NEVADA SMITH
US, 1966,131 minutes, Colour.
Steve Mc Queen, Karl Malden, Brian Keith, Suzanne Pleshette, Arthur Kennedy, Janet Margolin, Howard da Silva, Raf Vallone, Pat Hingle.
Directed by Henry Hathaway.
Nevada Smith is a kind of 'prequel' to the film version of Harold Robbins' The Carpetbaggers. Nevada Smith is a character in Robbins' novel and was played by Alan Ladd in the film. There was a sketch of his background and relationship with Jonas Cord in that film. Screenwriter John Michael Hayes (writer of films for Hitchcock including To Catch a Thief, Rear Window, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Vertigo) elaborates the story to make it an epic of the West in the late 19th. century: relationships between Indians and whites, the revenge theme, law and justice in the West, the Midwest, the South, California. The education of a young man in the ways of the West and the American heritage. Steve Mc Queen is very good in the central role. He is supported by an excellent supporting cast in cameo character roles. Direction is by Henry Hathaway, veteran western director (Trail of the Lonesome Pine in the '30s. The Sons of Katie Elder, How the West Was Won and True Grit in the '60s). The film has a rather slow pace at times, but tries to develop the character of Max Sand and show the progress of a young man through the violent West of the 19th century.
1. The impact of the film as a western, a western of the '60s, a Steve McQueen? vehicle, its relationship with The Carpetbaggers? The work of Henry Hathaway?
2. The range of location photography, colour? Action sequences? The score?
3. The revenge western? The power of this story? The ugliness of death, the relationship between Indian and white. racial prejudice? The story of a young man and his growth, his horror at the deaths, motivation for revenge, the law and the differing points of view, racism and sadism? A credible picture of the West?
4. The revenge structure of the film: the introduction to the hero, his suffering, naivety, growth? The arguments for and against his motivation and action for revenge? His range of suffering, suffering to achieve his goals, the drive, the influential people in his life? A panorama of the American West? The effectiveness of the film as a portrait of the West?
5. The background of The Carpetbaggers and audience knowledge of Nevada Smith's later life. career. work with Jonas Cord, clash with Jonas Cord Jr, his work in the silent films? The background knowledge of Jonas Cord? The comparisons between the portrayal of characters in each film? (Brian Keith's performance as Cord being too strong, perhaps, for the picture of the man in The Carpetbaggers.)
6. The ugliness of the massacre, cruelty? The effect on Max Sand? The advice from his friends. the wife urging him to vengeance? The background of the West and travel, the chase, Max attacking the wrong group? A hungry young man, the encounter with Cord and the friendship, Cord's training him in gunfighting, in the wisdom of survival? In not trusting ? even friends? The bond with Cord and his readiness for his mission?
7. The picture of Abilene ? the western town, the girls, the saloons, the gamblers? The racism suggested? The encounter with Neesa? Discovering Jesse, the challenge at the card game, the bartender and his wanting fairness, Jesse's violence and escape, the fight in the cattle yards, Jesse as cruel at the murder, cruel against Max, a knife fighter? His death? The ironic sequence later with his amorous widow and her thanking Max for killing Jesse? The injury, Max's being taken to the Indian camp, his heritage? The attachment to Neesa? His buying the book, wanting to read, learning? Imbued with the Indian traditions? His leaving?
8. The South, the Mississippi, cattle, the riverboat? Max reading, discovering the identity of Bowdrie? His setting himself up to rob the bank. sentenced to prison? The toughness of the prison, the swamps, the conditions. the guards, the trusty? Bowdrie returning? Max making friends with him, the plan for the escape? The women working in the fields. coming in at night? The encounter with Pilar and using her, love for her? The escape, the swamps, the snakebite, the final confrontation with Bowdrie and killing him after his racist statements? Pilar and her mistrust, dying? Max's escape?
9. The trail to California, his taking Fitch's name? Arrest, being freed by Fitch's men, their torturing him? Saved by the friar? The healing, the friar presenting his own life story and the massacre of his family by the Indians, his survival and not wanting vengeance? The remarks about Jesus, the crucifix, his suffering, the model of love - and Max's reading the Bible and finding 'an eye for an eye'?
10. The encounter with Fitch, Fitch's fear, the memories of his cruelty in the slaughter? His testing Max and the game of wits, Max winning? Taking the name Nevada Smith? The build-up for the gold robbery. the attack on the coach. the confrontation between Fitch and Max? Max shooting him then letting him go despite Fitch's comments of 'coward' and 'yellow'? Max considering him not worth the killing? Max going on to his role as Nevada Smith with Jonas Cord and the 20th. century?
11. The picture of the American West, ethos, heritage. violence and cruelty, instinct, reason, religious motivation. justice?
