User Reviews

A young man seeks revenge for the brutal murder of his parents. It's generally well made, but can't overcome a big casting flaw. The title character is supposed to be a teen-aged half-breed. Unfortunately, he's played by 36-year-old blonde-haired, blue-eyed McQueen. It's hard to buy when he is repeatedly referred to as a kid and a half-breed. McQueen tries to act young, but acting like a man half his age makes him appear mentally retarded. The film goes on too long, with an extended prison sequence (stangely reminiscent of "Papillon," which McQueen would star in seven years later) that seems out of place in a Western. The impressive cast is chock full of familiar faces.

Henry Hathaway was a versatile director whose Westerns have been as variable in quality as his other films...

Hathaway's best Westerns have all come in the fifties, beginning with the very credible 'Rawhide,' with Tyrone Power, and continuing with 'Garden of Evil,' the highly enjoyable burlesque 'North to Alaska,' most of 'How the West Was Won,' 'The Sons of Katie Elder,' 'Five Card Stud,' and 'True Grit.'

Hathaway's strong points are atmosphere, character and authentic locations... The little known 'From Hell to Texas' is quoted by those who have seen it as Hathaway's best Western on these three counts, a film directed with profound feeling for the deliberate pace and loneliness of the real West...

'Nevada Smith' is actually a strong and revealing study of the regeneration of one man... The film makes an excellent double bill with Marlon Brando's sole effort as director, 'One-Eyed Jacks.'

'Nevada Smith' is an exciting premise, taught and tight... It is not a motion picture to dismiss or forget... It is one of the first films to apply the contemporary standards of sex and violence to an Old West setting... The film is based on a story by John Michael Hayes, two-time Academy Award nominated screenwriter for 'Rear Window,' and 'Peyton Place.'

The film lingers in the mind because of its visual beauty and the intensity of some of its scenes, particularly between McQueen and Malden, two knowing actors playing together with the skill of champion chess players...

Hathaway sets up his atmosphere of dramatic tension right at the start... With a horse, a rifle, and 8 dollars, McQueen is a half-white teen-aged whose only desire is to hunt down his parents vicious killers... All helpless, he vows to dispatch the three 'bravados' one by one... He even gets himself thrown into prison just to gun one of them down...

With the help of a gun merchant (Brian Keith), McQueen learns how to shoot a gun and sets out the chase where the money is... He rides off alone, blinded by a compulsion that obscures his other motive for living: 'I don't see nothing, except my father laying on a covered-floor all burnt and cut with the top of his head blown to pieces, and my mother split up in the middle and every square inch of her skin ripped off.'

Steve McQueen recreates the type of role he had played in 'Wanted: Dead or Alive.' He is effective in his hesitant, self-conscious way, eager to be a firm gunfighter and almost as inept... He has little more sense of character than Ladd in Edward Dmytryk's 'The Carpetbaggers' but has a tension which made the film interesting to watch...

Brian Keith is excellent as the father figure who adopts McQueen... He is sincere in warning the young avenger that in order to catch and kill these men, he will have to comb out every saloon, gambling hall, hog farm and whorehouse, and become just as despicable as they are... Keith comes out a star with his quiet, sure, graceful underplaying... As he instructs McQueen, it was clear that he knows not only his guns but human nature..

Suzanne Pleshette, standing knee deep in water, is the pretty girl, able to escape from the terrors of her environment into the poetry of her reveries... Both a sinner and a saint, Pilar adds humanity to Max world...

With a knife in his hand, and a scar on his neck, Martin Landau is the psychotic womanizer, a morose, evil character, caught in Abelene dealing cards in a saloon...

Arthur Kennedy - friendly, smiling, charming and smooth-talking on the surface, weak and corrupt underneath - is the frightened villain swamped by a storm of revenge...

Karl Malden is the cynical badman who depreciates his gold before his executioner...

Raf Vallone is the good priest who wants his young avenging hunter to take a deep look into his heart...

Pat Hingle is the prisoner in custody with gun and whip, who takes great pleasure and delight in breaking his companions by beating them up...

Howard da Silva is the ruthless warden who assures his prisoners that the swamp is their wall... Miles and miles of it, filled of dirty water, quicksand, razorbacks, poison snakes, mosquitoes and malaria...

Janet Margolin is the dance hall girl uncertain of the identity of one of the dangerous murderers...

Joanna Cook Moore is the grateful saloon girl who offers herself to Max...

Rick Roman is Cipriano, the bandit who warns seriously his companion not to harm Father Zaccardi...

Ted de Corsia is the bartender who wants the two contenders to calm down in order to find out the truth..

