Back to the Future III (Film, 1990)

Back to the Future Part III, The Back to the Future film series, is the third and final film in the series. Directed by Robert Zemeckis and written by Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, it was produced by Bob Gale and Neil Canton, with executive producers Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall, and Kathleen Kennedy. The film stars Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Mary Steenburgen, Thomas F. Wilson, and Lea Thompson place.

Back to the Future Part III, Marty McFly in 1955 -  Back To the Future Official Website

Film begins directly from the Return to the Future II scene of final and concludes the adventure of the series’ central characters, Marty McFly and Dr. Emmett Brown, through time travel. Released on 25 May 1990, the film differs from its predecessors by taking place largely in the Wild West era.

Plot

After becoming stranded in 1955, Marty McFly receives a letter from the past version of Dr. Emmett Brown. According to the letter, Doc accidentally traveled to 1885 and established a new life there. When Marty discovers a buried tomb in 1955, he learns that Doc was killed on 7 September 1885. To prevent this, Marty uses the DeLorean time time machine to travel to 1885 and attempts to save Doc.

Back to the Future Part III, a scene where Marty uses the DeLorean time machine to travel to 1885 to save Doc -  Back To the Future Official Website

Upon arriving in 1885, Marty finds Hill Valley in its early development and largely under Wild West conditions. There, he encounters Buford “Mad Dog” Tannen, the grandfather of Biff Tannen, and incurs his hostility. He also learns that Doc has fallen in love with a schoolteacher named Clara Clayton.

With no fuel for the time machine, Marty and Doc plan to use a steam locomotive to accelerate the DeLorean to 88 mile/hour miles per hour. Meanwhile, a duel with Buford Tannen and emotional complications involving Doc’s romance with Clara make their mission more difficult. In the end, Marty and Doc successfully send the time machine back from 1885 to 1985, but Doc decides to remain in the past with Clara.

Back to the Future Part III, Doc and Clara -  Back To the Future Official Website

When Marty returns to 1985, he sees that the time machine has been destroyed by a train. Just as Complete believes everything is over, Doc appears with Clara and their two children in a newly built time machine of his own. The film concludes with Doc telling Marty, “The future isn’t written, it’s created,” providing a fitting end to the series message.

Production and Filming

Back to the Future Part III was shot back-to-back with Return to the Future II, ensuring the story continued seamlessly. Much of the film was shot in California, Sonora, and Monument Valley like, areas that evoke the Wild West. The 1885 Hill Valley set, designed by Rick Carter, was built entirely from scratch to reflect the atmosphere of the period.

One of the film’s largest action sequences—the DeLorean being accelerated by a train—was filmed using 1891 Sierra Railroad locomotives. These scenes employed complex mechanical effects, taking into account the technological limitations of the time technology.

The film’s score, like those of the previous two films, was composed by Alan Silvestri. The song “Double Back” by ZZ Top was used as the film’s theme music.

Back to the Future Part III film set -  Back To the Future Official Website

Cast

• Michael J. Fox – Marty McFly / Seamus McFly
• Christopher Lloyd – Dr. Emmett Brown
• Mary Steenburgen – Clara Clayton
• Thomas F. Wilson – Buford “Mad Dog” Tannen / Biff Tannen
• Lea Thompson – Lorraine McFly / Maggie McFly
• James Tolkan – Marshal Strickland
• Marc McClure – Dave McFly
• Wendie Jo Sperber – Linda McFly
• Elisabeth Shue – Jennifer Parker
• Dub Taylor, Harry Carey Jr., Pat Buttram – Town Elders
• Matt Clark – Bartender

Box Office and Critical Reception

Back to the Future Part III was made with a budget of $40 million and earned $245 million worldwide. Although it did not achieve the same box office success as the first two films, it is regarded as a strong conclusion to the series. The film received praise particularly for its Wild West atmosphere, action sequences, and Christopher Lloyd’s performance praise.

Some critics noted that the science fiction elements of the series were less prominent due to the Wild West theme. Nevertheless, the film is widely accepted as a satisfying finale and among the best time-travel films ever made.