Stranded in 1955, Marty McFly receives a letter from Doc Brown, who is living peacefully in the Old West of 1885. However, when Marty discovers a tombstone revealing that Doc is destined to be murdered by the ruthless gunman Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen just days after writing the letter, he must travel back in time to save his friend. With the DeLorean running on empty and no gas stations in the 19th century, the duo must devise a desperate plan to use a steam locomotive to push the time machine to 88 miles per hour before it's too late.
Information |
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Language |
English |
Country |
United States |
Premiere date |
May 25, 1990 |
Running time |
118 minutes |
Genre |
Sci-Fi Adventure Comedy Western |
Budget |
$40,000,000 |
Box Office |
$244,527,583 |
Crew |
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Directed by |
Robert Zemeckis |
Produced by |
Bob Gale Neil Canton |
Written by |
Robert Zemeckis Bob Gale |
Music by |
Alan Silvestri |
Cinematography |
Dean Cundey |
Edited by |
Arthur Schmidt Harry Keramidas |
Production Co. |
Universal Pictures Amblin Entertainment |
Distributed by |
Universal Pictures |
Top Cast |
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Official Trailer |
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Movie Collection |
Movie Order: #03 in Back to the Future Collection
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The Plot
Stranded in Time
Picking up immediately where the previous film left off on November 12, 1955, Dr. Emmett Brown is shocked to see Marty moments after sending him back to 1985. Overwhelmed by the apparent impossibility of the situation, Doc faints outside of the Hill Valley Courthouse. Marty takes the unconscious scientist back to his mansion to recover. When the 1955 Doc wakes up, he begins dictating the previous night's events to his reel-to-reel tape recorder, briefly convincing himself that what he saw was merely a "residual image." However, his shock resumes instantly when he realizes Marty is standing right behind him.
After calming down, the 1955 Doc uses a magnifying glass to read aloud a letter provided by Marty, written by his future counterpart. The letter explains that the 1985 Doc was accidentally sent back to 1885 when the DeLorean time machine was struck by lightning. The bolt damaged the time circuits, which Doc was unable to repair because the suitable replacement parts wouldn't be invented until 1947. Furthermore, the flying circuits were destroyed, grounding the DeLorean permanently. Enclosed with the letter is a map detailing the location of the buried time machine, along with instructions and a schematic diagram for the younger Doc to repair it using 1955 components so Marty can return to 1985. Crucially, the letter emphasizes that once Marty returns, he must destroy the time machine. The 1985 Doc insists he is perfectly happy living as a blacksmith in the Old West and fears that further time travel will only damage the space-time continuum.
The Tombstone Discovery
Following the map's instructions, the pair recovers the DeLorean from an abandoned gold mine, documenting the excavation with 1955 Doc's camera. However, while exploring the area near the mine, they discover a tombstone bearing Doc's name. The inscription states that he died on September 7, 1885—only six days after writing the letter Marty just delivered. The grave marker further reveals that Doc was shot in the back by Biff's great-grandfather, Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen, "over a matter of eighty dollars," and that the stone was erected by "his beloved Clara," a name the 1955 Doc does not recognize.
Marty takes a photograph of the tombstone as evidence. Despite the 1985 Doc's specific instructions to return immediately to the future and destroy the machine, Marty refuses to leave his friend to die. He decides to travel back to 1885 to rescue his comrade.
To the Old West
The younger Doc restores the DeLorean to working order using available 1955 technology. The modified vehicle is now equipped with historic whitewall tires to replace the rotted originals and features a large wooden box strapped to the hood containing 1955 components—including vacuum tubes—to replace the damaged time circuit control microchip. Doc and Marty transport the repaired machine to the Pohatchee Drive-In Theater, which features an Indian motif, located just outside of town. Dressed in a novelty cowboy costume provided by Doc, Marty positions the car at the back of the lot. He accelerates toward the screen tower, hitting the required 88 m.p.h. and vanishing into the past just moments before crashing into the screen.
Arrival in 1885
Marty arrives on September 2, 1885, and is immediately thrust into danger as he is chased by a group of Indians. Although the Cavalry arrives to chase the Indians away, Marty is forced to drive the DeLorean into a cave to hide. During the rough terrain navigation, the DeLorean’s fuel line is ripped open. Inside the cave, Marty encounters a black bear, forcing him to flee on foot. He falls down a hill, hits his head on a fence, and loses consciousness.
He wakes up in the care of his own great-great-grandfather, Seamus McFly, and his wife, Maggie. To avoid altering history too much, Marty introduces himself as "Clint Eastwood." Seamus, followed somewhat reluctantly by Maggie, agrees to help this stranger find his "blacksmith friend."
