白人の父親とインディアンの母親と共に、平和な毎日を送るマックス。しかしある日3人の殺し屋に両親を殺された彼は、復讐のために旅立った……。実在した西部男、ネバダ・スミスの生きざまを追ったヒューマン・ドラマ。
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監督: Henry Hathaway
脚本: John Michael Hayes / Harold Robbins
音楽: Alfred Newman
制作: Henry Hathaway / Joseph E. Levine / スティーブ・マックイーン
撮影監督: Lucien Ballard
制作会社: Solar Productions / Paramount Pictures
More than a Western. 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
