The Spoilers (1955)
Country: US
Technical: Technicolor 84m
Director: Jesse Hibbs
Cast: Anne Baxter, Jeff Chandler, Rory Calhoun, Ray Danton, John McIntire
Synopsis:
In 1890s Alaska, a crooked gold commissioner conspires with a phoney judge and lawyer to swindle miners out of their claims, but the saloon owner eventually comes to her senses and rescues her beau from their clutches.
Review:
Fourth remake of this unaccountably popular Gold Rush tale, and the second from Universal, with Baxter given the thankless task of stepping into Dietrich's shoes. She does a half decent job, dressed to kill in a series of alluring gowns, though it was perhaps unwise to include a song number (she is voiced). The rest of the team, bar the ever excellent McIntire, is similarly a step down from Wayne and Scott, and the famous saloon brawl feels like it is simply going through the paces. Still, Ross Hunter's production was doubtless justified as being the first in colour, though interestingly not in scope, and it does look pretty good. What's more, Chandler is an affable and authoritative leading man and Hibbs keeps the film ticking along at a decent pace. On the debit side, Calhoun and Danton are just too 1950s in looks, and some of the broader comedic touches are distracting.
Country: US
Technical: Technicolor 84m
Director: Jesse Hibbs
Cast: Anne Baxter, Jeff Chandler, Rory Calhoun, Ray Danton, John McIntire
Synopsis:
In 1890s Alaska, a crooked gold commissioner conspires with a phoney judge and lawyer to swindle miners out of their claims, but the saloon owner eventually comes to her senses and rescues her beau from their clutches.
Review:
Fourth remake of this unaccountably popular Gold Rush tale, and the second from Universal, with Baxter given the thankless task of stepping into Dietrich's shoes. She does a half decent job, dressed to kill in a series of alluring gowns, though it was perhaps unwise to include a song number (she is voiced). The rest of the team, bar the ever excellent McIntire, is similarly a step down from Wayne and Scott, and the famous saloon brawl feels like it is simply going through the paces. Still, Ross Hunter's production was doubtless justified as being the first in colour, though interestingly not in scope, and it does look pretty good. What's more, Chandler is an affable and authoritative leading man and Hibbs keeps the film ticking along at a decent pace. On the debit side, Calhoun and Danton are just too 1950s in looks, and some of the broader comedic touches are distracting.
Country: US
Technical: Technicolor 84m
Director: Jesse Hibbs
Cast: Anne Baxter, Jeff Chandler, Rory Calhoun, Ray Danton, John McIntire
Synopsis:
In 1890s Alaska, a crooked gold commissioner conspires with a phoney judge and lawyer to swindle miners out of their claims, but the saloon owner eventually comes to her senses and rescues her beau from their clutches.
Review:
Fourth remake of this unaccountably popular Gold Rush tale, and the second from Universal, with Baxter given the thankless task of stepping into Dietrich's shoes. She does a half decent job, dressed to kill in a series of alluring gowns, though it was perhaps unwise to include a song number (she is voiced). The rest of the team, bar the ever excellent McIntire, is similarly a step down from Wayne and Scott, and the famous saloon brawl feels like it is simply going through the paces. Still, Ross Hunter's production was doubtless justified as being the first in colour, though interestingly not in scope, and it does look pretty good. What's more, Chandler is an affable and authoritative leading man and Hibbs keeps the film ticking along at a decent pace. On the debit side, Calhoun and Danton are just too 1950s in looks, and some of the broader comedic touches are distracting.