Spoilers The (1942)
Spoilers The (1942)
Directed by Ray Enright and based on a novel by Rex Beach with a screenplay by Lawrence Hazard & Tom Reed this wildly entertaining Western remake stars Marlene Dietrich Randolph Scott and John Wayne. Universal Pictures would team these three once again later that same year in Pittsburgh (1942). The sometimes complicated story was first made in 1914 and again in 1923 within the silent film era then in the sound era with Gary Cooper (the role Wayne plays) in 1930 and once again in (Technicolor) 1955 with Anne Baxter Rory Calhoun and Jeff Chandler (respectively). This one received an Academy Award nomination for its B&W Art Direction-Interior Decoration.
Dietrich plays Cherry Malotte the saloon owner in muddy Nome Alaska which is still wild with gold rush-type prospecting and the only law seems to be crooked claim jumping (e.g. "legal" injunctions). Scott plays Alexander McNamara the new gold commission inspector in town who may or may not be a solution to the problem. Obviously he takes an instant interest in the beautiful Cherry who also owns an interest in the town’s biggest mine The Midas along with Al Dextry (Harry Carey) and the man she loves but can’t control Roy Glennister (Wayne). Cherry’s right hand man in her saloon business is Bronco Kid Farrow (Richard Barthelmess) who too loves Cherry and is therefore jealous of Roy. But Bronco takes Cherry to meet Roy’s arriving boat where both are surprised that he’s escorting a pretty lady Helen Chester (Margaret Lindsay) whose uncle is Judge Horace Stillman (Samuel Hinds) the new law in these parts. Russell Simpson plays Flapjack Sims a miner with a small claim who also works for Roy; Marietta Canty plays Cherry’s long time servant Idabelle. Charles Halton plays Jonathan Stuve who works with/for McNamara. Irving Bacon appears briefly and uncredited as a hotel manager; Willie Fung also appears uncredited as a Chinaman in jail.
A detailed telling of the plot would reveal too much (and dare I say spoil it) suffice it to say that Helen McNamara Stillman and Stuve are in cahoots and not what they seem. There’s perhaps a bit too much intrigue e.g. the subplot involving the Bronco Kid his knife (was he going to do something with it?) and a "who shot the sheriff" loose end but everything moves along pretty quickly with non-stop action that culminates in a big brawl between its two alpha males Wayne & Scott over Dietrich … winner take all.