Mad Dog Tannen and the Rifle Sight
The next day, Marty heads into Hill Valley and enters the local saloon to inquire about Doc’s whereabouts. He is quickly confronted by Buford "Mad Dog" Tannen, who picks a fight with Marty, largely mocking the ridiculous "Western" clothing the 1955 Doc had provided. The confrontation escalates into a chase that ends at the partly constructed clock tower, where Buford and his gang attempt to hang Marty. Just as the situation turns dire, Doc appears aiming a rifle equipped with a full-size telescopic scope. With a single, precise shot, Doc severs the rope, dropping Marty safely to the ground.
Buford demands $80 from Doc as compensation for a horse he shot days prior, along with a bottle of Kentucky Red-eye, blaming the accident on a horseshoe Doc had attached—a job Buford never paid for. Doc steadfastly refuses to pay. In response, Buford promises to kill him on Monday.
The Propulsion Problem
Doc takes Marty back to his workshop, where Marty shows him the photograph of the tombstone. Strangely, Doc still has no idea who "Clint Eastwood" is or who the "Clara" mentioned on the grave might be. As they prepare to leave for the future, Marty mentions casually that the car is out of gas. Doc is horrified. Marty, unconcerned, suggests they simply use Mr. Fusion to power the car, but Doc explains a critical limitation: Mr. Fusion only powers the time circuits and the flux capacitor. The internal combustion engine has always run on unleaded gasoline. With no gas stations existing until the next century, they face the exact opposite problem of the first movie: they have the power to time travel, but no way to propel the car to 88 m.p.h.
As they move the DeLorean from the cave to the shop, Doc tries using a team of horses to pull the car, but this fails miserably as the horses can barely break 20 m.p.h. Desperate, Doc attempts to run the car on the strongest whiskey from the saloon. He pours the alcohol into the tank, and Marty tries the ignition. The engine turns over briefly, but the volatile liquid causes a massive backfire, destroying the fuel injection manifold. Doc estimates it will take a month to repair the damage, but Marty points out the grim reality: Doc is scheduled to be shot on Monday.
The Locomotive Plan and Clara Clayton
With the car unable to move under its own power, Doc devises a plan to push the DeLorean with a steam locomotive. Consulting with an engineer, they learn they need a straight, level track and must stoke the fire to incredible heat to reach the necessary speed. Doc identifies a spur line leading to a bridge over Clayton Ravine as the perfect spot, though he is puzzled that the map labels it "Shonash Ravine." Upon investigating, they find the bridge is incomplete, but Doc calculates that by the time they reach 1985, the bridge will exist. The train will push them to 88 m.p.h. and then fall into the ravine—a "spectacular wreck" that no one will be around to see.
Suddenly, they hear a woman screaming for help. Her horse has bolted, and she is heading straight for the ravine. Doc and Marty rescue her just before she is thrown over the edge. The woman introduces herself as Clara Clayton. Doc and Clara are instantly infatuated with one another. Later, Marty realizes that "Clayton Ravine" was named after a schoolteacher who fell to her death in 1885—the very woman they just saved. Doc is shocked that he interfered with history by saving a person meant to die, strengthening his resolve to return to the future and destroy the time machine.
The Festival and the Duel
At the town festival, which celebrates the inauguration of the clock tower, Marty and Doc take a photograph in front of the clock face. The celebration sours when Buford arrives early, intent on killing Doc. Buford reveals a chilling detail: the last man he shot with a derringer took two days to bleed out, implying that even if he shoots Doc now, death might not occur until Monday, matching the tombstone's date. Marty foils the assassination attempt by flinging a pie plate at Buford’s hand, causing the gun to misfire. He warns Buford to leave Doc alone. Buford, enraged, calls Marty "yellow."
Marty's self-control crumbles at the insult, and he accepts a challenge to duel Buford on Monday morning. Later, Seamus warns Marty about letting others provoke him, recounting the story of his brother Martin, who was stabbed in a saloon in Virginia City because he couldn't walk away from a fight.
Fate and Heartbreak
The next day, Marty notices the photograph of the tombstone has changed: the name is gone, but the stone remains. Doc notes that this means either one of them could be the victim on Monday. Marty vows to handle Buford, but Doc warns him that his temper—specifically getting mad when called names—is what causes a life-ruining automobile accident involving a Rolls-Royce in Marty's future. When Marty asks for details, Doc refuses, saying "it could make things worse," simply advising that they must do what they have to do.
