The Spoilers (1942)

In Nome, Alaska, miner Roy Glennister and his partner Dextry, financed by saloon entertainer Cherry Malotte, fight to save their gold claim from crooked commissioner Alexander McNamara.

Director:

Ray Enright

Writers:

Rex Beach (novel), Lawrence Hazard (screenplay)

Stars:

Marlene Dietrich, Randolph Scott, John Wayne

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Marlene Dietrich	...	Cherry Malotte
Randolph Scott	...	Alex McNamara
John Wayne	...	Roy Glennister
Margaret Lindsay	...	Helen Chester
Harry Carey	...	Al Dextry
Richard Barthelmess	...	Bronco Kid Farrow
George Cleveland	...	Banty
Samuel S. Hinds	...	Judge Horace Stillman
Russell Simpson	...	Flapjack Sims
William Farnum	...	Wheaton
Marietta Canty	...	Idabelle
Jack Norton	...	Mr. Skinner
Ray Bennett	...	Clark
Forrest Taylor	...	Bennett
Art Miles	...	Deputy

Storyline

In Nome, Alaska, miner Roy Glennister and his partner Dextry, financed by saloon entertainer Cherry Malotte, fight to save their gold claim from crooked commissioner Alexander McNamara.

---

Plot Keywords:

miner | gold | saloon | nome alaska | alaska | 

---

Taglines:

Crashing Fists in the Gold-Crazed Alaska of '98!

---

Genres:

Drama | Western

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 June 1942 (USA)

Also Known As:

Die Freibeuterin

Filming Locations:

Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Frank Lloyd Productions, Charles K. Feldman Group

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to the studio continuity report the fight scene took five days to plot and shoot.

---

Goofs

(at around 45 mins) Marlene Dietrich descends the staircase of her saloon and arrives at the bottom wearing a different dress than the one she wore at the top.

---

Quotes

Glennister: I imagine that dress is supposed to have a chilling effect. Well if it is, it isn't working, 'cuz you'd look good to me, baby, in a burlap bag.

---

Connections

Version of The Spoilers (1914)

User Reviews

"What You Win You Can Collect."

This is the fourth of five filmed versions of Rex Beach's redoubtable northern classic and since it's the only one out on video, it's the one best known to movie audiences. The stalwart trio of Marlene Dietrich, Randolph Scott, and John Wayne head the cast in this story about gold miners losing their claims to con men and doing something about it.

Dietrich's Cherry Malotte is another version of the role she copyrighted in Destry Rides Again. And like in Pittsburgh, Randolph Scott and John Wayne have their hormones in overdrive.

Randolph Scott is the gold commissioner/conman Alex McNamara and it's the only time he ever played a thoroughgoing villain on the screen and he carries it off, but I prefer my Randolph Scott to be tough and heroic.

You need someone like Scott around because even though John Wayne's the good guy, he's just a little too sure of himself where Dietrich is concerned. Even though her heart's with the Duke, Marlene probably liked having Scott around.

Lots of slam bang action here, topped off by what some consider the most brutal movie fight in screen history. Its close rival in Pittsburgh also featured Wayne and Scott and this one is longer, but not as brutal as in Pittsburgh.

Nice cast of good supporting character actors and pay particular attention to Scott's companions in thievery, Samuel S. Hinds and Charles Halton.

With Randy Scott and the Duke and la Dietrich, how can you go wrong.