The Shadow Riders (1982): Cast & Plot
The Shadow Riders is a 1982 western directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, starring Tom Selleck as Mac Traven, Sam Elliott and Ben Johnson. It runs 1 hour 36 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 36m (96 min)
- Director
- Andrew V. McLaglen
- Genre
- Western
- Original language
-
English - After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Shadow Riders About?
The premise of The Shadow Riders without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
After reuniting from “The Sacketts”, Tom Selleck and Sam Elliott portray brothers Mac and Dal Traven in this Louis L’Amour adaptation. The siblings meet at the close of the Civil War, having fought on opposite sides, and return home to discover their family in crisis. With their sisters and brother abducted by ruthless raiders, the brothers embark on a peril‑filled quest to rescue them.
The Shadow Riders Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- 1860s
- rescue
- homecoming
- pursuit
- woman in jeopardy
- train
- shootout
- mexico
- kidnapping
- brother brother relationship
- civil war veteran
- texas
+38 more Show fewer
- based on novel
- american civil war
- arrest
- interrupted hanging
- lynching
- fiance fiancee relationship
- horseback riding
- escape from prison
- confederate soldier
- presumed dead
- mustache
- prisoner
- sheriff
- family reunion
- brother sister relationship
- mother son relationship
- union soldier
- uncle nephew relationship
- arms deal
- smuggler
- father son relationship
- western town
- small town
- corrupt sheriff
- fistfight
- horse chase
- revolver
- murder
- saved from hanging
- shotgun
- sword
- marriage proposal
- horse
- dynamite
- explosion
- firing squad
- ambush
- posse
The Shadow Riders Cast & Characters
Tom Selleck leads the cast as Mac Traven, with Sam Elliott as Dal Traven and Ben Johnson as Uncle 'Black Jack' Traven. Directed by Andrew V. McLaglen; 17 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Andrew V. McLaglen
-
Tom Selleck as Mac Traven -
Sam Elliott as Dal Traven -
Ben Johnson as Uncle 'Black Jack' Traven - Jeff Osterhage as Jesse Traven
Also Starring in The Shadow Riders
· 13 more- Dominique Dunne Sissy Traven
- Geoffrey Lewis Major Cooper Ashbury, Comanchero Leader
- Katharine Ross Kate Connery / Sister Katherine
- R.G. Armstrong Sheriff Miles Gillette
- Harry Carey Jr. Pa Traven
- Gene Evans Colonel Holiday Hammond, Gunrunner
- Jane Greer Ma Traven
- Marshall R. Teague Lieutenant Butler
- Jeannetta Arnette Southern Belle
- Owen Orr Frank King
- Scanlon Gail Yankee Officer
- Ben Fuhrman Devol
- Kristina David Renfro Damsel
More from Andrew V. McLaglen
More films directed by Andrew V. McLaglen, best-rated first: ffolkes, McLintock!, Cahill U.S. Marshal and The Last Hard Men.
The Shadow Riders Plot Summary
What happens in The Shadow Riders from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
After the Civil War ends, Dal Traven is moments from execution when a cavalry unit led by Major Cooper Ashbury rescues him. Ashbury invites Dal to keep fighting for the Confederacy, but Dal declines and sets his course back to Texas, where he reunites with his brother Mac Traven, a former Union officer. The brothers travel home with a sense of wary kinship, despite their opposing pasts, and they soon realize the conflict is far from over.
Full summary
The whole story of The Shadow Riders, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know The Shadow Riders?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who rescues Dal Traven moments before his execution?
The Shadow Riders Also Known As
14 alternative titles, including “Az árnyéklovasok” and “追影者”.
- Also known as
-
- Az árnyéklovasok
- 追影者
- Jinetes en la sombra
- Os Cavaleiros da Sombra
- Die Schattenreiter
- Ombre a cavallo
- Преследвачи
- Les cavaliers de l'ombre
- Jeźdźcy cienia
- Az árnylovasok
- Всадники тени
- Neviditelní jezdci
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- 더 섀도우 라이더스
- 风之骑士
Seen The Shadow Riders?
Movies Like The Shadow Riders
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Riders of the Purple Sage, The Sundowners and The Sacketts.
The Shadow Riders FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of The Shadow Riders, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Shadow Riders?
The Shadow Riders runs 1 hour 36 minutes (96 minutes).
When was The Shadow Riders released?
The Shadow Riders was released on September 28, 1982.
Who directed The Shadow Riders?
The Shadow Riders was directed by Andrew V. McLaglen.
More films by Andrew V. McLaglen Who is in the cast of The Shadow Riders?
The Shadow Riders stars Tom Selleck as Mac Traven, Sam Elliott as Dal Traven and Ben Johnson as Uncle 'Black Jack' Traven, among 17 credited actors.
Does The Shadow Riders have a post-credit scene?
No. The Shadow Riders has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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