Nevada Smith (1966)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Director:

Henry Hathaway

Writers:

Harold Robbins (novel)
John Michael Hayes (story)

Release Date:

10 June 1966 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

Some called him savage- and some called him saint... some felt his hate- and one found his love... and three had to die...

Plot:

A naive half-Indian, half-white man evolves into a hardened killer as he tracks down his parents' murderers.

Plot Keywords:

Nevada | Prison | Rocky Mountains | Cattle | Nude Swimming

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Steve McQueen	...	Nevada Smith / Max Sand / Fitch
Karl Malden	...	Tom Fitch
Brian Keith	...	Jonas Cord
Arthur Kennedy	...	Bill Bowdre
Suzanne Pleshette	...	Pilar
Raf Vallone	...	Father Zaccardi
Janet Margolin	...	Neesa
Pat Hingle	...	Big Foot (work camp trustee)
Howard Da Silva	...	Warden of work camp
Martin Landau	...	Jesse Coe
Paul Fix	...	Sheriff Bonnell
Gene Evans	...	Sam Sand
Josephine Hutchinson	...	Mrs. Elvira McCandles
John Doucette	...	Uncle Ben McCandles
Val Avery	...	Buck Mason (bartender)

Runtime:

128 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Eastmancolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Singapore:PG | West Germany:16 (nf) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1966) | UK:15 (1988) | UK:A (1966) (cut) | USA:Approved (Certificate #21075) | USA:Not Rated (DVD) | France:-16 (DVD rating) | Portugal:M/12 | Australia:M | Norway:16 | Spain:18 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG-13

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Solar Productions

Trivia:

The role of Nevada Smith was originally created by Alan Ladd in The Carpetbaggers (1964). A prequel highlighting the Smith character with Ladd was proposed, but the actor's untimely death at age 50 precluded that.

Goofs:

Anachronisms: The scene in the swamp where the inmates are hauling logs out of the water shows Max on a welded steel barge. Welded steel barges weren't constructed until the advent of electric arc welding in the 1930s, and didn't appear in general use until World War II. The barge should have been a wood-hulled barge instead of welded steel.

Quotes:

Father Zaccardi: Don't, don't say what you will or won't do. Just remember when you ride out of here, God goes with you.
Nevada Smith: ...I'll keep that in mind.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Steve McQueen: The King of Cool (1998) (TV)

Excellent Western:

What makes this movie so much better than most westerns is the cast. Every speaking part is handled by a true professional and although the story line has been much used over the years, everyone should view this movie to enjoy one great performance after another. Steve McQueen, Brian Keith, Karl Malden, Arthur Kennedy, Susan Pleshette, John Doucette, you just don't get a finer cast than that. This is a must see for all serious film buffs. I rated this an 8.