieutenant
Salvador Sánchez	...	Human Rights Leader
Rosario Zúñiga	...	Human Rights Assistant

Storyline

A journalist, down on his luck in the US, drives to El Salvador to chronicle the events of the 1980 military dictatorship, including the assasination of Archbishop Oscar Romero. He forms an uneasy alliance with both guerillas in the countryside who want him to get pictures out to the US press, and the right-wing military, who want him to bring them photographs of the rebels. Meanwhile he has to find a way of protecting his Salvadorean girlfriend and getting her out of the country.

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Plot Keywords:

el salvador | reference to donald duck | photographer | place name in title | nun raped | 

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Taglines:

Based on a true story.

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Genres:

Drama | History | Thriller | War

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

23 April 1986 (USA)

Also Known As:

Outpost: Salvador

Filming Locations:

Alameda County, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hemdale Film

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie refers to "Cédulas". Also spelled as Cedulas, the term is short a form for "Cédula de Identidad" or "Cédula de Ciudadanía". They are also known as "Documento de Identidads" (DNI). Characters in the film explain them to be voting papers or birth certificates but a fuller definition of Cedulas explains them as being identity papers or national identity documents. Cedulas, which are by literal definition some form of an order or authorization, are used in quite a number of Latin, Central and South American countries such as El Salvador. Cedulas can also refer to an identity document's number.

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Goofs

When the young man is executed while Belushi and Woods are in the armored personnel carrier, the gun is obviously pointed over the man's head.

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Quotes

Major Maximiliano 'Max' Casanova: [in the commercial] As you well know, I stand for nationalism, law and order, and economic prosperity. More importantly, I stand for the church... and a peaceful Salvador!

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Connections

Referenced in The Simpsons: Homer and Apu (1994)

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Soundtracks

"Gloria"
Written & Performed by Yolocamba Ita
Courtesy of Pentagrama S.A.

User Reviews

Oliver Stone's best movie

Salvador is Oliver's Stone's best movie. This was a low budget movie and the last one Stone made before Platoon. This is a guerilla movie in the true sense of the work. A movie made about a guerilla revolt in El Salvador and one American journalist's story during that revolution; and made on in a guerilla style with a lot of hand-helded shots and local Mexican atmosphere and actors. James Wood and Jim Belushi are excellent. Except for the politics and an acid trip scene, this film is very gritty and real. Now it does have a frat boy road trip aspect, but that only adds a comic touch that is almost endearing at times. Set against the brutality of the civil war of El Salvador, the comedy helps keep the movie from being overly harsh and pedantic, which Mr. Stone tends to want to lean towards in portraying the politics of the time and place. Thankfully Mr. Stone is more interesting in entertaining then preaching in this movie, and with the excellent acting accomplishes this goal.