Movie Review # 3569 - Silverado
Silverado is a 1985 western that stars everybody, Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Danny Glover, Kevin Costner, Brian Dennehy, Rosanna Arquette & Jeff Goldblum.
I give this movie 3.5 out of 5 stars.
After many years of westerns not hitting the big screen along comes Silverado. I think that is why there were so many big names in it, everybody loves a western. Even though it was cliche & sappy in spots it kicked down the door for modern westerns to be made, it brought the genre to life again.
The cowboy Emmett is ambushed by three armed men while he sleeps in an isolated shack, but he kills them and takes possession of one horse. He plans to meet his brother Jake in Turley, travel together to see their sister Kate in Silverado, then continue to California.
On the way to Turley, Emmett finds Paden, clad only in his long johns, lying in the desert after being robbed and left to die. He lends Paden his extra horse, who accompanies him to Turley.
At a cavalry outpost, Paden notices the man who stole his horse and saddle and hurriedly buys a gun with money borrowed from Emmett; the thief shoots first, but Paden kills him. He runs into Cobb, a former criminal associate, who lends him money to buy new clothes and wants to hire him. However, Paden declines.
While eating at a saloon in Turley, Emmett and Paden witness a black cowboy, Mal, being harassed by several men and the racist saloon owner. Mal defends himself until Sheriff Langston shows up and orders him to leave town.
Paden and Emmett learn from Langston that Jake is to be hanged for murder the next day. Emmett intends to break his brother out of jail, but Paden says that he can't get involved. Getting a drink at the saloon, Paden sees the other man who robbed him and kills him in a duel to get back his hat and gun. Langston arrests him and puts him in Jake's cell.
The next morning, Emmett sets fire to the gallows as a diversion while Jake and Paden break out of jail. The three escape town, pursued by Langston's posse. Mal shoots at the posse from a distance, revealing himself to be a crack shot, and the lawmen abandon their pursuit. Mal is also headed to Silverado to visit his elderly parents.
The four men encounter a wagon train, headed to open land near Silverado, whose money box has been stolen. They successfully recover the money from the outlaws, then escort the settlers. Paden takes an interest in Hannah, one of the settlers, and he escorts the group to their new land. Near Silverado, Mal departs to find his parents' farm.
Emmett and Jake reunite with Kate, her husband J.T., and son Augie. It is revealed that Emmett spent five years in prison for killing a rancher after their families feuded over land rights. Mal finds his father, Ezra, living destitute in the hills and his ranch burned down; McKendrick - the son of the rancher Emmett had killed - seized the land and Mal's mother died. Reaching Silverado, Paden visits the saloon and meets the manager, Stella. Cobb, the owner as well as Silverado's sheriff, hires Paden as a new pit boss.
Emmett discovers that McKendrick hired the gunmen who tried to murder him earlier. Mal learns his sister, Rae, has become the mistress of notorious gambler "Slick" Stanhope. Slick betrays Mal, who is beaten by Cobb's deputies and put in jail. McKendrick's men murder Ezra, assault Emmett, burn J.T.'s land office, and kidnap Jake and Augie. Stella, who knows Cobb is in McKendrick's pocket, reveals to Paden that she despises what the two men have done to Silverado and urges him to make things right.
Rae breaks her brother out but is wounded. The three men attack McKendrick's ranch, kill most of his men, and rescue Jake and Augie while McKendrick flees. The group splits up: Jake outsmarts and kills Cobb's right-hand man, Tyree; Mal rescues Rae from Slick and stabs him to death with his own knife; Emmett deals with the remaining corrupt deputies and kills McKendrick; Paden faces off with Cobb in a duel and kills him.
After saying their goodbyes to friends and loved ones, Emmett and Jake finally head for California. Mal and his sister reconcile, deciding to rebuild their family's homestead. Paden becomes the new sheriff of Silverado.