Nevada City (1941)

Nevada City (1941)

„Nevada City“ is a 1941 western film directed by Joseph Kane based on the original screenplay by James R. Webb.

In Nevada City, California during the early 1860s, hot-headed stagecoach line owner Hank Liddell struggles to keep his business alive despite repeated robberies and acts of sabotage. Liddell suspects that Mark Benton, owner of the new California Central Railroad, is behind the violence, but the real ringleader is Amos Norton. Norton runs the Sacramento River Navigation Company and, desiring to squelch competition from Liddell and Benton, has ordered his henchman, poetry-writing Black Bart, to set the men against each other and destroy their companies.

One afternoon, Liddell’s top driver, Jeff Connor, and Jeff’s pal, „Gabby“ Chapman, run into Benton and learn that he is an honest man who believes that his and Liddell’s companies can grow together. When Jeff tells Liddell of his encounter with Benton, Liddell refuses to listen and fires Jeff and Gabby, much to the dismay of Jo Morrison and Chick Morrison, the children of Liddell’s deceased partner.

Jo is in love with Jeff, but when he proves oblivious to her charms, she attempts to make him jealous by flirting with Bart, who is in Nevada City posing as Jim Trevor, a businessman ruined by Benton. Bart succeeds in entangling Liddell in a plot to ruin Benton, while Jeff and Gabby are offered a job by the railroad man when they tell him that Liddell fired them on his account. Jeff is suspicious of Bart, however, and declines Benton’s offer in order to follow the mysterious newcomer. Jeff and Gabby find Bart with his gang laying in wait to rob one of Benton’s trains. Bart is using Liddell’s horses so that the stagecoach owner will be blamed for the robbery, and Jeff, determined to discover the extent of Liddell’s involvement with Bart, foils Benton’s attempt to capture Bart so that he can follow the bandit himself. Jeff and Gabby are arrested, however, and jailed for the robbery.

While Jeff and Gabby engineer their escape, Chick overhears Norton and Bart discussing their plans to ruin Benton. Chick tells Jo and Liddell that Jim Trevor is really Bart, and they tell Benton what has happened. Benton and Liddell vow to work together to defeat Norton and Bart, while Jeff and Gabby race to the mountain tunnel that Bart intends to blow up to sabotage Benton’s construction work. Although Gabby receives a minor injury during the fracas, Jeff succeeds in preventing the explosion and apprehending Bart and his men. Soon after, Liddell and Benton shake hands on their new friendship, while Jeff asks Jo to attend a musical show with him.

A 1941 American Black & White Western B-Movie produced & directed by Joseph Kane, written by James R. Webb, cinematography by William Nobles, starring Roy Rogers, George „Gabby“ Hayes, Sally Payne, George Cleveland, Billy Lee, Joseph Crehan, Fred Kohler Jr., Pierre Watkin, and Jack Ingram. Yakima Canutt performs stunts, uncredited. Trigger does not make an appearance until halfway through the film.

One of eight movies Rogers starred in for Republic Pictures in 1941. The first script credited to James Webb.

The comedy in the film is supplied by George ’Gabby’ Hayes, who also shows some fancy hand work twirling his six gun. Hayes has come to personify the movie cowboy sidekick, delivering his typical entertaining moments with a variety of facial expressions, especially those of disapproval when it comes to Roy Rogers’ unsuccessful attempts to woo a woman. He makes the rye comment, „This is like trying to rope a mo-skeeter on a dark night.“

Jasper Joseph Inman Kane (1894 – 1975) was an American film director, film producer, film editor and screenwriter. He is best known for his extensive directorship and focus on Western films. Kane began his career as a professional cellist. In 1934 he took an interest in film directing and, starting in 1935, he co-directed serials for Mascot Pictures and Republic Pictures. He soon became Republic’s top Western film director.

This appealing Roy Rogers and Gabby Hayes B-western is all action. Not long after this film, Roy turned more and more to his singing (he had helped start the legendary Sons of the Pioneers) until many of his films became musical extravaganzas, not unlike Broadway shows of the day. So enjoy this fast-paced Roy Rogers outing to see why he came to be called „The King of The Cowboys.“

Soundtrack Music:

• “Lonely Hills“ – Music by Jule Styne, Lyrics by ’Sol Meyer’ and Eddie Cherkose, Performed by Roy Rogers
• “Prairie Serenade“ – Music by Jule Styne, Lyrics by ’Sol Meyer’ and Eddie Cherkose, Performed by Roy Rogers
• “Stars over the Prairie“ – Written by Peter Tinturin, Performed by Roy Rogers

This briskly paced solid little B-Oater has a good mix of action, gunfights, and humor, just about everything that a good Roy Rogers B-western should have. Except Dale Evans, that was in the future. Lots of fun for fans with a passion for old movies, especially westerns.

Cast:

• Roy Rogers – Jeff Connors
• George „Gabby“ Hayes – Gabby Chapman
• Sally Payne – Jo Morrison
• George Cleveland – Hank Liddell
• Billy Lee – Chick Morrison
• Joseph Crehan – Mark Benton
• Fred Kohler Jr. – Jim Trevor aka Black Bart
• Pierre Watkin – Amos Norton
• Jack Ingram – Sheriff Pat Daley
• Chuck Baldra – Stagecoach Guard
• Hank Bell – 3rd Stagecoach Driver
• Fred Burns – Railroad Worker
• Yakima Canutt – 4th Stagecoach Driver
• Tommy Coats – Posse Rider
• Spade Cooley – Musician
• Jack Kirk – Train Engineer
• Rex Lease – Masked Henchman
• Art Mix – Henchman Anderson
• Charles Murphy – Bartender
• Frank O’Connor – Townsman
• Syd Saylor – Railroad Spy Posing as a Drunk
• Jack C. Smith – Pianist
• Trigger – Jeff’s Horse
• Henry Wills – Train Henchman
• Bob Woodward – Railroad Crewman
• Joe Yrigoyen – Henchman

„Nevada City“ ist ein Western aus dem Jahr 1941 unter der Regie von Joseph Kane nach dem Originaldrehbuch von James R. Webb.

Der Konflikt zwischen einem Eisenbahner und einem Postkutschenbesitzer wird durch böse Jungs verschärft, die beide Seiten sabotieren. Roy und Gabby schlichten den Konflikt und entlarven die Bösewichte.