The Quick and the Dead

In 1876 Wyoming, a pioneer couple and their young son head west to start a new life. In a small settlement they run into Doc Shabitt and his gang, who afterward pursue the family, believing their wagon carries gold and valuables. The outlaws also take an interest in Susanna. A solitary stranger, Con Vallian, steps in to help the McKaskels and teaches them to defend themselves, though his own aims, and his interest in Susanna, remain unclear.

The film is a television western directed by Robert Day, whose earlier features include She, Death Stalk and Scruples. It was produced by Phillip Cates and stars Sam Elliott as Con Vallian, Kate Capshaw as Susanna McKaskel, Tom Conti as Duncan McKaskel, Matt Clark as Doc Shabitt, Patrick Kilpatrick as The Ute and Del Shores as Purdy Mantle.

The Quick and the Dead was released in February 1987 and runs 90 minutes. On IMDb it holds a rating of 6.9 from roughly 3,300 votes, while on TMDB it sits at 6.4 from a much smaller base of about 50 votes. The larger sample on IMDb points to a reasonably steady appreciation among viewers of the western and of its lead, with a mixed to positive reception overall.