The expertise before the cameras and behind it, plus McQueen's dynamic presence, makes 'Nevada Smith' a respectable entry in the annals of the best Westerns...

What I think is the biggest problem with Nevada Smith is casting a 40 year old blond with blue eyes to play a 16 year old half Native American. It is distracting throughout the whole story. Sometimes it is even ludicrous because a couple of times people seem to recognize on sight that he is Native American. Couldn't they have at least dyed his hair black and give him some contact lenses for Pete's sake? And what was supposed to be a sweet "coming of age" scene with the young Native American girl just looked WRONG. Steve McQueen was a good actor and all, but throughout the whole movie I was using my imagination replacing him with a young Bronson or someone a little more appropriate to the character he was playing.

NEVADA SMITH is a long-winded revenge tale encompassing chapters in a man's quest for revenge. The first chapter is the most interesting--with BRIAN KEITH showing "the kid" (STEVE McQUEEN) something about handling a gun as a gunslinger should who's looking to avenge the killers of his parents.

As the killers--MARTIN LANDAU, ARTHUR KENNEDY and KARL MALDEN--give tough, gritty performances and each is slated to be avenged for the killing of Nevada Smith's parents.

But the last half of the film sags under the tacked on spiritual saga with RAF VALLONE preaching the Bible to "the kid", who promises to "keep it in mind" before he goes off to find the third man, KARL MALDEN.

It's all directed in typical Henry Hathaway fashion--ruggedly staged action against gorgeous scenic backgrounds. It's a role that suits STEVE McQUEEN as perfectly as any of his best parts. He's especially good in the early segment as the uneducated kid who comes under the tutoring of BRIAN KEITH as Jonas Cord.

The swamp scenes, where McQueen gets himself sent to prison so he can locate Arthur Kennedy, almost seem like segments from another movie he made with Dustin Hoffman--PAPILLON. HOWARD DaSILVA and PAT HINGLE play the brutal warden and his helpmate in brutal fashion. SUZANNE PLESHETTE is rather unlikely as a doomed native girl in an underwritten role.

Summing up: A revenge tale that could have been trimmed by at least 30 minutes to make a tighter western.

After witnessing the brutal massacre of his family , a young man (Steve McQueen) set out a personal vengeance against a hideous band (the trio formed by Martin Landau , Karl Malden , Arthur Kennedy) . He swears revenge and will do pay one by one the murderers . He carries the vengeance in his heart after seeing his family butchered . Previous rules of the code of west are dated , he is nowadays guided by vendetta . The protagonist combines raw ferocity , toughness and untamed youth . He learns about the life with the experience only a master gun-fighter (Brian Keith) can offer . He is going after those who killed them . He travels the southwestern and goes to Abilene as cowboy . In this cattle town the rowdy , free-spending cowboys attracted saloon keepers , gambling houses , brothels with prostitutes (Janet Margolin) and all types of frontier men , the city became notorious for its lawlessness and vice , there he found his main enemy (Martin Landau) . Later on , he goes to Northern and crosses paths to track down and hunt foes . He is become an outlaw with a price on his head and carries out bank robbery , murders and being severely wounded . But he is trapped . He is imprisoned in a prisoner camp that is a hell on the earth , the inmates are tortured , harassed and humiliated by the wardens (Pat Hingle , Howard Da Silva) in a gaol where rules the strongest law . He along with a convict (Arthur Kennedy) and helped by a gorgeous young woman( Suzanne Pleshette) are involving the preparatives for the scape . He also meets a good priest (Raf Vallone), explaining him a moralising speech.

This is a violent , lengthy Western based on the character created by Harold Robbins in ¨The Carpetbaggers ¨(adapted to cinema by Edward Dimitrick with George Peppard) . In the movie there is action , tension , adventures , violence and results to be quite entertaining . The great Steve McQueen gives a very good acting in his peculiar style . Support cast is frankly awesome , such as : Brian Keith , Raf Vallone , Pat Hingle , Howard Da Silva , Janet Margolin , Martin Landau , Paul Fix , John Doucette , Gene Evans , among others . The picture is well photographed , including magnificently detailed outdoors and stunning locations in glittering colour . As it packs an evocative and colorful cinematography in Technicolor by Lucien Ballard . Excellent music by the veteran and classic Alfred Newman . The motion picture was finely directed by Henry Hathaway (True grit, Five sons of Katie Elder) .

A young man (Steve McQueen) chases and seeks revenge on the three outlaws (Karl Malden, Arthur Kennedy and Martin Landau) that butchered his mother and father.

"Nevada Smith" starts as a real interesting and good western but somehow it looses strength as it runs. I think it is a very well handled film up to the moment when McQueen gets the first one. From then on the film becomes sort of standard and the highly expected final showdown between McQueen and Malden is sort of soft and lacks impact.

