Far from being just another by-the-numbers Western, The Nevadan brings enough twists and variations to a familiar genre that it received a favorable review from the New York Times. In a way such success shouldn't have been entirely unexpected since in addition to acting Randolph Scott also co-produced with Harry Joe Brown. This was one of fourteen films they did together, all intelligent and above-average Westerns starring Scott. (There were a further five films produced by Brown where Scott acted only.) One possible reason for their success with The Nevadan is that for the dialogue they brought in Rowland Brown, a sharp-edged writer who had directed the 30s cult favorites Blood Money (1933) and Hell's Highway (1932).
The Nevadan's outdoor scenes were filmed mostly in Lone Pine, California, a popular location that hosted a few hundred Westerns over the decades. But Lone Pine also proved useful for other types of films like Bad Day at Black Rock (1955), the 1936 Charge of the Light Brigade and the Brad Pitt/David Duchovny thriller Kalifornia (1993). Other parts of The Nevadan were shot on the Columbia Ranch in Burbank, which was established in 1934 and is apparently still being used today.
Much of The Nevadan's cast were Western veterans and their comfort with the genre meant that they were more convincing and inventive. The rancher is played by George Macready, familiar as a bad guy in dozens of films and easily distinguished by the facial scar he received in an auto accident. He later had a role on Peyton Place and co-owned an art gallery with fellow heavy Vincent Price.
The character of Sandy might seem familiar as well. That's Jock Mahoney, a prolific and wonderful stuntman who had doubled for Errol Flynn, Gregory Peck and even Randolph Scott (a job he also performed in The Nevadan). During the 40s he started acting as well and proved quite popular in dozens of Westerns but also a handful of Three Stooges films and Jolson Sings Again (1949). Mahoney starred in several TV Westerns and became Sally Field's stepfather (some people claim Field's' first screen appearance was in a Mahoney TV show).
Director: Gordon Douglas
Producer: Harry Joe Brown, Randolph Scott
Screenplay: Rowland Brown (dialogue), George W. George, George F. Slavin
Cinematography: Charles Lawton Jr.
Music: Arthur Morton
Art Direction: George Brooks
Cast: Randolph Scott (Andrew Barclay), Dorothy Malone (Karen Galt), Forrest Tucker (Tom Tanner), Frank Faylen (Jeff), George Macready (Edward Galt), Charles Kemper (Dyke Merrick), Jeff Corey (Bart).
C-81m.
by Lang Thompson
