Nevada (1927) DVD-R

Starring Gary Cooper, Thelma Todd, William Powell, Philip Stranger, Ernie Adams
Directed by John Waters

Print: black/white
Runtime: 73 min.
Genre: western
Print Quality: B

Young Paramount stars Gary Cooper and Thelma Todd, the latter a recent graduate of the
studio's acting school, starred in this otherwise average Zane Grey Western directed by
studio hack John Waters. It was Waters who, having spotted young Cooper in a screen test,
recommended the lanky newcomer for Arizona Bound (1927). That film was successful
enough for Paramount to conjure up Nevada, in which a once notorious gunfighter takes a
respectable job on a ranch. Cooper's 'Nevada' is charged with protecting the ranch owner's
pretty daughter (Todd), arousing the enmity of ranch foreman William Powell, who is in love
with the girl. The villainous foreman leaks a rumor of his rival's dark past to the sheriff, and
the former outlaw is soon on the run again. But along the way, he catches a gang of cattle
rustlers led by - surprise - William Powell. Thus rehabilitated, Nevada is free to marry lovely
Thelma. Despite the strong cast - in retrospect, at least - Nevada was considered a rather
weak entry in Paramount's long Zane Grey series and actually did little to further Cooper's
career prospects.