Nevada

In 1927, Gary Cooper appeared in three important Clara Bow films, those being the flapper romance "It", the morality tale "Children of Divorce", and award-winner "Wings". These brought Coop visibility with the masses, even if he was the male lead only in "Children". Paramount awarded him with the lead in this western, which had a tad bigger budget than the westerns Coop had done prior to this. Quality-wise, it falls far below the Bow vehicles, but it does manage to show Cooper in his element, and made some money at the box office. "Nevada" (1927) was directed by John Waters, who made three films with Cooper, but unfortunately this is not "The Pope of Trash" we are talking about. That would have been something!

Before this, Cooper had appeared as an extra in a few Zane Grey adaptations like "Riders of the Purple Sage" (1925) starring Tom Mix. This is the first Grey adaptation where he is the star. Even if the film has the look of a b-western, it also has star power. Besides Gary, we have Thelma Todd as the girl, and William Powell as the villain. The story isn't much else than western clichés done with black and white characters, who spark little interest. There is a romantic triangle, and a crime narrative where Cooper goes after the villains. He looks tough and convincing and did all of his own riding.

The film shows us stars on rise, but from all of them you can find dozens of better movies. Also the print of the film is in bad condition, so it is really not an enjoyable watching experience no matter how you look at it. "Nevada" got remade twice, in 1935 starring Buster Crabbe and in 1944 starring Robert Mitchum.

Some silent films show their age more than others. Even as many directors were innovating and advancing the medium, and talkies were but a stone's throw away, there's a certain earnest declination of sophistication in the fundamental storytelling and film-making here that reflects the notion of "simpler entertainment for a simpler time." This is to say nothing of noticeable deterioration in the surviving print prior to preservation, for some scenes and intertitles are definitely marked by uneven image quality that is far less than pristine. These aren't abject flaws, mind you, though it's not unreasonable to suppose that the resulting picture is something unlikely to change the minds of those who aren't already enamored of older cinema. Yet for the silent devotee, the avid cinephile, and the western buff, there nevertheless remains much to appreciate about 'Nevada' nearly 100 years later. It's no revelatory must-see, but if the basic presentation and older style doesn't turn you off, then this is a minor gem in its own right that deserves to be remembered.

Derived from Zane Grey's book of the same name, the plot is no great revelation as a couple of rogues try to make good, stumble into trouble, and are in time vindicated and turn their lives around. In the scene writing, intertitles, cinematography, editing, and direction we're greeted with fairly straightforward work that lays out all the elements in the proper manner to impart the tale on hand - the saga is made to speak for itself, without particular adornment otherwise to impress. The cast, in turn, give fine performances, though at large the acting isn't necessarily striking. Yet all this is just swell, for there's something splendidly endearing about this period in cinema, when it was sometimes characterized by such forthright, unembellished conceptions of artistry. Filmmakers had to walk before they could run. Even at that, in every regard some small moments do come across as especially shrewd and well-considered: a shot that Charles Edgar Schoenbaum captures, a sliver of John Waters' direction, a single scene or beat, a fragment in time of the acting of Gary Cooper, Thelma Todd, or their co-stars, and so on. All told this feature may not be a huge landmark, but in irregular bits and pieces we're treated to minutiae that are wonderfully well done and charming, and this can be just as gratifying as a wholly timeless masterpiece.

In any event, while some aspects wax and wane in the degree to which they shine, others are more plainly laudable. 'Nevada' is broadly well made by the standards of the late 1920s, including gorgeous filming locations, detailed sets and costume design, and excellent, low-key thrilling stunts and action sequences. The story is duly compelling, and more than fit to provide amusement for an hour or so. There are discernible imperfections here and there, too, and just as some moments are extra strong, some others are distinctly weaker; if the title had been handled with a uniform measure of care it would undoubtedly stand much taller, and weirdly, I think the less sure-footed areas are mostly in the back end. Still, on the balance it's solid and enjoyable. One way or another this 1927 flick isn't something one needs to go out of their way to see, and it's surely best recommended for those with some specific interest or impetus to watch. 'Nevada' is all that it needs to be to succeed on its chosen level, however, and it never pretends to be anything it's not. For a silent western of sixty-seven minutes, that makes it perfectly alright in my book. If you do have the chance to watch, in my opinion this is time rather well spent.

Gary Cooper is just beginning his starring film role career , but he already dominates a scene . He has not gotten to the familiar 'aw shucks -casual approach ' to every circumstance . Here he is straight up and he is good in this mode . When he displays vengeance , you feel it . Even a casual observer could tell this was a star who would be around for a long time .

Thelma Todd was beautiful as ever and she too could take over a scene . She more than held her own against Cooper in their better scenes together or maybe it was the other way around . But she could get the viewer into her thoughts .

William Powell did an adequate job . He did not have that same charisma as Cooper and it was apparent in his and Coopers scenes together . Eyes followed Cooper . Powell was starting to exhibit his urban , sophisticated charm , but it too was not developed in this stage of his career .

Ernie Adams does a creditable job. He would be part of the Gower Gulch Gang that would make him recognizable to every B western fan during the Golden era of B westerns .

The photography is excellent and showcases the locations very well . The action is good until the last part of the film . Then the pace crawls . Some scenes at the end are so predictable and are far too prolonged . It would have been better with more taut editing .It really lost its way in the scene for having Cooper go on the raid . This was extremely weak in why he wasn't at the front .

Although this was an A western for Paramount , it has a B western feel to the plot . But it has to be accepted for being just that - a well made , above average B western . Paramount would excel in this with the William Boyd ( Hopalong Cassidy ) series .

No Cooper fan should miss seeing this film . It is good also for a Thelma Todd fan . It is even good for a William Powell fan . It is good for a western film fan , but there have been much better westerns made on a much smaller budget . This is a rare film and should be in every western collectors library .

With Gary Cooper I've always marveled at how when sound came along he had a voice that perfectly matched the characters he was playing in westerns. It was deliberately planned that his first all talkie film was that first of pulp western novels, The Virginian. This film Nevada is also taken from a western novel written by the best in that genre, Zane Grey.

As the subtitles are flashed for Cooper's character your mind clicks on to the voice you know so well from sound films. That is also true of William Powell who plays the villain, his voice is also a familiar one as well. Two stars who thrived when talking pictures came around, although Powell never played villains in sound films the way he did in silents.

Gary Cooper and sidekick Ernie S. Adams are a pair of roughneck cowboys who after a narrow escape from the law decide that maybe they ought to go straight. In the new town they arrive in they save Englishman Philip Strange from a beating and he hires them for his ranch, specifically to keep an eye on his sister Thelma Todd.

Which is a job Cooper learns to love, but not love William Powell who is another rancher, the richest one around and who also likes Todd. Powell is also the secret leader of a gang of rustlers who has been plaguing the other ranchers for years. It's why he's the richest guy around.

Nevada was remade twice, once with Buster Crabbe and later with Robert Mitchum in Cooper's part. It's not a great western, not near the standard of the westerns Cooper later made, but it's entertaining enough. It's also the only time you'll see two screen icons, Cooper and Powell in the same film.

Nevada is in bad need of restoration, the print I saw was barely watchable at times. Calling Steven Spielberg.