West of Nevada

Perhaps one of the greatest examples of the use of Lone Pine, California's Alabama Hills as a location (hundreds of movies have been shot here), 'West of Nevada' offers little in the way of entertainment save that some interesting characters appear in it. But its historical significance as a testament to the attraction of the Alabama Hills as a filming location give it some prominence among B-Westerns.

Star Rex Bell (playing Jim Carden) is dispatched to determine what is going on with gold shipments from an Indian reservation. It seems that the local bank manager and his hired guns are after the gold despite the efforts of Steve Clark (as Milt Haldain) and his daughter – and Rex Bell's love interest - Joan Barclay (playing Helen). Jim Carden's investigations eventually break the case.

Al St. John (Walla Walla) gives a less-than-convincing portrayal as the sidekick to star Rex Bell (playing Jim Carden) and this is a bit surprising given St. John's long career as an actor. St. John appeared in 249 movies over a 40 year career. By the time 'West of Nevada' was made he had been in well over a hundred movies!

Particularly annoying is his inability to convey continuity in the simple task of convincing us of the heaviness of an item. At first he shows a great struggle with the item but within a few moments is handling it like the completely lightweight object it really is! So he flunks Acting 101 right at the outset of the movie.

Director Robert F. Hill made a hundred or so films bridging the silent and talking picture eras. None of them are particularly memorable. Co-star of 'West of Nevada' Joan Barclay certainly had the talent to fashion a more solid career (although she did appear in over 70 films). But a quote attributed to her speaks loudly about those that have the energy and drive to be great and those that like the rest of us just get by:

The one who was the nicest to me was Jimmy Cagney. He used to take me and sit me down in his dressing room at Warners and say, "Now, Geraine, you have an opportunity here that you seem not to realize. You should go take acting lessons, singing lessons, dancing lessons, and you could become a star." I said, "Well, yeah, Jimmy, thanks a lot, I'll do that." And of course it went in one ear and out the other, I didn't do one darn thing about it. I was just frivolous-minded, and as long as I was working and making money, I didn't mind just being a nobody. (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0054060/bio)

Bell, Clara Bow's long time husband, made a number of oaters (22) in the Twenties and Thirties but essentially retired from Hollywood by 1936. He then began a long career in ranching and Nevada politics. And Rex Bell becomes one of the other trivia associated with the great 1961 movie "The Misfits". It was his last film appearance.

Rating: Two Stars.

You gotta see this just for the opportunity to see the great sidekick getting his chance to star.

Al St. John has one silent scene early on when he meets the woman of his dreams, and she apparently reciprocates. They don't say a word. But the look on their faces is priceless.

Al St. John was an excellent actor, athletic and agile, yes, but more: He knew how to be and how to move funny, but he was one of the best cowboys in Hollywood. (In that frequently awful "Billy the Kid" series, he stole nearly every scene from star Buster Crabbe, and Buster was one darn fine actor, too.)

(At YouTube is a whole long string of movies with Al St. John listed as the star. I hope to watch every one.)

As good as Al St. John is, the director must get a lot of credit, too. Robert F. Hill also wrote the screenplay, under another name, and he has some amazingly inventive camera angles and used a moving camera, too. I don't know much about him, but if "West of Nevada" is a good example, he should have been a major name among directors.

At YouTube, "West of Nevada" is listed as starring Al, but actually much bigger name -- at the time -- Rex Bell was billed first.

Rex Bell was also quite a good cowboy, and a generally good actor, but he didn't stay in movies as long, marrying the adorable Clara Bow and going into politics.

Steve Clark as Haldain has apparent difficulty with the over-educated vocabulary given him, but his facial and bodily movements were appropriate.

Haldain's daughter, Helen, is played by the wonderful Joan Barclay, and not much more need be said. She usually improved any movie she was in. Despite being from Minnesota, you betcha she has a really nice voice, which rings pleasantly in the ear.

Forrest Taylor is, as usual, great as a banker, with a good role and good dialogue.

The bad guys are generally unknown today, except for Bob Woodward, who went on to fame and fortune as a Washington Post reporter and later contributor at Fox News TV channel.*

But they beautifully underplay their evil and are beautifully watchable.

They are beautifully nefarious in this very clever script.

In the version available at YouTube (posted by "AlFuzzyStJohn"), there are some bad cuts and either some bad editing and/or bad scripting, or there is a piece missing.

Nevertheless, you won't lose the story's thread, and you will be pleased at the action. It is obviously low budget, and there are sound problems, but I highly recommend "West of Nevada."

*Just kidding. Obviously another Bob Woodward entirely, and probably a much nicer and more honest guy as well.