Clint Eastwood, Michael Moriarty, Carrie Snodgress

After a nine-year break from the genre that made him an international star (the Western just before this one was The Outlaw Josey Wales, from 1976), Clint Eastwood returned in this gritty Weste...( read more  read more... )rn, crafted in the tradition of Shane and High Noon. Eastwood directed and stars as the nameless stranger known only as "Preacher," because he rides into a beleaguered mining town wearing a clerical collar. He's either an agent of death or an angel of mercy, and the echoes of Shane ring loud and clear when he comes to the aid of independent miners who are being terrorized by a local tycoon (Richard Dysart) and his ruthless band of hired guns. Befriended by a miner (Michael Moriarty) and idolized by the miner's wife and daughter (played by Carrie Snodgress and Sydney Penny, respectively), the "Pale Rider" sparks the defiant spirit of the underdog miners and takes after the bad guys with single-minded purpose. Digital video disc offers standard and widescreen formats and a remastered soundtrack. --Jeff Shannon

Flixster Users

79% liked it

33,252 ratings

Critics

92% liked it

24 critics

R, 1 hr. 55 min.

Directed by: Clint Eastwood

Release Date: June 28, 1985

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DVD Release Date: November 18, 1997

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Stats: 987 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (987)


  • August 24, 2009
    a bit homely for a revenge style western, but pale rider has a decent story to carry it, an interesting lead character, and an absolutely excellent gun fight to close it out. a very good western.
  • April 23, 2009
    a good western directed by and starring clint eastwood. i find it hard to describe. there's shooting, emotion, revenge and mystery. as a director (and this goes for any of clints films) he knows how to keep an audience interested
  • April 17, 2009
    makes the young and old fall for him
  • September 2, 2008
    Another great western starring and directed by Clint Eastwood. A preacher comes to the aid of a small town where the locals are hoping to strike gold. One of the better westerns around with a great shoot-out finale.
  • March 8, 2007
    Another great Clint Eastwood western.
  • October 29, 2009
    A sort of reworking of High Plains Drifter but a good film in its own right.
  • October 28, 2009
    death rides a wild horse
  • September 23, 2009
    when the cowboys never got u off ur coutch.
  • September 19, 2009
    Another fine western starring & directed by the legend Clint Eastwood.
  • September 5, 2009
    Eastwood was great but the movie's love story was weak. Snodgrass wasn't good looking enough for 2 men to want her.

Critic Reviews


October 23, 2004
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

[Eastwood] understands so well how he works on the screen that the movie has a resonance that probably was not even there in the screenplay. full review

View more Pale Rider reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

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Pale Rider Trivia


  • What was Clint Eastwood's characters' profession in the movie 'Pale Rider'?  Answer »
  • in what movie was clint eastwood's character called "Preacher"?  Answer »
  • I screwed up in an earlier post. the movie I was talking about was pale rider not high plains drifter.   Answer »
  • ____ Rider  Answer »

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