Nevada Smith
Nevada Smith is the young son of an Indian American mother and European-American father. When his father is killed by three men over gold, Nevada sets out to find them and kill them. The boy is taken in by a gun merchant. The gun merchant shows him how to shoot and to shoot on time and correct.
Critics Sentiment
Max confronts and kills Jesse Coe in brutal corral fight
Fitch realizes Nevada Smith is actually Max Sand
The film peaks with the intense Martin Landau corral fight then gradually loses momentum through the final act, with critics noting the ending lacked the impact of earlier sequences.
Nevada Smith starts strong with brutal revenge motivation and builds to an acclaimed knife fight climax in the first half. The prison escape sequence maintains quality but the film loses steam in its final third, with critics noting the expected showdown with Karl Malden feels soft compared to earlier intensity. Despite casting concerns about McQueen's age and ethnicity, reviewers praised the structured character journey and professional direction.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 38
Steve McQueen
Max Sand
Karl Malden
Tom Fitch
Brian Keith
Jonas Cord
Arthur Kennedy
Bill Bowdre
Suzanne Pleshette
Pilar
Raf Vallone
Father Zaccardi
Janet Margolin
Neesa
Pat Hingle
Big Foot
Howard Da Silva
Warden
Martin Landau
Jesse Coe
Paul Fix
Sheriff Bonnell
Gene Evans
Sam Sand
Josephine Hutchinson
Mrs. Elvira McCanles
John Doucette
Uncle Ben McCanles
Val Avery
Buck Mason
Sheldon Allman
Sheriff
Lyle Bettger
Jack Rudabough
Bert Freed
Quince
David McLean
Romero
Steve Mitchell
Buckshot
Crew
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