JohnHowardReid A Charles K. Feldman Group Production for Frank Lloyd Productions, Inc. Copyright 15 April 1942 by Universal Pictures Co., Inc. New York opening at the Capitol: 21 May 1942. U.S. release: 8 May 1942. U.K. release through General Film Distributors: 13 July 1942. Australian release: 17 June 1943. 7,914 feet. 87 minutes.SYNOPSIS: A bogus gold commissioner and a crooked judge gain control of an Alaskan gold mine.NOTES: Fourth of five versions of The Spoilers. The others were made in 1914, 1923, 1930 and 1955. William Farnum, who plays the lawyer Wheaton in this one, starred as Glennister in the 1914 movie, while Lloyd Ingraham who plays a minor role here was Judge Stillman in the 1930 Gary Cooper-William Boyd version. Other Roy Glennisters were Milton Stills in 1923 and Jeff Chandler in 1955. McNamara was played by Tom Santschi, Noah Beery, William "Stage" Boyd, Randolph Scott and finally Rory Calhoun. The 1923 film was directed by Lambert Hillyer, while Edwin Carewe took control in 1930. Jesse Hibbs handled the 1955 film. This one was nominated for an award from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for its black-and-white Art Direction, but lost to This Above All.COMMENT: Good to see this one again. True, the climactic fist fight in which Wayne and Scott are helped out by doubles, Eddie Parker and Alan Pomeroy, now seems somewhat less exciting. But it's hard to dim the allure of Miss Dietrich at her zenith (even if the script oddly fails to provide her with a single song, despite ample opportunities for same), whilst Scott is especially convincing as the villain. (Was this the only time he played a heavy?) Wayne of course is Wayne, but he is helped out by Harry Carey and a grand support cast. We could go through the list of players, commending people right, left and center, but we'll limit ourselves to a special pat on the back for Richard Barthelmess. The script packs in plenty of humor. The approach is often light-hearted with in-jokes ("Lee Marcus just checked out") including a guest appearance by Robert W. Service. The direction by Ray Enright is surprisingly fluid, and production values are nothing short of lavish.COMMENT ON A SECOND VIEWING: This Spoilers holds up rather well. The pace is fast, packing in plenty of action and even a few intentional laughs. Spectacularly filmed on an extremely lavish budget, with remarkably authentic-looking sets that were justly nominated for a prestigious Hollywood Award, this version also features an outstanding cast. Not only are the principals exciting, but many of the character players including favorites like Russell Simpson, Jack Norton, William Haade and Charles Halton are given some great opportunities to shine. Good to see Samuel S. Hinds excelling himself on the wrong side of the law for once. Ditto Margaret Lindsay. Of course Richard Barthelmess is always interesting, and we love Harry Carey too. Directed with marvelous pace and a fluid camera style by Ray Enright, of all people, but he was doubtless heavily strong-armed by producer Frank Mutiny on the Bounty Lloyd. The three main stars deserve cheers. Three cheers for the stars. Three cheers for the support players. Three cheers for the writers and all the technical personnel. Five out of five stars for the movie.

SanteeFats This is one of John Wayne's better movies. Harry Carey is good support as the older partner with the fiery temper. Randolph Scott appears as the bad guy of the movie which surprised me as I thought he always played good guys. The fight scene up and down the street between the two is pretty good. This entire scene was choreographed by the two of them and then they did the whole thing without stunt doubles. I have never understood Marlene Dietrich's draw as a sex symbol. She is not that appealing to me, but I was born after her hay day. Scott's character tries for a major gold mine grab with the help of a crooked almost judge. Of course this fails in the end and then that excellent fight scene pretty much closes the show.

zardoz-13 John Wayne and Marlene Dietrich made three movies together. Director Ray Enright's "The Spoilers" was the second one they co-starred in after Tay Garnett's "Seven Sinners" (1940) and then later Lewis Seiler's "Pittsburgh." Furthermore, "The Spoilers" was the second time that Randolph Scott co-starred with Wayne. The action takes place in Nome, Alaska, in 1900, when a new Gold Commissioner and a judge arrive in town. As Cherry Malotte, Dietrich is not only the most popular dame in town but also she operates a saloon. Wayne is cast as heroic protagonist Roy Glennister. He is a partner in a mine with Dextry (Harry Carey of "Angel and the Badman") who refuses to let a crooked judge take away their mind. Cherry and Roy are an item until Roy returns from Seattle with a sweet-looking gal who turns out to be the judge's daughter. It doesn't take Judge Horace Stillman (Samuel S. Hinds of "Cobra Woman") long to turn the town upside down with the corrupt gold commissioner Alexander McNamara (Randolph Scott of "Virginia City") and before long, they convince Roy to let them check up on the legitimacy of their mine. Shotgun toting hard-case Dextry would rather shoot than let the villains have their way, but Roy considers himself a law-abiding citizen, especially after the solemn judge assure him that they will clear matters up in no time. Meanwhile, Cherry isn't too happy with Helen Chester (Margaret Lindsay) and the effect that she is having on Roy. Helen is living in a fantasy until she discovers that Alexander and her father are a couple of chiseling thieves. Things come to a head when the law throws Roy in jail and the villains decide to let him escape so he can run smack into an ambush. Happily, Cherry and her henchman, Bronco Kid Farrow (Richard Barthelmess of "Only Angels Have Wings"), have their own surprise. Director Ray Enright stages fistfights, shoot-outs, and train crashes with appropriate gusto in this World War II era western. "The Spoilers" represents one of those rare times when Randolph Scott played a villain.

Bucs1960 This filming of the oft told Rex Beach tale is a knock down, drag 'em out, shoot 'em up story of a group of your favorite players, transported from the old West to the Alaska gold rush. And it is a whole bunch of fun.You just can't beat the cast.....even to the small parts such as Russell Simpson as Flapjack and the consummate drunk Jack Norton as Skinner. Of course, the main characters, Wayne, Dietrich and Scott are the focal points which pull the story together. They are at their best with Dietrich as the sassy dance hall owner: Randolph Scott playing against type as a unapologetic scoundrel: and Margaret Lindsay,usually the sweet virginal type is also against type here as a schemer with a heart of gold (well, sort of).But there is something about Richard Barthelmess that kept my attention. Here was an Oscar winner (The Patent Leather Kid), who was as big as they got during the silent era but just couldn't seem to make the transition to talkies (with the exception of "Only Angels Have Wings"). And I'm not sure why.....it wasn't his looks, his voice or his acting style. Maybe he just didn't age well (he was only 47 when this film was made but looked older). Whatever the case, he does a good job here but you know from the beginning that he has to die somewhere along the line.....and sure enough, he does.The film includes one of the most famous fights scenes in movie history between Wayne and Scott (although the use of stunt doubles is pretty obvious). They brawl upstairs, downstairs, on the stairs, and out the door. It's a dandy. It's a rousing, good time film that is worth watching......I like it!!