The Spoilers (1930 film)

Last updated

The Spoilers
Spoilers1930.jpg
Theatrical release poster
Directed by Edwin Carewe
Written by
Based on The Spoilers
1906 novel/play
by Rex Beach
Produced byEdwin Carewe
Starring
Production
company
Distributed byParamount Pictures
Release date
  • September 20, 1930 (1930-09-20)(US)
Running time
86 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish

The Spoilers is a 1930 American Pre-Code Western film directed by Edwin Carewe and starring Gary Cooper, Kay Johnson, and Betty Compson. Set in Nome, Alaska during the 1898 Gold Rush, the film is about a gold prospector and a corrupt Alaska politician who fight for control over a gold mine. The film features a spectacular saloon fistfight between Cooper and William "Stage" Boyd. [1]

Contents

The Spoilers was adapted to screen by Bartlett Cormack from the 1906 Rex Beach novel of the same name. Film versions also appeared in 1914, 1923, 1942, and 1955.

Plot

While traveling to Nome, Alaska, Roy Glenister (Gary Cooper) meets beautiful Helen Chester (Kay Johnson), who soon becomes his sweetheart. Glenister is one of several owners of a lucrative mine called The Midas. When he arrives in Nome, he discovers that his partners, Slapjack Simms (Slim Summerville) and Joe Dextry (James Kirkwood), are in the middle of a legal dispute with three corrupt officials: United States Marshal Voorhees (Jack Holmes), Judge Stillman (Lloyd Ingraham), and a politician named Alec McNamara (William "Stage" Boyd ). They have been engaged in a racket claiming titles to various mines, ejecting the miners, and then making McNamara owner of the disputed properties.

The three corrupt officials lay claim to The Midas. McNamara also steals money from Glenister, Dextry, and Slapjack, preventing them from enlisting legal help from the United States. When Dextry and Glenister plan a vigilante action, McNamara calls in a detail of soldiers to protect "his property". As Glenister and McNamara prepare for a gunfight, they are dissuaded by Helen, who suggests that the courts handle the dispute. Later, after jealous saloon owner Cherry Malotte (Betty Compson) lies to Glennister telling him that Helen and McNamara are conspiring to cheat him again, Glennister and McNamara settle their differences with a spectacular fistfight, with McNamara getting the worst. Afterwards, Glenister wins the hand of Helen.

Cast

Production

The Spoilers was filmed on location in Oregon.[ citation needed ]

Reception

In his review for The New York Times , Mordaunt Hall gave the film a negative review for its poor narrative, unconvincing plot, and "absurdly melodramatic dialogue". [2] Believing that the film would have benefitted from more details of the working for gold and fewer scenes in gambling halls and other places, [2] Hall continued:

The characters are seldom real and the narrative dawdles along to a finish that is anticipated. The big fight between McNamara and Glenister, while well and vigorously acted, proved to be more amusing than thrilling ... The players give adequate performances, but what they are called upon to do and say is far from convincing. Kay Johnson is not happily cast in the part of Helen Chester, the girl who falls in love with Glenister, impersonated by Gary Cooper. Mr. Cooper does very well by his rôle, and William Boyd's portrayal of the designing McNamara is satisfactory. ... Through his attempt to give all the dozen characters a chance in this picture, Edwin Carewe's direction results in no little confusion. One never is quite sure where the persons are coming or going and the pivotal idea is scarcely credible. [2]

Finally, Hall criticized the film's "general lack of intelligence" and the narrative, which "runs from one scene to another with too much threatening talk and an ineffectual misunderstanding between Glenister and Helen Chester, who are in love with each other." [2]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Betty Compson</span> American actress (1897–1974)

Betty Compson was an American actress and film producer who got her start during Hollywood's silent era. She is best known for her performances in The Docks of New York and The Barker, the latter of which earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anna Q. Nilsson</span> Swedish-American actress (1888–1974)

Anna Quirentia Nilsson was a Swedish-American actress who achieved success in American silent movies.

Spoiler or Spoilers may refer to:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rockford Peaches</span> Minor league baseball team

The Rockford Peaches were a women's professional baseball team who played from 1943 through 1954 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. A founding member, the team represented Rockford, Illinois.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rex Beach</span> American writer and water polo player

Rex Ellingwood Beach was an American novelist, playwright, and Olympic water polo player.

