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Salvador

  • 1986
  • K-16
  • 2h 2m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
22K
YOUR RATING
James Woods in Salvador (1986)
An American photojournalist gets caught in a political struggle at El Salvador in 1980.
Play trailer1:58
1 Video
99+ Photos
DramaHistoryThriller

A burnt-out photojournalist becomes involved in a Central American revolution.A burnt-out photojournalist becomes involved in a Central American revolution.A burnt-out photojournalist becomes involved in a Central American revolution.

  • Director
    • Oliver Stone
  • Writers
    • Oliver Stone
    • Richard Boyle
  • Stars
    • James Woods
    • Jim Belushi
    • Michael Murphy
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.4/10
    22K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Oliver Stone
    • Writers
      • Oliver Stone
      • Richard Boyle
    • Stars
      • James Woods
      • Jim Belushi
      • Michael Murphy
    • 111User reviews
    • 56Critic reviews
    • 69Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 Oscars
      • 4 wins & 9 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 1:58
    Watch Official Trailer

    Photos138

    Juan Fernandez as Army Lieutenant 'Smiling Death' in Oliver Stone's "Salvador".
    James Woods, Jim Belushi, John Savage, and Michael Murphy in Salvador (1986)
    James Woods in Salvador (1986)
    James Woods in Salvador (1986)
    James Woods in Salvador (1986)
    Tony Plana in Salvador (1986)
    James Woods and Elpidia Carrillo in Salvador (1986)
    Elpidia Carrillo in Salvador (1986)
    James Woods and Jim Belushi in Salvador (1986)
    Jim Belushi in Salvador (1986)
    Salvador (1986)
    Salvador (1986)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Woods
    James Woods
    • Richard Boyle
    Jim Belushi
    Jim Belushi
    • Dr. Rock
    • (as James Belushi)
    Michael Murphy
    Michael Murphy
    • Ambassador Thomas Kelly
    John Savage
    John Savage
    • John Cassady
    Elpidia Carrillo
    Elpidia Carrillo
    • María
    • (as Elpedia Carrillo)
    Tony Plana
    Tony Plana
    • Major Max
    Colby Chester
    Colby Chester
    • Jack Morgan
    Cynthia Gibb
    Cynthia Gibb
    • Cathy Moore
    • (as Cindy Gibb)
    Will MacMillan
    Will MacMillan
    • Col. Hyde
    Valerie Wildman
    Valerie Wildman
    • Pauline Axelrod
    José Carlos Ruiz
    José Carlos Ruiz
    • Archbishop Romero
    • (as Jose Carlos Ruiz)
    Jorge Luke
    Jorge Luke
    • Col. Julio Figueroa
    Juan Fernández
    Juan Fernández
    • Army Lieutenant
    Salvador Sánchez
    Salvador Sánchez
    • Human Rights Leader
    Rosario Zúñiga
    Rosario Zúñiga
    • HIS Assistant
    • (as Rosario Zuniga)
    Martín Fuentes
    • Maria's Brother
    • (as Martin Fuentes)
    Gary Farr
    • Australian Reporter
    Gilles Millinaire
    • French Reporter
    • (as Gilles Milinaire)
    • Director
      • Oliver Stone
    • Writers
      • Oliver Stone
      • Richard Boyle
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to James Woods, he went to watch the film at a local theatre and while he was leaving, a refugee from El Salvador knelt before him and kissed his hand, thanking him for telling the story of her family's massacre.
    • Goofs
      When the colonel approaches Boyle, he is sprayed with mace. Less than half a minute later, he has completely recovered.
    • Quotes

      John Cassady: You gotta get close to get the truth. You get too close, you die.

    • Alternate versions
      According to the Oliver Stone biography "Stone: The Controversies, Excesses, and Exploits of a Radical Filmmaker" by James Riordan, the film was originally meant to be a two and a half hour release from a 150 page script, and much extra footage was cut due to box office concerns and by the original studio, Orion, who saw that a lot of the footage was too excessive or violent (one such scene described in the book was of an orgy scene with Rick Boyle and Dr. Rock and a bag of ears casually tossed on to a table). Stone regrets this decision as the film ended up, and was criticized for being, choppy in some of its editing. Some of this deleted footage is included on the Special Edition DVD.
    • Connections
      Featured in At the Movies: Salvador/Smooth Talk/Crossroads/Turtle Diary (1986)
    • Soundtracks
      Running On Empty
      Written & Performed by Jackson Browne

      Swallow Music (ASCAP)

      Courtesy of Elektra-Asylum Records

      by arrangement with Warner Special Products

    User reviews111

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    7/10
    Heavy Stuff
    Before i watched this movie i knew nothing about the troubles in El Salvador.This opened my eyes to the rein of terror that went on there ( And still does as far as i know). Salvador is a very Graphic movie that does not shirk on showing the bloodshed and trauma suffered. It is a superb debut movie by Oliver Stone which only became a taster of things to come.I enjoyed this film even though the subject matter was fairly heavy not to mention politically complex. 7 out of 10
    helpful•24
    13
    • CharltonBoy
    • Feb 1, 2000

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    FAQ6

    • How much of this film is true, and how much is false or inaccurate?
    • What does "ARANA" mean in the film?
    • What eventually happened to Richard Boyle?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • November 21, 1986 (Finland)
    • Countries of origin
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Mexico
    • Official site
      • HBOMAX (United States)
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Outpost: Salvador
    • Filming locations
      • Morelos, Mexico
    • Production companies
      • Cinema '84
      • Estudios Churubusco Azteca S.A.
      • Hemdale
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $4,500,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,500,000
    • Gross worldwide
      • $1,500,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 2 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

    Related news

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