Steve McQueen shows his undeniable screen personality as the young avenger and Karl Malden makes a very good villain (as usual). Arthur Kennedy, Martin Landau and Brian Keith (as a gun trader) render fine performances too. The feminine ingredient is brought by a correct Suzanne Pleshette.

"Nevada Smith" is an entertaining and watchable film in the genre but it starts in a much higher level than the one it ends.

This was a western with a good cast and another intense, interesting revenge story. It's fairly long at 130 minutes but Steve McQueen is usually charismatic enough to carry a film, and he does so here, too.

As the title character, "Nevada Smith," McQueen is joined by a number of well- known actors of the 1960s: Suzanne Pleshette, Karl Malden, Brian Keith, Arthur Kennedy, Raf Vallone, Martin Landau Janet Margolin and Pat Hingle.

McQueen plays a man who is totally dominated by thoughts of revenge. It motivates his every move. I don't recommend that attitude, but it makes for a good movie.

It was nice to see this in 2:35:1 widescreen. Even though I owned a new tape, that nice western photography made the DVD purchase worthwhile.

Henry Hathaway directs this successful, but lumpy, wayward western-drama scripted by John Michael Hayes, featuring a title character originally introduced in Harold Robbins' book "The Carpetbaggers" (making this film a prequel of sorts). Steve McQueen is the young half-breed avenging the deaths of his parents by heartless cowboys Karl Malden and Arthur Kennedy; Brian Keith plays a mentoring, sympathetic gun-salesman who teaches Steve how to shoot; Suzanne Pleshette is a love-interest from the backwoods. Overripe scenario gets big boost from charismatic McQueen, excellent as usual. The supporting work from the men is also strong, though attractive Pleshette hasn't gotten a handle on her role and remains a puzzlement. The story strays all over the place, but Hathaway's pacing never drags and it's quite a good show for both western-buffs and soap fans. **1/2 from ****

More than a Western indeed, perhaps a straight forward revenge drama in substance? But it is also a fine character study of a man coming to terms with growing up faster than he ever thought he would have to. What makes the film smart and lifts it above average are the structured segments, as director Henry Hathaway weaves a potent and interesting story by making each part of Nevada Smith/Max Sand's journey an involving character piece, one that puts you firmly on side with the protagonist and his vengeful quest.

Credit has to go to McQueen for putting great gusto into the character when it was badly needed, for to save the film from being standard fare we need the leading man to involve us in his troubled and confused state, thankfully he does this with bells on. The locations and sets put gloss on the story and in the main the rest of the cast do very well, however, I'm one of the few amateur reviewers who feels that Karl Malden just doesn't cut it as the chief villain of the piece. I feel the character who carried out these vile crimes should have been far more menacing than the shaky overplayed villain that Malden gives us.

Nevada Smith brings great action sequences, a memorable story, and an ending that brings the character full circle. These things that combine to give us an involving entertainment that stars a great leading man, who in turn is directed with very professional and genre knowing hands. 8/10

Henry Hathaways's 1966 western epic, Nevada Smith features many majestic shots of the rough and rugged terrain of the American west. Steve McQueen is excellent as the young (he really does not look the least bit young, I think he is supposed to be about 16 years old!) survivor when his mixed marriage parents are murdered and skinned by a band of outlaws led by a very evil Karl Malden.

The revenge plot is quite straight forward as McQueen embarks on a cross-country jaunt to seek out and destroy the killers of his parents. The swamp prison scene (with escape) is excellent as his eventual run in with Karl Malden...the ending, which is influenced by McQueens meeting with a monk (Raf Vallone) is quite different and unusual; particularly for a western.

Other members of a great supporting cast include Martin Landau, Suzanne Pleshette and Brian Keith as a gun salesman are all outstanding.

What makes this movie so much better than most westerns is the cast. Every speaking part is handled by a true professional and although the story line has been much used over the years, everyone should view this movie to enjoy one great performance after another. Steve McQueen, Brian Keith, Karl Malden, Arthur Kennedy, Susan Pleshette, John Doucette, you just don't get a finer cast than that. This is a must see for all serious film buffs. I rated this an 8.

A naive half-Indian, half-white teenager (Steve McQueen) evolves into a hardened killer as he tracks down his parents' murderers.

In the world of "revenge films", you have many that fall into the category of exploitation. This one rises above that and is much more nuanced, with some memorable characters. It also attempts to make comments on race and gender, though how successful it is on that is up to the viewer to decide.

