The Quick and the Dead
A Lady gunslinger (Sharon Stone) shows up in Redemption, a town run by the vicious outlaw John Herod (Gene Hackman). She’s just in time for a winner take all quick draw tournament. The tournament has attracted the badest gathering of gunnies in the west, including gunfighter turned preacher, Cort (Russell Crowe) who is forced to compete by Herod. Herod’s illegitimate son, The Kid (an unknown Leonardo DiCaprio) joins in, hoping to win his father’s approval.
Herod sets the rules. Anybody can challenge anybody. All challenges must be accepted. Everybody must fight once a day until one of the contestants yields or dies.
Not surprisingly The Lady, Herod, Cort and The Kid all best their first-round opponents. Herod goes into the second round facing a professional killer, hired by the townspeople to rid the town of Herod by his own game. Herod kills the town’s best hope and changes the rules. All duels will be to the death.
Between rounds, the town doctor recognizes The Lady. She is the daughter of the town marshal strung up by Herod in taking over the town. By flashback Herod gives her one shot at cutting the rope her father is hanging by. She misses and kills him. Doc pleads the cause she and Cort kill Herod and save the town.
Rounds progress until four remain. The Lady challenges Herod. He has already accepted The Kid’s challenge, leaving her to face Cort. Herod kills The Kid. So much for fatherly approval. Cort shoots The Lady. Cort and Herod face each other at the last. The proceedings are interrupted when Herod’s house blow up. Out of the smoke and debris steps The Lady, her death having been faked. Cort guns down Herod’s gang while The Lady throws her father’s badge at Herod’s feet and kills him.
Shot in Old Tucson, the film opened to mixed reviews and box office bust. In time it gathered greater critical appreciation. Unforgiven must have cured Hackman of his aversion to violence. The studio had reservations over co-producer Stone’s casting the unknown DiCaprio. Stone paid his salary out of her own pocket.
Next Week: The Horse Whisperer
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Ride easy,
Paul
Herod sets the rules. Anybody can challenge anybody. All challenges must be accepted. Everybody must fight once a day until one of the contestants yields or dies.
Not surprisingly The Lady, Herod, Cort and The Kid all best their first-round opponents. Herod goes into the second round facing a professional killer, hired by the townspeople to rid the town of Herod by his own game. Herod kills the town’s best hope and changes the rules. All duels will be to the death.
Between rounds, the town doctor recognizes The Lady. She is the daughter of the town marshal strung up by Herod in taking over the town. By flashback Herod gives her one shot at cutting the rope her father is hanging by. She misses and kills him. Doc pleads the cause she and Cort kill Herod and save the town.
Rounds progress until four remain. The Lady challenges Herod. He has already accepted The Kid’s challenge, leaving her to face Cort. Herod kills The Kid. So much for fatherly approval. Cort shoots The Lady. Cort and Herod face each other at the last. The proceedings are interrupted when Herod’s house blow up. Out of the smoke and debris steps The Lady, her death having been faked. Cort guns down Herod’s gang while The Lady throws her father’s badge at Herod’s feet and kills him.
Shot in Old Tucson, the film opened to mixed reviews and box office bust. In time it gathered greater critical appreciation. Unforgiven must have cured Hackman of his aversion to violence. The studio had reservations over co-producer Stone’s casting the unknown DiCaprio. Stone paid his salary out of her own pocket.
Next Week: The Horse Whisperer
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
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