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Salvador (1986)

7.4
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Ratings: 7.4/10 from 11,047 users  
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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 »

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Title: Salvador (1986)

Salvador (1986) on IMDb 7.4/10

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Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 4 wins & 6 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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Doctor Rock
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Ambassador Thomas Kelly
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John Cassady
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María (as Elpedia Carrillo)
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Jack Morgan - State Department Analyst
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Cathy Moore (as Cindy Gibb)
Will MacMillan ...
Colonel Bentley Hyde Sr.
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Pauline Axelrod
José Carlos Ruiz ...
Jorge Luke ...
Colonel Julio Figueroa
...
Army Lieutenant
Salvador Sánchez ...
Human Rights Leader
Rosario Zúñiga ...
Human Rights Assistant
Edit

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. Written by Tony Bowden <t.bowden@qub.ac.uk>

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Taglines:

Based on a true story. See more »

Genres:

Drama | History | Thriller | War

Certificate:

R | See all certifications »

Parents Guide:

 »
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Details

Country:

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Language:

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Release Date:

23 April 1986 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

Outpost: Salvador  »

Filming Locations:

 »

Box Office

Budget:

$4,500,000 (estimated)
 »

Company Credits

Production Co:

 »
Show detailed on  »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

Color:

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was part of a cycle of pictures made during the 1980s that featured journalists covering war. The movies include Salvador, Under Fire, Circle of Deceit [Die Fälschung], Witness in the War Zone, Cry Freedom, The Killing Fields and The Year of Living Dangerously. See more »

Goofs

At minute 41:44, when Major Max is giving his speech at the dinner table, as he circles the table you can clearly see the camera and boom operator reflected in the black window behind him. See more »

Quotes

Richard Boyle: [drunk] Cathy, talk to Maria. I gotta get Maria back. Just talk to Father Paul, she'll listen to him.
Cathy Moore: Richard, you're forty-two years old. You're old enough to be her father, forget her.
Richard Boyle: I'm in love with her!
Doctor Rock: [also drunk] I love you, Richard.
See more »

Connections

Featured in Into the Valley of Death (2001) See more »

Soundtracks

"El Campecino"
Written by R. De De A.
Performed by Trios Hermanos Carcamo
Courtesy of Discos Lando Records
See more »

Frequently Asked Questions

See more (Spoiler Alert!) »

User Reviews

 
Fear and Loathing in El Salvador
17 February 2005 | by (United Kingdom) – See all my reviews

With a touch of the Hunter Thompsons, Oliver Stone created a quality film about reporter Richard Boyle and his troubles in El Salvador during a civil war that breaks out around him.

Compared to other Stone films, I think this is his best, he has managed to take the true story of Boyle and craft it into a film in which you actually care about the on-screen characters, something he lost later on.

The performances are classic; James Woods, he was clearly on edge and it shows, he produces one of his finest to date. Doc would really have been only a fringe character if it wasn't for the fact he was played by James Belushie in fine form, he fits into the role of the degenerate with ease, he begins as somewhat uptight, but slowly dissolves into the seedy culture of Salvador in contrast to Boyle being ostracised by everyone he deals with.

As with most Stone biopics, there is an element of "you weren't there man!" anger as he unleashed another tirade against the US government and military through this film. You can take that as you like, what I found most fascinating about this film is the similarity to Fear and Loathing, right down to the battered red car they make most of the journey in. I found it fascinating that Boyle could live the kind of story that Thompson made his name creating, the two would make a cracking team, should they not die getting the story, just make it up.

If you're undecided on Olly Stone, but haven't seen this film, give it a try before you decide whether he is an overrated paranoid madman or an impassioned filmmaker with a message in there somewhere if you can get past all the shouting.


10 of 12 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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