The Shadow Riders (1982) (TV)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Andrew V. McLaglen

Writers:

Louis L'Amour (novel)
Jim Byrnes (written for television)

Release Date:

28 September 1982 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | Western

Plot:

Plot Keywords:

Texas | Slave Trader | Posse | Labor Camp | Escape

Cast

Tom Selleck	...	Mac Traven
Sam Elliott	...	Dal Traven
Ben Johnson	...	Uncle 'Black Jack' Traven
Geoffrey Lewis	...	Major Cooper Ashbury, Comanchero Leader
Jeff Osterhage	...	Jesse Traven (as Jeffrey Osterhage)
Gene Evans	...	Colonel Holiday Hammond, Gunrunner
Katharine Ross	...	Kate Connery / Sister Katherine
R.G. Armstrong	...	Sheriff Miles Gillette
Robert B. Craig	...	Laird
Marshall R. Teague	...	Lieutenant Butler (as Marshall Teague)
Ben Fuhrman	...	Devol
Jane Greer	...	Ma Traven
Harry Carey Jr.	...	Pa Traven
Dominique Dunne	...	Sissy Traven
Natalie May	...	Heather Traven

Also Known As:

Louis L'Amour's The Shadow Riders

Runtime:

100 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

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

Company:

CBS Entertainment Production

Trivia:

Sam Elliott, Tom Selleck, and Jeff Osterhage wanted to do another western together after they did The Sacketts (1979) (TV). They contacted "Sacketts" writer Louis L'Amour and asked him to write a story idea for them. This project was the result.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When Mac Traven pushes the horse over (beside the train), a rope can be seen tied to the horse's front feet to prevent it from sidestepping.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "E! True Hollywood Story: Dominique Dunne: An American Tragedy" (1997)

Pretty Much the Most Moronic Premise Ever

I have not read the Louis L'Amour novel on which this is allegedly based, but hopefully L'Amour's original has a little more going for it in the credibility department. Rock Hudson's CSA officer in "The Undefeated" tested the credibility threshold but at least there was a twisted sort of logic to his goal in that movie. Such is not the case here and you are left waiting for the guys in the white coats to sedate Geoffrey Lewis and take him away to the quiet room.

Which is unfortunate because it wastes great chemistry in the pairing of Selleck and Elliott. The titles and the credit sequences are first class with "period" stills Civil War daguerreotypes.

The return home of the brothers is the highlight of the film and almost makes the thing worth watching. Jane Greer and Harry Carey, Jr. are excellent in this very moving film moment.

Katherine Ross has a nothing role and it is too bad Dominique Dunne ended her career playing a minor supporting role in a wasted opportunity movie.

Ben Johnson seems to enjoy himself in this although he probably should have been taken to that quiet room along with Lewis.

A good strategy is to watch the first 25 minutes up until the first beach scene, then walk away because you will have seen everything worth watching by that point.