''The Quick and the Dead'' is a 1987 American

made-for-television A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made for ...

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

film based on the 1973 novel by

Louis L'Amour Louis Dearborn L'Amour (; né LaMoore; March 22, 1908 – June 10, 1988) was an American novelist and short story writer. His books consisted primarily of Western novels (though he called his work "frontier stories"); however, he also wrote hi ...

, directed by Robert Day and starring

Sam Elliott Samuel Pack Elliott (born August 9, 1944) is an American actor. He is the recipient of several accolades, including a National Board of Review Award, and has been nominated for an Academy Award, two Golden Globe Awards, two Primetime Emmy Aw ...

Tom Conti Tommaso Antonio Conti (born 22 November 1941) is a Scottish actor, theatre director, and novelist. He won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play in 1979 for his performance in '' Whose Life Is It Anyway?'' and was nominated for the Academy Aw ...

Kate Capshaw Kathleen Sue Spielberg (''née'' Nail; born November 3, 1953), known professionally as Kate Capshaw, is an American retired actress. She is best known for her portrayal of Willie Scott, an American nightclub singer and performer in ''Indiana Jon ...

Kenny Morrison Kenny Morrison (born December 31, 1974) is an American actor, born in Los Angeles, California, who began his career as a child actor. Morrison took over the role of Atreyu in '' The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter''. His first role was as ...

and Matt Clark.

Plot

Wyoming Territory The Territory of Wyoming was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 25, 1868, until July 10, 1890, when it was admitted to the Union as the State of Wyoming. Cheyenne was the territorial capital. The boun ...

in 1876, Duncan McKaskel, his wife Susanna, and their 12-year-old son Tom are travelling West to start a new life. They have left a

cholera Cholera is an infection of the small intestine by some strains of the bacterium ''Vibrio cholerae''. Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe. The classic symptom is large amounts of watery diarrhea that lasts a few days. Vomiting and ...

-stricken

wagon train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western series that aired 8 seasons: first on the NBC television network (1957–1962), and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and became number one in the Nielsen ratings. It ...

and arrive in a small, dilapidated town, where they meet villainous "Doc" Shabbitt and ask for directions. He suggests they stay in a deserted local building, but McKaskel senses danger, so they leave. Shabbitt steals two of their horses. Con Vallian is chasing a mixed-race

Indian Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asia ...

, the latest recruit to Shabbitt's gang whom, it transpires, he has tracked for hundreds of miles for personal reasons. Vallian witnesses the

homesteader Homestead may refer to: *Homestead (buildings), a farmhouse and its adjacent outbuildings; by extension, it can mean any small cluster of houses * Homestead (unit), a unit of measurement equal to 160 acres * Homestead principle, a legal concept ...

's encounter with Shabbitt and arrives at the McKaskel's wagon during supper. He notifies them their horses have been stolen. Against Susanna's advice, Duncan rides into town and tries to reclaim the horses. An intense

gunfight A shootout, also called a firefight or gunfight, is a fight between armed combatants using firearms. The term can be used to describe any such fight, though it is typically used to describe those that do not involve military forces or only invo ...

ensues when Vallian, who has secretly followed him, shoots some of the Shabbitt gang. When Doc Shabbitt finds that his son, who was about to shoot McKaskel in the back, has been killed, he vows to pursue the family and seek revenge. Susanna, Duncan, and Tom flee in their

covered wagon The covered wagon or prairie wagon, historically also referred to as an ambulance or prairie schooner, was a vehicle usually made out of wood and canvas that was used for transportation, prominently in 19th-century America. With roots in the he ...

, trying to outrun their pursuers. Vallian continues to help protect them from Shabbitt and his gang. Vallian manages to kill the bandits one at a time, but a remaining four maintain their pursuit. Vallian is obviously attracted to Susanna, and she to him. Following a moment of high drama, she succumbs to his advances, and they share a passionate kiss. McKaskel never learns of the kiss, but several times he tells Vallian, who is critical of his apparent

pacifism Pacifism is the opposition or resistance to war, militarism (including conscription and mandatory military service) or violence. Pacifists generally reject theories of Just War. The word ''pacifism'' was coined by the French peace campaign ...