That night, as they prep the DeLorean on the tracks, Doc confesses he wants to stay in 1885 with Clara. Marty talks him out of it, reminding him he is a man of science and that the tombstone still exists. Doc reluctantly agrees. He goes to Clara’s house to say goodbye, telling her the truth about being a time traveler from the future. Clara, believing he is mocking her and lying to break off the relationship, slaps him and dismisses him. Heartbroken, Doc goes to the Palace Saloon to get drunk.
Monday Morning Showdown
On Monday morning, Marty finds Doc at the bar. He has been there all night but is still sober, having not taken a single sip. However, just as they prepare to leave, Doc downs a shot of whiskey and immediately passes out. The bartender remarks, "There's a guy who can't hold his liquor." Marty creates a "wake-up juice" concoction and revives Doc just as Buford arrives for the duel. Marty is alarmed to see the name "Clint Eastwood" appear on the tombstone photo.
Buford prepares to shoot Doc, but Marty steps into the street to face him. Buford shoots, and Marty falls, apparently dead. As Buford approaches, Marty kicks the gun from his hand and reveals he is alive; he utilized a trick from a Clint Eastwood movie, concealing a heavy iron stove door beneath his poncho as a bulletproof vest. Marty punches Buford into a wheelbarrow full of manure. As the sheriff arrests him, Buford spits out manure and mumbles, "I hate manure!" The tombstone in the photograph breaks in half and then vanishes completely.
The Great Train Heist
While Clara packs to leave town, she overhears a salesman discussing how heartbroken "the blacksmith" was. Realizing Doc was telling the truth after finding his scale model of the time travel plan in his shop, she rides after the train. Meanwhile, Doc and Marty, masked as bandits, hijack the locomotive. When the engineer asks if this is a holdup, Doc replies, "It's a science experiment!" They divert the train onto the spur line and detach the passenger cars.
Doc uses his invention, "Presto Logs," to superheat the boiler, pushing the locomotive beyond its safety limits to reach 88 m.p.h. The train begins pushing the DeLorean, which has been fitted with steel rail wheels. As they accelerate, Clara catches up to the train and climbs aboard the tender.
The Final Departure
Doc climbs toward the DeLorean, but just as he prepares to board, Clara blows the train whistle. Surprised but overjoyed, Doc sees her. However, the train is moving too fast to stop before the ravine. Doc encourages Clara to climb toward him so they can go to the future together. As she attempts to reach him, the final Presto Log ignites, causing a massive surge that makes Clara lose her footing. She hangs precariously from the side of the train.
Marty passes the hoverboard (which he brought from 2015) to Doc. Doc uses it to fly over and rescue Clara just moments before the train hits the incomplete bridge. With no time to get back to the car, Doc and Clara are left behind in 1885. Marty travels back to the future alone as the DeLorean hits 88 m.p.h. behind him, the locomotive flies off the tracks and is destroyed in a massive explosion at the bottom of the ravine.
Back in 1985
Marty arrives on October 27, 1985. The car coasts along the track, now crossing "Eastwood Ravine." As the DeLorean comes to a halt on the tracks, Marty barely escapes before a modern freight train smashes into the time machine, completely destroying it. Marty realizes Doc's wish has been fulfilled, though he is saddened that he will never see his friend again.
Marty reunites with Jennifer and drives his truck to the site of the wreckage. On the way, they encounter Needles, who challenges Marty to a race. Jennifer warns him, but when Needles calls him "chicken," Marty revs his engine. However, when the light turns green, Marty shifts into reverse, backing away slowly while Needles speeds off. Moments later, a Rolls-Royce pulls out of a side street, nearly colliding with where Marty would have been. Jennifer realizes the accident that would have ruined Marty’s life—and his hand—has been avoided. She checks the fax from 2015 she had kept, and the text "YOU'RE FIRED!!!" erases itself from the paper.
The Future Is What You Make It
Marty and Jennifer return to the railroad crossing to examine the DeLorean debris. Suddenly, the crossing bells ring, and a massive steam train, modified into a time machine with a flux capacitor on the front, appears out of thin air. Doc Brown steps out, revealing he has been to the future and back. He introduces his wife, Clara, and their two sons, Jules and Verne.
Doc gives Marty a gift: the framed photograph of them standing by the clock in 1885. When Jennifer asks about the erased fax, Doc tells them, "Your future is whatever you make it, so make it a good one." Marty asks if Doc is going back to the future, but Doc smiles and replies, "Nope. Already been there." The train lifts off the tracks, converts to flight mode, and flies toward the screen, disappearing into time as the trilogy concludes.
