Nevada (1944)

Director:

Edward Killy

Writers:

Norman Houston (screenplay)
Zane Grey (novel)

Release Date:

25 December 1944 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

THrill to the Silver Stampede - The roaring saga of the Comstock Lode...when men staked their claims in a hail of lead! (original poster)

Plot:

Just as Nevada wins $7000 in yellowback bills, Ben Ide takes his #7000 in yellowbacks and heads out to buy mining equipment...

Plot Keywords:

Nevada | Posse | Mining Claim | Craps Game | Jail Break

Cast

Robert Mitchum	...	Jim Lacy (as Bob Mitchum)
Anne Jeffreys	...	Julie Dexter
Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams	...	Dusty
Nancy Gates	...	Hattie Ide
Richard Martin	...	Chito Rafferty
Craig Reynolds	...	Cash Burridge
Harry Woods	...	Joe Powell
Edmund Glover	...	Ed Nelson, Assayer
Alan Ward	...	Sheriff William H. Brewer
Harry McKim	...	Marvie Ide
Larry Wheat	...	Ben Ide
Jack Overman	...	Croupier Red Berry
Emmett Lynn	...	'Pancake' Comstock
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Virginia Belmont	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Sammy Blum	...	Gold Hill Bartender (uncredited)
Patti Brill	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Ralph Bucko	...	Barfly (uncredited)
Wheaton Chambers	...	Doctor Burton (uncredited)
George DeNormand	...	Red Berry's Bartender (uncredited)
Mary Halsey	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Russell Hopton	...	Henchman (uncredited)
Ben Johnson	...	Saloon Patron (uncredited)
Bert Moorhouse	...	Sandy Bowers (uncredited)
Philip Morris	...	Prospector Ed (uncredited)
Margie Stewart	...	Dancer (uncredited)
Bryant Washburn	...	Townsman (uncredited)

Directed by
Edward Killy

Writing credits
Norman Houston		(screenplay)
Zane Grey		(novel)

Produced by
Sid Rogell	....	executive producer
Herman Schlom	....	producer

Original Music by
Paul Sawtell
Dave Dreyer		(uncredited)
Roy Webb		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Harry J. Wild

Film Editing by
Roland Gross

Art Direction by
Lucius O. Croxton		(as L.O. Croxton)
Albert S. D'Agostino

Set Decoration by
Darrell Silvera
William Stevens

Costume Design by
Renié		(gowns)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Harry Mancke	....	assistant director

Sound Department
Terry Kellum	....	sound re-recordist
Richard Van Hessen	....	sound

Stunts
George DeNormand	....	stunts (uncredited)
Fred Graham	....	stunt double: Harry Woods & Craig Reynolds (uncredited)
Ben Johnson	....	stunt double: Robert Mitchum (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Charles Straumer	....	second camera (uncredited)

Music Department
C. Bakaleinikoff	....	musical director
Earl B. Mounce	....	music mixer (uncredited)

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1944) (USA) (theatrical)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1951) (USA) (theatrical) (reissue)
• C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV)
• Comet Video (2004) (USA) (VHS)
• Artisan Entertainment (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Lions Gate Films Home Entertainment (2006) (USA) (DVD)
• Comet Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

62 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (certificate #10485) | Australia:PG | USA:Passed (National Board of Review)

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

Robert Mitchum's first starring role.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: Julie Dexter is wearing a dress with a zipper up the back in her final scenes.

Movie Connections:

Version of Nevada (1927)

Soundtrack:

My Chiquita

Other than the first starring role of 'Bob Mitchum', it's a standard B-Western

Apparently Bob Mitchum (that's how he's billed in this film) did quite a few supporting roles before he got his first starring role in NEVADA. And, like many up and coming stars of the day, they gave him this chance in a B-movie role--a minor film that was a second feature for a double-feature. In other words, a lesser film made with a smaller budget. Oddly, however, they put Mitchum into this Western--I guess since they had no preconceptions about what types of roles he'd be good at they thought they could make him a cowboy hero--not realizing he'd make much more of a mark in Film Noir and dramas. As for Mitchum's acting, it was very good and I could see him starring in more of the like, though he only did a few more Westerns here and there.

Aside from the novelty of seeing Mitchum in a Gene Autry type role, there really isn't that much to distinguish this film. It's not bad but also suffers from the problem many B-movies had--they were rushed into production so quickly and shoved into such a short running time (rarely much more than 60 minutes) that the films cut corners plot-wise. Here, the plot resolutions happen way too quickly and conveniently for the film to be anything more than average for the genre.

The film's pluses were Mitchum's acting, the acting of some of the supporting actors (screen veteran Guinn Williams was a nice addition) and nice location shooting. Minuses were the obvious and poor use of stunt doubles and the very preachy ending that left the viewer with a bad final impression--the lady's soliloquy just sounded silly and fake. Overall, this is worth watching--particularly if you are a film historian or Robert Mitchum fan. Otherwise, it's a time passer and nothing more.