Quick and the Dead

UPC: 043396735194

Studio: Columbia TriStar

MPAA Rating: R   Contains:[Adult Situations, Not For Children, Adult Humor, Western Violence]

Summary: Director Sam Raimi brings his trademark comic book-influenced visual panache to this post-modern Western. Sharon Stone stars as Ellen, a mysterious female gunslinger who arrives in the frontier hamlet of Redemption for a contest pitting quick-draw artists against each other. The event is the brainchild of Redemption's evil, corrupt mayor, Herod (Gene Hackman), a criminal who has taken over the town and charges a 50% tax on local businesses. The pot for Herod's deadly game has swollen, attracting numerous colorful gunfighters from around the territory. As each battle thins the ranks of players, the pasts of several participants are revealed. Ellen is seeking revenge on Herod for a heinous past injustice. The fast-talking braggart known as "The Kid" (Leonardo DiCaprio) may in fact be Herod's son. The pacifist Reverend Cort (Russell Crowe), who refuses to participate in the bloodshed, is the fastest draw in the West and a former colleague of Herod's. After several spectacular slayings, Ellen and Herod stage a final showdown, but not before he has made her an unexpected proposal. The Quick and the Dead (1995) is dedicated to veteran Western actor Woody Strode, who appears in a cameo as Redemption's coffin maker, his final performance. ~ Karl Williams, Rovi

Category: Western

Features: Theatrical trailer
Scene selections

Quick and the Dead

Format: DVD

Release Date: 09/29/1998

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1, DD2 Dolby Digital Stereo

Runtime: 105 Minutes

Sides: 1

Number of Discs: 1

Language(s) English,French

Subtitles: English,French

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Mike DiBella

Sam Raimi's hyper-stylized contemporary Western is a delightful diversion. While the cult director has taken hits for his style-over-substance format, this film boasts a taut storyline and a number of interestingly sketched characters, brought to life by the likes of Sharon Stone, Gene Hackman, Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, and cult favorites Keith David and Lance Henriksen. Though his absurdist tendencies have been frowned upon in purist cinematic circles, here this proclivity makes Raimi a singular director. Tackling the Western genre in an offbeat manner may have offended the Hollywood hard-line, but it proves a sure-fire formula for creating entertainment value, with Raimi's comical treatment of blood-and-gut gore reflecting a modern American desensitization towards violence. Overall, this is a superbly crafted picture with some very excusable flaws and will surely satisfy fans of Raimi's over-the-top technique; though no Evil Dead, the director's cryptic, quirky tone persists in making this an infectiously fun film to watch. ~ Mike DiBella, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Olivia Burnette  Actor 
Woody Strode  Actor 
John Cameron  Actor 
Fay Masterson  Actor 
Mick Garris  Actor 
Oliver Dear  Actor 
Josef Rainer  Actor 
Scott Spiegel  Actor 
Roberts Blossom  Actor 
Greg Goossen  Actor 
Raynor Scheine  Actor 
Francine Maisler  Actor 
Scott Ryder  Actor 
Mike Stone  Actor 
Mark Boone, Jr.  Actor 
Jerry Swindall  Actor 
Bruce Campbell  Actor 
Pat Hingle  Actor 
Kevin Conway  Actor 
Jonothon Gill  Actor 
Keith David  Actor 
Sven Ole Thorsen  Actor 
Gary Sinise  Actor 
Patrick Markey  Producer 
Simon Moore  Screenwriter 
Sam Raimi  Director 
John Sayles  Screenwriter 
Allen Shapiro  Producer 
Alan Silvestri  Composer (Music Score) 
Robert Tapert  Executive Producer 
Joshua Donen  Producer 
Toby Jaffe  Executive Producer 
Sharon Stone  Actor 
Gene Hackman  Actor 
Russell Crowe  Actor 
Leonardo DiCaprio  Actor 
Tobin Bell  Actor 
Lance Henriksen  Actor 

Country: USA