<i>The Spoilers</i> (1914 film) 1914 film

The Spoilers is a 1914 American silent Western film directed by Colin Campbell. The film is set in Nome, Alaska during the 1898 Gold Rush, with William Farnum as Roy Glennister, Kathlyn Williams as Cherry Malotte, and Tom Santschi as Alex McNamara. The film culminates in a spectacular saloon fistfight between Glennister and McNamara. In 1916, an expanded version was released, running 110 minutes.

<i>The Spoilers</i> (1923 film) 1923 film

The Spoilers is a 1923 American silent Western film directed by Lambert Hillyer. It is set in Nome, Alaska during the 1898 Gold Rush, with Milton Sills as Roy Glennister, Anna Q. Nilsson as Cherry Malotte, and Noah Beery Sr. as Alex McNamara. The film culminates in a saloon fistfight between Glennister and McNamara.

<i>The Spoilers</i> (1942 film) 1942 film by Ray Enright

The Spoilers is a 1942 American Western film directed by Ray Enright and starring Marlene Dietrich, Randolph Scott and John Wayne.

<i>The Spoilers</i> (1955 film) 1955 film by Jesse Hibbs

The Spoilers is a 1955 American Western film directed by Jesse Hibbs and starring Anne Baxter, Jeff Chandler and Rory Calhoun. Set in Nome, Alaska during the 1898 Gold Rush, it culminates in a spectacular saloon fistfight between Glennister (Chandler) and McNamara (Calhoun).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Farnum</span> American actor (1876–1953)

William Farnum was an American actor. He was a star of American silent cinema, and he became one of the highest-paid actors during this time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kay Johnson</span> American actress (1904–1975)

Catherine Townsend Johnson was an American stage and film actress.

<i>The Miracle Man</i> (1919 film) 1919 film by George Loane Tucker

The Miracle Man is a 1919 American silent drama film starring Lon Chaney and based on a 1914 play by George M. Cohan, which in turn is based on the novel of the same title by Frank L. Packard. The film was released by Paramount Pictures, directed, produced, and written by George Loane Tucker, and also stars Thomas Meighan and Betty Compson. The film made overnight successes of the three stars, most notably putting Chaney on the map as a character actor.

<i>I Take This Woman</i> (1931 film) 1931 film

I Take This Woman is a 1931 American pre-Code romance film directed by Marion Gering and starring Gary Cooper and Carole Lombard.

<i>Halls of Anger</i> 1970 film by Paul Bogart

Halls of Anger is a 1970 American drama film directed by Paul Bogart, and starring Calvin Lockhart, Janet MacLachlan, Jeff Bridges and James A. Watson Jr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nome Gold Rush</span> Gold rush in Nome, Alaska, approximately 1899–1909

The Nome Gold Rush was a gold rush in Nome, Alaska, approximately 1899–1909. It is separated from other gold rushes by the ease with which gold could be obtained. Much of the gold was lying in the beach sand of the landing place and could be recovered without any need for a claim. Nome was a sea port without a harbor, and the biggest town in Alaska.

<i>The Case of Sergeant Grischa</i> (film) 1930 film

The Case of Sergeant Grischa is a 1930 American pre-Code drama film directed by Herbert Brenon, based on the German novel of the same name by Arnold Zweig. John Tribby was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Sound Recording. No known copy of this film exists and is considered lost, the only sound film to have been nominated for an Oscar and subsequently suffered this fate.

<i>The Spoilers</i> (Beach novel)

The Spoilers (1906) is a novel by Rex Beach based in Alaska that was one of the best selling novels of 1906.

<i>Why Sailors Go Wrong</i> 1928 film

Why Sailors Go Wrong is a 1928 American silent comedy film directed by Henry Lehrman and written by Randall Faye and Delos Sutherland. The film stars Sammy Cohen, Ted McNamara, Sally Phipps, Nick Stuart, E. H. Calvert, and Carl Miller. The film was released on March 25, 1928, by Fox Film Corporation.

Killer at Large is a 1936 American mystery film directed by David Selman from a script by Harold Shumate. The film stars Mary Brian, Russell Hardie, Thurston Hall and Henry Brandon as the villain, Mr. Zero. Lon Chaney Jr. appears in a small uncredited role.

References

  1. 1 2 Hal Erickson. "The Spoilers (1930)". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times . Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Hall, Mordaunt (September 20, 1930). "Nome in 1900". The New York Times. Retrieved September 18, 2012.