1966 - NEVADA SMITH, is a good Western

A young man avenges the death of his parents in this western film from Henry Hathaway.

Hathaway and his cinematographer Lucien Ballard put together a very good looking film on magnificent locations in the Inyo National Forest.  The supporting cast is a great bunch of old school Hollywood actors featuring Karl Malden, Martin Landau, Brian Keith, Suzanne Pleshette, Raf Vallone, Howard De Silva, Iron Eyes Cody, Arthur Kennedy and Paul Fix. 

Probably the only negative things about it are the episodic screenplay from John Michael Hayes, and the "johnny one note" performance of Steve McQueen

Nevada Smith is a starring vehicle for Steve McQueen but he doesn't seem very interesting in starring in it.  He hardly registers any emotion and for a revenge story he doesn't seem very vengeful.  In fact he barely seems to have an interest in anything in the film McQueen's just going through the motions  He always was kind of an oddball personality in the movies.  

Still, this film is entertaining.  Henry Hathaway was a very good director.  Nevada Smith has some good action scenes and an excellent supporting cast backing up McQueen.  To repeat the point, this is a very good looking film shot in widescreen.

128 minutes.