| The Spoilers | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Directed by | Jesse Hibbs |
| Screenplay by | Oscar Brodney Charles Hoffman |
| Based on | The Spoilers 1906 novel/play byRex Beach |
| Produced by | Ross Hunter |
| Starring | Anne Baxter Jeff Chandler Rory Calhoun |
| Cinematography | Maury Gertsman |
| Edited by | Paul Weatherwax |
| Color process | Technicolor |
Production company | Universal International Pictures |
| Distributed by | Universal Pictures |
Release date |
|
Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1.4 million (US)[1] |
The Spoilers is a 1955 AmericanWestern film directed byJesse Hibbs and starringAnne Baxter,Jeff Chandler andRory Calhoun. Set inNome, Alaska during the 1898 Gold Rush, it culminates in a spectacular saloon fistfight between Glennister (Chandler) and McNamara (Calhoun).
This is the fifth and to date final adaptation ofRex Beach'snovel of the same name. Prior film versions appearedin 1914,in 1923 (withNoah Beery, Sr. as McNamara),in 1930 (withGary Cooper as Glennister andBetty Compson as Malotte), andin 1942 (withJohn Wayne as Glennister, Betty CompsonlookalikeMarlene Dietrich as Malotte, andRandolph Scott as McNamara). The 1930 and 1942 versions were the only instances of Gary Cooper and John Wayne playing the same role in the same story in two different films; Jeff Chandler portrays the part in this version.
Struggling miners Flapjack and Banty go to the office of Alex McNamara, the new gold commissioner inNome, Alaska, to complain about claim jumpers. He isn't there, so they drown their sorrows at Cherry Malotte's gambling house and saloon.
Cherry looks ready to steal the men's claim herself in Alex's office when he suddenly appears. He assures her Judge Stillman is on his way to Nome to review all legal matters regarding the mines.
When a ship arrives bringing her sweetheart Roy Glennister back to town, Cherry runs out eagerly to meet it, to the jealousy of Blackie, her croupier. To her anger, Roy is traveling with an attractive stranger, Helen Chester. An irate Cherry leaves in a huff with Roy's co-owner of a nearby mine, Dextry.
Roy insists he still loves Cherry, but she slaps his face. Alex and the newly arrived Judge Stillman set out to survey and inspect Roy's mine, insisting it will take weeks before any claims can be settled. Roy is shocked to observe that Alex, the Judge and Helen are all conspirators to steal the miners' claims.
Blackie shoots the town marshal and makes sure Roy is blamed and arrested for it. A jailbreak is arranged, but Cherry rushes to warn Roy of what she has learned from Helen, that as soon as he escapes, Alex is planning to ambush Roy and make it look like a lawful shooting.
A shootout between Alex and the miners ensues. Blackie dies, but not before confessing to the sheriff's murder, while Roy and Alex end up in a knockdown, drag-out fistfight. Cherry and Roy ultimately end up happily in love and in legal possession of the mine.
The film starred Anne Baxter, Jeff Chandler and Rory Calhoun.[2]Robert Arthur was originally to produce and he supervised the script and original casting, but was replaced by Ross Hunter.[3]