The Spoilers *** (1930, Gary Cooper, William Boyd, Betty Compson, Kay Johnson) – Classic Movie Review 5523

‘ The he-man hero who takes what he wants – gold or women!’ Director Edwin Carewe’s rousing 1930 Western is the third version (there are five) – and first talkie – of the 1906 Rex Beach novel, set in Nome, Alaska, in the 1898 Gold Rush, with stirring performances by Gary Cooper as Roy Glennister and William Boyd as Alex McNamara fighting for their opposing claims.

Less exciting is the romance from Betty Compson and Kay Johnson, or the comedy from Harry Green and Slim Summerville, but this is still a highly entertaining Western adventure.

Also in the cast are James Kirkwood, Lloyd Ingraham, Oscar Apfel, George Irving, Edward Coxen, Jack Trent, Edward Hearn, Knute Erickson and John Beck.

It runs 87 minutes, is a Paramount film, is written by Bartlett Cormack and Agnes Brand Leahy, is shot in black and white by Harry Fischbeck, and is produced by Edwin Carewe and Lloyd Sheldon.

Cooper tore his hamstring and wrenched his back during the fight scene, and was in severe pain for the filming.

There were silent versions in 1914 and 1923, and then sound movie remakes in 1942 (with Marlene Dietrich, Randolph Scott and John Wayne) and 1955 (with Anne Baxter, Jeff Chandler and Rory Calhoun).

© Derek Winnert 2017 Classic Movie Review 5523

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