The Nevadan

The calibre of this slick Cinecolor Randolph Scott western is already signalled by the presence of George Macready's name in the opening credits, here playing the father of Dorothy Malone in her early brunette days in buckskin and stetson.

Both they and most of the cast (including Frank Faylen & Jeff Corey as a pair of bickering siblings) and crew had experience of working in film noirs, particularly evident in the interior scenes.

In an era of overbearing deep, so deep, psychological westerns, it's nice to know Hollywood still knew how to put together these shoot 'em ups. This A-grade production with the very good direction by Gordon Douglas behind it is not much, if not entertaining. Randolph Scott who was to begin an era of a-b grade westerns and make some so-called classic westerns with Budd Boetticher shows his interpretation of the gun-man with few words that he would use effectively later on to good effect. The plot has something to do with Scott being an Undercover marshall, gold and yes, bad guys who need to be gunned down. Anyway, it's all a mcguffin for a final sequence in a mine shaft that is breath-taking. Nice entertainment, at the least.

Escaped outlaw Forrest Tucker stops a stranger following him. The stranger is Randolph Scott dressed up like a greenhorn. For no good reason, Tucker decides he needs a partner and Scott fits the bill. This is the kind of plot contrivance you just have to accept from a western like this, a programmer if there ever was one. Naturally, Scott isn't who he says he is. He just wanted to fool Tucker into taking him along so he could find where Tucker hid some gold. There's also an evil rancher, George Macready, who has a pretty daughter. The daughter's played by Dorothy Malone. Of course she and Scott fall for one another. It's all serviceable enough but nothing special. If you've seen enough westerns, all of this movie's pieces will seem familiar. Still, it's a Randolph Scott western. There are far worse ways to pass the time.

Good Scott western that makes excellent use of the neolithic Alabama Hills with the snow- capped southern Sierras in the background. I like the way the henchmen Jeff and Bart are given personalities, something most oaters don't bother with. And just who is Barclay (Scott) anyway, and why does he befriend outlaw Tanner (Tucker) in his quest to recover stolen gold. Is Barclay a good guy or not since he doesn't act like one. But first, they've got to beat out Galt's (MacReady) gang who also, surprise, surprise, wants to get the same gold. But what I most want to know is how ugly old Galt could father a delicious looking dame like Karen (Malone) who's clearly on her way up the Hollywood ladder.

There're a number of nice touches (e.g. the unexpected bucking bronco), and I can't help noticing Harry Joe Brown as co-producer along with Scott. They collaborated a few years later with Bud Boetticher on that great Ranown series of westerns that looks a lot like this one. Note how rather likable the outlaw Tanner is, also a hallmark of the Ranown series. And what an excellently staged showdown brawl in the mine tunnel. The effects are realistic and unusual for a B-western.

Anyway, it's a non-clichéd script with a number of twists, lots of scenery and action, along with an appropriate ending. So what more can this old front-row kid ask for.

Probably not enough excitement for today's kids because of the lack of explosions, etc; but it is the type of movie that is well suited for the entire family so if you you can hogtie the kids, do it!. Randolph Scott is, as always perfectly cast in the role he plays in the movie. Seeing him change from Eastern Dude to Western cowboy was surprising to say the least. Dorothy Malone plays the heroine and it was refreshing to see her play the type of girl that would definitely interest any man of good character. I was surprised to see Jock Mahoney who plays a minor role as one of the villains. He was a cowboy on a television series way back in 1951 called the Range Rider which ran for 78 episodes.