, to back off. In an encounter with Indians, Susanna learns that her brother, an army officer, has likely been killed at the

Battle of the Little Bighorn The Battle of the Little Bighorn, known to the Lakota and other Plains Indians as the Battle of the Greasy Grass, and also commonly referred to as Custer's Last Stand, was an armed engagement between combined forces of the Lakota Sioux, Nor ...

. Out hunting, Vallian is ambushed and shot by the Indian. McKaskel removes the bullet, but Vallian runs a high fever and falls on the trail. He is rescued and nursed back to health by Susanna. Eventually, they arrive at the small cabin Susanna's brother had built for them, on the

spread Spread may refer to: Places * Spread, West Virginia Arts, entertainment, and media * ''Spread'' (film), a 2009 film. * ''$pread'', a quarterly magazine by and for sex workers * "Spread", a song by OutKast from their 2003 album ''Speakerboxxx/T ...

where they intended to raise cattle. The family begins settling in the house, but Shabbitt and his gang arrive for their revenge. A

showdown A showdown is a duel. The term may also refer to: Places * Showdown Ski Area, in Montana, United States Books * ''Showdown'' (Amado novel), a 1984 novel by Jorge Amado * ''Showdown'' (Dekker novel), a 2006 novel by Ted Dekker * ''Showdown'' (F ...

ensues in which Vallian and the McKaskels triumph. Vallian bids farewell to the family and leaves to resume his solitary life.

Cast

as Con Vallian *

as Duncan McKaskel *

as Susanna McKaskel *

as Tom McKaskel * Matt Clark as "Doc" Shabbitt * Jerry Potter as "Red" Hayle *

Patrick Kilpatrick Patrick Kilpatrick (born August 20, 1949), is an American actor, director, screenwriter, producer, journalist, international entertainment speaker and teacher. He has appeared in over 180 films and television series. Kilpatrick ran for Governor ...

as The Ute * Billy Streater as Ike Mantle * Del Shores as Purdy Mantle * Jeffrey Meyer as "Butcher" McCloud * R.L. Tolbert as Johnny Dobbs * Kurt D. Lott as Lenny Shabitt, Doc's Son *

Larry Sellers Larry Sellers (October 2, 1949 – December 9, 2021) was an Osage Nation, Osage American actor and stuntman. Background Sellers was born in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, where he grew up. After graduating high school, he joined the US Navy. Acting ca ...

as Running Wolf * Bill Stedman as The Bartender *

Hardy Rawls Hardy Rawls is a character actor. In 2003, ''Adweek'', ''Ad Age'', and the ''New York Post'' described Rawls' best-known role as that of the father on Nickelodeon's ''The Adventures of Pete & Pete''. For Maytag's 2004 marketing campaign, Rawls ...

as Joy, The Blacksmith

Production

Filming locations include

Coconino National Forest The Coconino National Forest is a 1.856-million acre (751,000 ha) United States National Forest located in northern Arizona in the vicinity of Flagstaff. Originally established in 1898 as the "San Francisco Mountains National Forest Reserve", th ...

Kaibab National Forest At 1.6 million acres (650,000 ha) the Kaibab National Forest borders both the north and south rims of the Grand Canyon, in north-central Arizona. It is divided into three major sections: the ''North Kaibab Ranger District'' (offices in Fredonia ...

Wupatki National Monument The Wupatki National Monument is a United States National Monument located in north-central Arizona, near Flagstaff. Rich in Native American archaeological sites, the monument is administered by the National Park Service in close conjunction w ...

and

Sedona, Arizona Sedona is a city that straddles the county line between Coconino and Yavapai counties in the northern Verde Valley region of the U.S. state of Arizona. As of the 2010 census, its population was 10,031. It is within the Coconino National Fo ...

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Quick And The Dead (1987 Film) 1987 television films 1987 Western (genre) films Films based on American novels Films based on Western (genre) novels Films based on works by Louis L'Amour Films directed by Robert Day Films scored by Steve Dorff Films set in Wyoming Films shot in Arizona HBO Films films Western (genre) television films