The Tracker, also known as Dead or Alive in some countries, is a 1988 Western television film directed by John Guillermin, written by Kevin Jarre, and starring Kris Kristofferson, Scott Wilson, Mark Moses, David Huddleston, John Quade and Don Swayze. It premiered on HBO on March 26, 1988.[1][2][3]
| The Tracker | |
|---|---|
| Screenplay by | Kevin Jarre |
| Directed by | John Guillermin |
| Starring | Kris Kristofferson Scott Wilson Mark Moses David Huddleston |
| Theme music composer | Sylvester Levay |
| Country of origin | United States United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer | Alan Trustman |
| Producer | Lance Hool |
| Production locations | Durango and Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Colorado Bonanza Creek Ranch - 15 Bonanza Creek Lane, Santa Fe, New Mexico Diablo Canyon, Santa Fe, New Mexico Eaves Movie Ranch - 105 Rancho Alegre Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico Galisteo, New Mexico San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico |
| Cinematography | George Tirl |
| Running time | 98 minutes |
| Production companies | HBO Pictures ITC Entertainment |
| Original release | |
| Network | HBO |
| Release | March 26, 1988 |
It was the 36th and final film directed by Guillermin, before his death in 2015.[4]
Plot
editNoble Adams served as a scout in the US Army during the Indian Wars. He resigns and takes his wife and two-year-old son to a farm he has bought. On the way, his wife dies in an accident. His son receives a good education on the East Coast and studies law. After his exam Tom returns to his father for a short time. One day Noble is asked by his old friend Marshall Crawford for help in the pursuit of the gang led by John Stillwell, who escaped from the Yuma penitentiary. The bandits murder some people and kidnap two women, a twelve-year-old girl and an Indian. Tom wants to join the persecution. His father is against it, because he is convinced that his son is not up to the strains of the persecution. However, Tom prevails. Noble, his son and the marshal pursue the gang, on which a reward of $500 is exposed. They meet a group of bounty hunters who are deserted soldiers. During a sandstorm, the three seek cover behind rocks as best they can. Stillwell and his gang find shelter in a Pueblo (Indian village built into a rock). Because Noble knows that the bandits want to cross the river with the only ferry, they take a tiring shortcut. At the ferry, the bounty hunters get in their way. In the shooting, Stillwell kills the marshal.
Again and again there are conflicts between father and son. The father still lives in an atavistic world, in which life kills by the rule, so that you are not killed dominated. The son has a human behavior shaped by the civilized East Coast. Noble and Tom set another trap for the gang. Noble kills all gang members. Tom has been waiting for Stillwell. He has put his rifle on him and hesitates for a moment. Stillwell takes the girl to his horse. Tom can't shoot anymore. Noble and Tom meet as arranged with Indians, who bring them fresh horses and supplies. The older sister and the father of the girl are also at this meeting point. Noble wants to free the girl alone and follows the trail. Tom suddenly knows where Stillwell will hide. It can only be the Pueblo. He rides straight there. His father frees the girl and captures Stillwell. Stillwell distracts him with a trick and shoots him in the stomach with a hidden Derringer. Stillwell takes the girl on his horse and rides towards Utah. Tom arrives a short time later. His father tells him that he is mortally wounded. Tom promises to free the girl. He poses Stillwell, who surrenders. When Stillwell tries to outsmart him with the same trick, Tom shoots him. When Tom returns to his father, he dies shortly afterwards.
The final picture shows Tom inviting his father's coffin into a train. The two sisters are also on the platform. He promises his older sister, with whom he grew up in his youth, to visit her in a few months.
