Blogging By Cinema-light: Don't Make a Scene: Silverado

The Story: So, there are these "podcasts" where folks take a movie and split it minute by minute and talk about it...minute by minute. There are several going on right now, but, the one I'm paying attention to is "Silverado Minute" where they take a look at the movie Silverado. You know the one (at least you should). It's the one Lawrence Kasdan (writer of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Empire Strikes Back) made after the one-two punch of Body Heat and The Big Chill gave him a little bit more latitude with what kind of film he could make.

He chose to make a western, filled with big skies, a rambunctious background score, and good guys and bad guys and good actors and...well, nobody's bad in it. It's the film that introduced people to a young kid trying to make it into films named Kevin Costner, alongside Kevin Kline, Scott Glenn, Danny Glover, Brian Dennehy, Rosanna Arquette, Jeff Goldblum, John Cleese, Jeff Fahey, Lynn Whitfield, Richard Jenkins, James Gammon, and even Sheb Wooley (the "Wilhelm Scream" guy).

And Linda Hunt.

It's a peculiar cast for a western, with idiosyncratic performances, but, boy, does it work like a house afire (and the movie has one of those, too, along with a lot of shoot-outs, horse-play, and deeds of dastardly intent...and John Cleese making his entrance saying "What's all this, then..."?).

I won't say much about this scene—I'm sure it's discussed better in minutes 058-061 on the Silverado Minute podcast—but I've always loved Hunt's casting and her playing of it. "The world is what you make of it, friend" has always been a cherished line. And the "smiling cobra" playing of Brian Dennehy in this scene...and how Paden's kissing Stella's hand isn't in the script, but it is in the film...and resonates later on, when things get dire and sides are chosen.

Welcome...to Silverado.

The Set-Up: A guy (Paden, played by Kevin Kline) walks into a bar with a long face. A bar in Silverado, and, like his three comrades on the journey here, he feels like he's home. But, he has yet to meet the proprietress, Stella (Linda Hunt) and her partner Kelly (Richard Jenkins) and their mysterious boss, whom Paden already knows...and owes.

Gid'up.

INT. MIDNIGHT STAR - NIGHT

Paden comes in and looks around with some pleasure. It's an expansive place, busy now with gamblers, drinkers, and brightly-dressed saloon girls. A piano player bangs away in the corner. Paden has to smile.

This is the way a saloon ought to be. Now, even Paden is home.

Paden walks up to stand at the bar. The BARTENDER is busy at the far end of the bar.

Paden is patiently waiting to get his attention when he hears a woman's voice behind him, on his side of the bar.

STELLA (O.S.) What can I do you for, stranger?

Paden turns to face his interlocutor, but at first cannot find her.

After a moment, though, he looks down to see a small woman in a velvet dress -- STELLA.

PADEN You work here?

STELLA I run the place.

STELLA What can I get you?

She is already moving away toward the near end of the bar. He watches her disappear around the end, then sees the top of her head appear behind the bar down there. As she moves back toward him, she gets taller and taller, until she is facing him eye to eye across the bar.

PADEN Bourbon.

As she reaches under the bar and produces bottle and glass, Paden leans over and peeks behind the bar.

A foot-wide ramp runs the length of it.

PADEN Nifty.

STELLA (smiles) The world is what you make of it, friend. If it doesn't fit, you make alterations.

PADEN I'll drink to that.

PADEN Will you join me, Miss --

STELLA Stella.

PADEN Paden.

Stella sets up a glass for herself, and they shake hands.

Paden looks up at a carved ornamental star on the back wall, over the words "The Midnight Star".

PADEN Stella... Are you the midnight star herself?

STELLA I am. I'm always there,

STELLA ...but I only shine at night.

A saloon girl -- a lovely, young, black woman -- RAE passes with some drinks. Paden watches her go, then looks around the room.

PADEN My compliments to you, Miss Stella.

PADEN This is what I call a saloon.

STELLA Thanks. That's what I call it too.

PADEN And I know what I'm talking about.

STELLA You like a good saloon?

PADEN It's the only place I'm happy.

STELLA Me too. What's wrong with us?

Their eyes meet for a moment, and a real connection is made.

PADEN You wouldn't be needing any help around here, would you?

PADEN Maybe with the gambling?

STELLA (points) You see that fellow over there ~~in the gray coat~~ playing with his hair?

Paden nods, and now we see him too: a big man in some gambler- like finery -- KELLY. He is leaning over a poker game.

STELLA That's Kelly, my so-called partner.

STELLA He runs that side.

PADEN So-called?

STELLA Yeah, aside from being a loud-mouthed, lying cheat, he's just the man I would have picked.

PADEN Why'd you go into business with him?

STELLA I don't own this place. The man who does stuck me with Kelly.

PADEN Who's the owner?

STELLA Here he comes right now.

Stella nods toward the door, and Paden turns to look.

Cobb enters through the swinging doors. He looks around with a proprietary air as he walks to the bar.

SHERIFF COBB Gotcha!

KATIE Oh!

SHERIFF COBB (O.S.) You look fine tonight, Katie...

He is almost there before his gaze settles on Paden and Stella.

He stops in his tracks, and a big grin splits his face.

SHERIFF COBB Well, look at this!

SHERIFF COBB Two of my favorite people in the world, talking to each other.

Cobb moves up and puts an arm around Paden as he shakes his hand. Stella is interested in this connection, but she doesn't faze easily. Paden is the surprised one.

SHERIFF COBB Stella, this is one of my oldest surviving friends.
SHERIFF COBB Treat him right.

STELLA That was my plan.

SHERIFF COBB (laughs) Oh, yeah, you two are going to get along fine. You got a lot in common.

Cobb looks across the room and yells.

SHERIFF COBB Hey Kelly,

SHERIFF COBB ...get over here.

SHERIFF COBB (to Paden) You didn't come all this way just to pay me back that money, did you?

SHERIFF COBB (turns to Kelly) Kelly, meet my friend Paden.

KELLY (cool) Howdy.

SHERIFF COBB Give the man a line of credit.

SHERIFF COBB He already owes the house thirteen bucks.

Kelly casts a wary, appraising glance over Paden, nods, and moves off.

SHERIFF COBB You got a place to stay?

PADEN I just got to town.

SHERIFF COBB Stella, we still...

SHERIFF COBB ...got an extra room out back, don't we?

STELLA It's not in use at the moment.

Cobb comes around the end of the bar to stand next to Stella.

SHERIFF COBB What brings you into my saloon?

PADEN Luck, I guess.

SHERIFF COBB (cackles at this) Good old Paden.

SHERIFF COBB I was hoping maybe you'd changed your mind about the job.

PADEN You didn't tell me you owned a saloon.

Cobb looks at Paden a long time and laughs.

SHERIFF COBB That ain't the half of it, friend.

He turns away, taking off his coat, and hangs it on a peg back there. When he turns back, rolling up his sleeves, our eyes are drawn to the same thing as Paden's: a shiny, silver sheriff's star.