How much does our protagonist rise above the revenge inside him? Well, in some ways he is pretty set in his ways. When presented with the Bible (which, amazingly, he had never heard of), all he takes from it is the "eye for an eye" bit. Maybe he never got to the New Testament.

This sidebar story from Harold Robbins THE CARPETBAGGERS was given class treatment by Paramount as a vehicle for McQueen, who lends some authenticity to a rather routine character motivated by a quest to avenge the brutal slaying of his parents at the beginning of the picture. Henry Hathaway lends visual elegance to what's basically a drawn-out, seedy revenge tale. Alfred Newman provides the rousing music. Moderately engaging.

Come on. He was what...40?? pretending to be a kid. "yeah, act like a kid Steve". and it didn't work.

The film is entertaining, I enjoyed it. But it was pretty light on

When his parents are killed for the money they don't even have, a man wants to track down the killers one by one. Great acting, nice scenery, and lots of action. I related to the vengeance theme of the film; I would have wanted to waste the thugs too. Good production.

I saw this for the first time in the early 90s. Revisited it few days back.

Nevada Smith (Steve McQueen) sets out to find and kill the men responsible for the torture n murder of his parents. On his trail, he is taught how to shoot, play cards n track outlaws by an ammunition expert n businessman. Smith is so hell bent on revenge that he robs a bank to get himself imprisoned so that he can execute one of the fella serving time in a prison. McQueen is in good form inspite of many reviewers stating that he is being miscast regarding the age. The cinematography makes full use of the locations. The swamps of Lousiana is always enticing for me. The fight sequence between the characters of McQueen n Martin Landau is tension filled when the cattle goes berserk but became a bit hilarious when the character of McQueen keeps jumping here n there on the fence evading the knife attacks.

The poster has McQueen shirtless with a gun on his back across the shoulders. Well, the film lacks any such scene.

Jackie Chan's Revenge aka Fearless Hyena copied a scene from this film. In this film, the character of McQueen himself shows the address of his parents to the outlaws who later kill his parents. In Chan's film, the character of Chan shows the address of his grand pop to the evil kung fu master who later kills his grandfather. Both the characters r trained by mentors before they embark on their path of vengeance.

"Max Sand" (Steve McQueen) is getting water from a creek 3 miles from his home when 3 drifters ride up and ask him if he knows a man named "Sam Sand" (Gene Evans). He tells them that Sam is his father and they ask him where he lives. Not suspecting anything out of the ordinary he tells them. They head out in that direction but then all of a sudden chase his horse away and then gallop towards his home. By the time Max finally gathers his horse and gets back to his home his father and Kiowa mother have been tortured and killed. Even though he's young and inexperienced he swears revenge and rides off after them. Anyway, while not necessarily a blockbuster film, it does have some interesting scenes and a host of good actors and actresses. And although I didn't especially care for the ending, I did enjoy the performances of Brian Keith (as "Jonas Cord"), Karl Malden ("Tom Fitch") and Suzanne Pleshette ("Pilar"). In short, this is a decent western and I recommend it for those who enjoy this genre.

Every time this film is shown on TV, I just have to watch this amazing Western with many great actors too long to mention. Steve McQueen (Nevada Smith),"The Hunter",'80 went from a Work Camp in the Swamps to the Cowboy Country trying to track down a great actor Karl Malden(Tom Fitch),"On The Waterfront",'54, who played a hateful person who destroyed Nevada Smith's family and forced him to seek revenge. Suzanne Pleshette (Pilar, Cajun Girl),"Hot Stuff",'79 helped Nevada obtain a boat to help him through the swamps despite a horrible snake bite and many horrible encounters. Howard DaSilva (Warden of the Work Camp),"1776",'72(Ben Franklin), was a horrible Warden with many cruel ways and definitely out for Nevada Smith's blood. If you love good Westerns with great Classic actors, don't miss this film!

I really don't watch western movies in last decades. There is barely anything real good among new ones, and with this I just hoped that it could be great, was attracted by cast - Steve McQueen, Janet Margolin - always adorable, Karl Malden, Martin Landau ... And start was fine, even if I wandered why they call him boy, Indian . After about some 40-50 minutes it looked that will be more than just some revenge story. And it was, but not enough. Surely, Western is not where some deep life thoughts come in, but some parts were really undeveloped, end that was mostly in last 40 minutes. But first hour was fine. Worst part was that joining of gang at the end - some actions were really not logical, especially by main villain. Many complained here about miscast, and indeed, strange idea to cast some about 40 years, blonde actor to play some 17 years, half Indian. Janet Margolin was at least OK for it. Also, hard to believe that they did not recognize each other.

All in all, I was pretty disappointed at end, too much strange behavior, lack of logic. Sorry, only 5/10.