Silverado Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

Four cowboys with improbable aim and unlimited ammunition decide to solve everyone’s problems in a town where the sheriff moonlights as a cartoon villain.

🍿 Silverado: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Ambush and Rescue

Emmett, a skilled gunslinger recently released from prison, survives an ambush at a remote cabin. Meanwhile, Paden is robbed and left for dead in the desert. Emmett rescues Paden, and the two form an unlikely alliance. Their paths are set towards the town of Turley, unaware of the troubles that await them.

Turley’s Troubles and a Jailbreak

Arriving in Turley, Emmett plans to meet his brother Jake, who has been jailed for defending himself in a dispute. Paden spots his stolen horse and confronts the thief, leading to another stint in jail, this time alongside Jake. Emmett, with Paden and Jake now imprisoned, decides to break them out, enlisting the aid of Mal, who had been racially discriminated against in Turley.

Heading Towards Silverado

The newly formed group finds a wagon train stranded and robbed. After helping the settlers recover their stolen goods, they make their way to the town of Silverado. As they approach, they each have different motivations: Emmett and Jake seek their sister, Mal hopes to reunite with his family, and Paden is simply looking for a place to settle down.

Silverado’s Corruption

In Silverado, Mal discovers his father’s land has been seized and his sister forced into prostitution. Emmett and Jake find their sister’s family threatened by a corrupt sheriff, Cobb, and a ruthless landowner, McKendrick. Paden, recognizing Cobb from his past, takes a job at the local saloon managed by the strong-willed Stella.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Paden (Kevin Kline): A reformed outlaw and skilled gunslinger who joins Emmett and becomes sheriff of Silverado.
• Emmett (Scott Glenn): A quiet and determined cowboy seeking to reunite with his family and right the wrongs in Silverado.
• Jake (Kevin Costner): Emmett’s wild and impulsive younger brother, with a knack for getting into trouble.
• Mal (Danny Glover): A determined man seeking justice for his family against the corrupt forces in Silverado.
• Cobb (Brian Dennehy): The corrupt and powerful sheriff of Silverado, who is ultimately brought down by Paden and his friends.
• Stella (Linda Hunt): The strong-willed and independent owner of the Midnight Star saloon, who becomes a close friend of Paden.
• McKendrick (Ray Baker): A ruthless cattle baron who terrorizes the homesteaders around Silverado and is an antagonist to Mal and Emmett.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Sheriff Langston: “I don’t tolerate this kind of thing. It’s hard on the peace and hard on the furniture.” – Sheriff Langston says this dryly after Mal breaks up a bar fight in Turley.
• Stella: “He can’t hurt me…if he’s dead.” – Stella says this defiantly to Paden, encouraging him to stand up to Cobb, regardless of the risk to her safety.
• Cobb: “What a waste.” – Cobb utters this line with a mix of disappointment and resignation just before his final showdown with Paden.
• Jake: “Let’s get ’em!” – Jake shouts this enthusiastically as the four heroes ride into Silverado for the final confrontation, capturing his wild spirit.
• Jake: “We’ll be back!” – Jake shouts this at the end of the movie as they ride off, leaving the door open for a potential sequel.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $26,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $32,192,570
• Worldwide Gross: $32,192,570

💥 Silverado Reviews

Personal Review

I absolutely loved Silverado! From the opening scene to the final showdown, I was completely hooked. Kevin Costner is hilarious as Jake and the action sequences are incredible. The music really got my blood pumping and I even started humming it afterwards. The saloon scenes with Linda Hunt were my favorite.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of classic Westerns”
  • “Viewers who enjoy ensemble casts”
  • “Those looking for action and adventure with a touch of humor”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Gun violence”
  • “Brief depictions of racial discrimination”
  • “Some thematic elements may be intense for young children”

Professional Reviews

• The New York Times: “Silverado is a fun but ultimately predictable western, relying heavily on genre tropes. The cast is game, and the action is well-staged, but it lacks the depth to stand alongside the true classics of the genre. Still, for a Saturday night, it’s hard to go wrong.
• Variety: “Lawrence Kasdan delivers a rousing and entertaining western that pays loving tribute to the genre. With a stellar ensemble cast and a sweeping score, Silverado is a must-see for fans of classic westerns.

Audience Reactions

The incredible cast makes this movie worth watching again and again.: Viewers consistently praise the film’s cast, action, and classic Western feel.

Overall Consensus: Silverado is generally well-regarded as an entertaining and well-made western, though some find it derivative and lacking in originality.

Awards

1. Academy Award (Best Original Score)- 1986

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The Silverado set was built specifically for this movie and was later used in other Westerns like “Young Guns”, “Wyatt Earp”, “Last Man Standing”, and “All the Pretty Horses”.”
• “Lawrence Kasdan included a reference to himself within the Silverado set; “Kasdan Ironworks” can be seen on the side of one of the buildings.”

🖥️ How to Watch Silverado?

Silverado is available to rent or purchase on various platforms including Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play Movies, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable and satellite options. Unfortunately, it’s not typically available on subscription-based services like Netflix or Hulu.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Silverado, you might like these similar films:

• The Magnificent Seven (1960): Similar to “Silverado,” this classic western features a group of skilled gunfighters who band together to protect a town from bandits.
• Wyatt Earp (1994): Also directed by Lawrence Kasdan and starring Kevin Costner, this epic Western explores similar themes of justice and redemption in the Old West.
• Young Guns (1988): Features a young ensemble cast as a band of outlaws, much like Silverado, and shares a focus on action and adventure.
• Tombstone (1993): Tombstone showcases a group of iconic lawmen taking on a corrupt town, paralleling the fight for justice in Silverado.
• Open Range (2003): Kevin Costner directs and stars in this tale of cowboys standing up against corrupt landowners, sharing themes of justice and the fight for the common man.

🛒 Silverado Related Products

• Silverado (Collector’s Edition) [Blu-ray]: A high-definition version of Silverado with exclusive behind-the-scenes content. Featuring interviews with the cast and director.
• Silverado: The Official Soundtrack (Expanded Edition) [Digital Download]: Expanded version of Bruce Broughton’s score, including unreleased tracks and cues. A must-have for fans of the film’s iconic music.
• Vintage Western Movie Poster – Silverado (1985): A reproduction of the original theatrical movie poster for Silverado.
• Wild West Gunslinger Costume Set: A complete costume set including a cowboy hat, vest, toy pistols, and a holster. Dress up and immerse yourself in the world of Silverado.

🎧 Soundtrack

Silverado features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Silverado Main Title” – performed by Bruce Broughton
• “The Return” – performed by Bruce Broughton

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Silverado: The Best Western No One Talks About

Ever feel like some movies just don’t get the love they deserve? This video makes a compelling case for why Silverado is actually a hidden gem of the Western genre. I think they make some really great points!

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