Cast
edit- Kris Kristofferson as Noble Adams
- Scott Wilson as John "Red Jack" Stillwell
- Mark Moses as Tom Adams
- David Huddleston as Lane Crawford
- John Quade as Lomax
- Don Swayze as Brewer
- Geoffrey Blake as Miller
- Leon Rippy as "Chub" Dumont
- Ernie Lively as Bob
- Karen Kopins as Sarah Bolton
- Celia Xavier as Inez
- Jeff Celentano as Lon
- Jennifer Snyder as Mary Bolton
- Brynn Thayer as Lottie Adams
- Jose Rey Toledo as Redondo
- Kip Allen as Cornishman
- John Barks as Drunk
- Michael D. Blum as The Bartender
- Forrest Broadley as Murdock
- Jake Dengel as Ethan
- Brook Gamble as Saloon Girl
- Jerry Gardner as Station Master
- Lois Geary as Station Master's Wife
- Ron Kathman as Conductor
- Phil Mead as Virginian
- Stephen Parks as Hugh Bolton
- Adan Sanchez as Mexican
Production
editThe project began development under producer Lance Hool in 1983 with a script written by Kevin Jarre.[5][6][7] The project then went into development for a couple of years until October 1987 when production began shooting on location in Colorado and New Mexico under the title Dead or Alive.[8][9][10]
Reception
editThe Wall Street Journal called it a " handsome, no-nonsense, no-spaghetti western."[11]
The Chicago Tribune said " it's not bad at all."[12]
The Globe and Mail said "The Kristofferson character is straight out of the Eastwood mold but even dirtier than Harry. But what makes him (and the movie) intriguing is his obvious tenderness for his grown son, wonderfully and endearingly played by Mark Moses. Their relationship gives the otherwise formula oater a much needed extra dimension."[13]
An article on Guillermin's career in Film Comment said the film "marks a surprising return to something resembling form."[14] Another in Filmink called it "a polite late ‘80s western... with some baddies kidnapping women and Kristofferson leading a posse, and his son learning the importance of killing people. The dust feels clean. Look, it’s fine."[15]
References
edit- ^ Kristie Hassen. "The Tracker (1988) - John Guillermin | Synopsis, Characteristics, Moods, Themes and Related". AllMovie. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
- ^ Mayer, Geoff (2003). Guide to British Cinema - Geoff Mayer - Google Books. Bloomsbury Academic. ISBN 9780313303074. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
- ^ "Dead Or Alive (1988) - Overview". TCM.com. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
- ^ Slotnik, Daniel E. (October 1, 2015). "John Guillermin, 'Towering Inferno' Director, Dies at 89". The New York Times. p. A22. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ "Magic of the Silver Box' for The Tracker". www.nxtbook.com. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ "The Tracker [Dead or Alive] (Original screenplay for the 1988 television film)". www.abebooks.com. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ Farkis, John (November 16, 2018). The Making of Tombstone Behind the Scenes of the Classic Modern Western. McFarland, Incorporated, Publishers. ISBN 9781476635033. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
- ^ THE MOVIE CHART: [Home Edition] Los Angeles Times (pre-1997 Fulltext); Los Angeles, Calif. [Los Angeles, Calif]18 Oct 1987: 41.
- ^ 'Magic of the Silver Box' for The Tracker Lee, Nora. American Cinematographer; Hollywood Vol. 69, Iss. 3, (Mar 1988): 58-64,66.
- ^ "Films going into production:BIRD (Malpaso). Shooting..." Los Angeles Times. October 18, 1987.
- ^ TV Preview: Lincoln, Darrow, Dickens, Rumpole By Martha Bayles. Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York, N.Y. [New York, N.Y]17 Mar 1988: 1.
- ^ Honest, Abe has Looked Better: [Sports Final, C Edition]. Clifford Terry, TV/radio critic. Chicago Tribune 25 March 1988: 5.
- ^ Schlesinger looks at his homeland Czechoslovakia through native eyes JOHN HASLETT CUFF. The Globe and Mail; Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]20 Aug 1988: C.3.
- ^ Savage Spectacles Möller, Olaf. Film Comment; New York Vol. 50, Iss. 1, (Jan/Feb 2014): 20-21.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (November 17, 2020). "John Guillermin: Action Man". Filmink.
External links
edit- The Tracker at IMDb
- The Tracker at BFI
- The Tracker at Letterbox DVD
- The Tracker at Rotten Tomatoes