The Shadow Riders poster & wallpaper

Ben Johnson, Gene Evans, Geoffrey Lewis

When the Western slipped into theatrical oblivion in the late 1970s, many of the best examples of the genre began appearing as made-for-television films. After the success of The Sacketts, from...( read more  read more... ) the Louis L'Amour novel, producers quickly reunited stars Tom Selleck and Sam Elliott in another fine adaptation of a L'Amour book, The Shadow Riders. As brothers Mac and Dal Traven, sporting blue and gray uniforms, respectively, they wind their way home at the close of the Civil War to discover a band of confederate rebels have ravaged their town and kidnapped their sisters and brother and Dal's feisty sweetheart (Katharine Ross). With the help of their outlaw uncle (Western stalwart Ben Johnson), whom they must break out of prison, they track the guerrillas to the Gulf Coast and down into Mexico for a final, fatal showdown. Veteran director Andrew McLaglen sets this TV movie on a loping pace and a jovial tone, defined largely by Selleck's easygoing performance and the jocular comic relief of rascally Johnson. Elliott provides the intensity, at times positively ferocious under his heavy brows and burning, sunken eyes. The mood is occasionally too comic, but McLaglen delivers the goods in a series of gritty action sequences, proving that old Western directors don't die, they just drift on over to the small screen. Western icons R.G. Armstrong and Harry Carey Jr. and 1950s leading lady Jane Greer also appear in key roles. --Sean Axmaker

Flixster Users

74% liked it

2,179 ratings

PG, 96 min.

Directed by: Andrew V. McLaglen

Release Date: September 28, 1982

Invite friends to see

DVD Release Date: July 18, 2000

Stats: 85 reviews

Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites
report incorrect info

Photos

None yet... Got one?

Your Rating


clear rating
Share on: Facebook Twitter

Flixster Reviews (85)

  • chadroesti
    May 14, 2009
    chadroesti
    Another Louis La"mour adaptation with Elliot and Tom Selleck... Good stuff here for western lovers.
  • crichardson5
    July 28, 2009
    crichardson5
    Tom Selleck and Sam Elliot together in a western!
  • Soundsofmadness
    January 10, 2009
    Soundsofmadness
    No thankyou - Not interested.
  • TheBibbster
    July 30, 2008
    TheBibbster
    BLITHER BLITHER BLITHER!
  • stonewallbernhardt
    June 30, 2008
    stonewallbernhardt
    Tom Selleck in it: good. Sam Elliot: Even Better.
  • spunkylilangel29
    March 21, 2008
    spunkylilangel29
    I love the cowboys, and I love westerns.
  • radtazman
    March 15, 2008
    radtazman
    another great classic
  • thomasscott2
    February 21, 2008
    thomasscott2
    This movie was a bit sometimes funny, sometimes..funnier movie. Anyhow, it never slips into pure comedy, but remains a solid western, spiced up with funny dialogue and interaction.
  • RuthieGreenGirl
    December 27, 2007
    RuthieGreenGirl
    One of my favorite modern day westerns.

View All The Shadow Riders Reviews

Critic Reviews

No recent reviews.

Comments

This board looks lonely. Be the first to talk about "The Shadow Riders" !

Post A Comment | View All Comments

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

All Rotten Tomatoes content is used under license from Rotten Tomatoes. Rotten Tomatoes, Certified Fresh, and the Tomatometer are the trademarks of Incfusion Corporation, d/b/a Rotten Tomatoes, a subsidiary of IGN Entertainment, Inc.

Official Trailer

View Larger The Shadow Riders Trailer

Cast

More Like This

This list looks lonely.
Add a suggestion!

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

The Shadow Riders : Watch Free on TV

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for The Shadow Riders. Want to create one?

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add The Shadow Riders to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?