Save your money for something good and enjoyable

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

I first watched NEVADA SMITH in the early 80s. My father had spoken highly of it, but I did not like it. At the time, I found McQueen unbelievable as an Indian, and the whole story quite predictable. Much against my will, last Sunday I rewatched it. I had nothing to do, nothing else that seemed worthwhile on TV, and I decided to give it a second chance. I am happy I did, because this time I found the film much better. Still had some difficulty accepting a blond Indian but this time I found McQueen's performance quite acceptable and even credible. Keith, Malden, Kennedy and, above all, Landau and Vallone, all deliver high standard performances.Henry Hathaway's direction is as good as ever. Photography is a bit shabby, but acceptable. What I found much better this time was the script. Yes, Max Sand is predictable in the sense that the thought of revenge blinds him to all other possibilities, but in going on that quest he also goes on a journey of self-, and other, discovery. He begins as a greenhorn who has no idea what to do with weapons, let alone how to kill. Fate is kind to him in the shape of Brian Keith, who teaches him the basics. At the prison camp, he learns from those he meets, especially from Pilar (played by Pleshette), the first one to convince him of the evils of revenge. Perhaps the greatest lesson comes from the priest (great performance from Raf Vallone), who tells him of how he could have embarked on a similar quest, but did not. In the end, Max Sand finishes his revenge assignment without actually putting to death the main villain, and by movie's end he seems to be moving on to a different spiritual level.Inevitably, the question I put to myself was: What if my family were murdered? What would I do if I could track down the killers? Could I live with myself if I did not exact revenge, thereby honoring my loved ones? I am a Catholic, I believe in forgiving, but I hope I am never put in the same position as Max Sand.Ultimately, NEVADA SMITH does not endorse revenge, but its message is one taking fate into your hands - for better or worse.

A naive half-Indian, half-white teenager (Steve McQueen) evolves into a hardened killer as he tracks down his parents' murderers.In the world of "revenge films", you have many that fall into the category of exploitation. This one rises above that and is much more nuanced, with some memorable characters. It also attempts to make comments on race and gender, though how successful it is on that is up to the viewer to decide.How much does our protagonist rise above the revenge inside him? Well, in some ways he is pretty set in his ways. When presented with the Bible (which, amazingly, he had never heard of), all he takes from it is the "eye for an eye" bit. Maybe he never got to the New Testament.

"Max Sand" (Steve McQueen) is getting water from a creek 3 miles from his home when 3 drifters ride up and ask him if he knows a man named "Sam Sand" (Gene Evans). He tells them that Sam is his father and they ask him where he lives. Not suspecting anything out of the ordinary he tells them. They head out in that direction but then all of a sudden chase his horse away and then gallop towards his home. By the time Max finally gathers his horse and gets back to his home his father and Kiowa mother have been tortured and killed. Even though he's young and inexperienced he swears revenge and rides off after them. Anyway, while not necessarily a blockbuster film, it does have some interesting scenes and a host of good actors and actresses. And although I didn't especially care for the ending, I did enjoy the performances of Brian Keith (as "Jonas Cord"), Karl Malden ("Tom Fitch") and Suzanne Pleshette ("Pilar"). In short, this is a decent western and I recommend it for those who enjoy this genre.

A young man seeks revenge for the brutal murder of his parents. It's generally well made, but can't overcome a big casting flaw. The title character is supposed to be a teen-aged half-breed. Unfortunately, he's played by 36-year-old blonde-haired, blue-eyed McQueen. It's hard to buy when he is repeatedly referred to as a kid and a half-breed. McQueen tries to act young, but acting like a man half his age makes him appear mentally retarded. The film goes on too long, with an extended prison sequence (stangely reminiscent of "Papillon," which McQueen would star in seven years later) that seems out of place in a Western. The impressive cast is chock full of familiar faces.