Nevada Smith Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		4.5
Audio		5.0
Extras		2.5
Overall		3.5

Nevada Smith Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov October 8, 2026

Henry Hathaway's "Nevada Smith" (1966) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films. The supplemental features on the release include exclusive new program with writer and Steve McQueen biographer Marc Eliot; exclusive new audio commentary by critics Lee Pfeiffer. Tony Latino, and Paul Scrabo; and vintage promotional materials for the film. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-Free.

Nevada Smith could have been a much, much better film if Henry Hathaway had not produced it. Hathaway still could have directed it, but he would have had to do it differently. In its current form, Nevada Smith looks good but does not tell a convincing story because it assumes the viewer is not going to notice its obvious flaws. One of these obvious flaws is the decision to cast Steve McQueen as Max Sand, a.k.a. Nevada Smith, who is supposed to be young enough to be addressed as “boy”. McQueen does not look like one. He is fit, but his face immediately reveals that he is approaching forty. In the sequence where McQueen meets Brian Keith’s traveling merchant and he offers to teach him to use a gun and play cards, the pretending that it is not so is almost nauseating. McQueen and Keith are adult men who could be partners, but the screenplay severely downgrades the former’s IQ and personality to make him appear as if he could be the latter’s son. It is very, very odd.

The story goes through multiple cycles that should have had plenty more depth, too. In a remote corner of the Wild West, three cowboys approach Smith, ask him a few questions, and shortly after execute his Indian mother and white father. When Smith discovers their bodies, he burns down the family house and vows to avenge their death. The first cowboy, Jesse Coe (Martin Landau), is located in a nearby town, drinking and playing cards in the local saloon. To reach the second cowboy, Bill Bowdre (Arthur Kennedy), Smith breaks the law, gets arrested, and is then transported to a prison camp in a swampy area where only the strongest survive. With the help of a beautiful female prisoner (Suzanne Pleshette) from a nearby all-female camp, the two men figure out a way to sneak out, and at the right moment, having tricked his target into trusting him, Smith gets his revenge. The third cowboy, Tom Fitch (Karl Malden), proves to be Smith’s most difficult target, but not because he is invincible. After discovering where he has settled down, Smith meets a preacher (Raf Vallone) who forces him to reexamine his thirst for revenge and reconsider the final phase of his mission.

The opening credits insist that Nevada Smith is based on the character in The Carpetbaggers created by Harold Robbins. However, the connection is virtually impossible to recognize. At best, one could argue that since revenge is a major theme in The Carpetbaggers and fuels its drama, Nevada Smith copies it and uses it as a catalyst for its own drama. But the characters these films introduce, and their maturation, are vastly different. In The Carpetbaggers, Alan Ladd’s character is a former cowboy who accidentally becomes a western star and gradually comes to the realization that he is serving the same people he used to confront with his gun. However, he is overshadowed by George Peppard’s iconic character, who has a tremendous IQ and is always a few steps ahead of his opponents. This character’s philosophy of life, defined by unabashed cynicism and destructive optimism for the future, is at the center of The Carpetbaggers. In Nevada Smith, there is only one segment -- the one with the preacher -- where Smith’s philosophy of life becomes relevant.

The strength of Nevada Smith comes from the quality of its visuals. As Smith begins tracking down his targets, Hathaway and cinematographer Lucien Ballard visit numerous outstanding locations that naturally create an excellent period environment. The best visuals emerge from a stunning desert area of the Olancha Dunes in Southern California.

A nice, very energetic soundtrack composed by Oscar winner Alfred Newman effectively complements the visuals.

Nevada Smith Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in an aspect ratio of 2.35:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, Nevada Smith arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Imprint Films.

The release brings to Australia Paramount's recent 4K restoration of Nevada Smith. In America, the 4K restoration was introduced by Kino Lorber with this Blu-ray release in 2023.

The entire film has stable and attractive organic visuals now. Delineation, clarity, and depth range from very good to outstanding. I projected the film for the first time a few nights ago and paid close attention to the density levels of its visuals. Some small fluctuations can be observed in several different areas, all featuring outdoor panoramic footage, but they are introduced by the original cinematography. So, on a large screen, the entire film can look pretty spectacular. Color reproduction and balance could have been slightly better. In a few areas, primary blue and blue nuances shift toward light turquoise, affecting the overall temperature of the visuals, which should be slightly warmer. (The footage where Steve McQueen is seen riding and then meeting Brian Keith is supposed to be taking place during a very hot period, but it looks quite cool). There are no traces of any problematic digital corrections, such as degraining, sharpening, contracts boosting, etc. The entire film looks healthy. This is a Region-Free Blu-ray release. Therefore, you will be able to play it on your player regardless of your geographical location).

Nevada Smith Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LPCM 2.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature. When turned on, they appear inside the image frame.

All exchanges, shootouts, and music sound wonderful throughout the entire film. While revisiting the film, I did not notice any, even minor, traces of age-related anomalies that may have been causing problems before the film was restored in 4K. Dynamic variety is surprisingly good as well.

Nevada Smith Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Marc Eliot on Nevada Smith - in this exclusive new program, writer and Steve McQueen biographer Marc Eliot discusses McQueen's background, time in Hollywood, and "the sense of doom" that was part of his identity. Eliot also comments on the conception of Nevada Smith and the role Harold Robbins had in it, McQueen's acting methods, and Henry Hathaway's direction. In English, not subtitled. (20 min).

• Commentary - this exclusive new audio commentary was recorded by critics Lee Pfeiffer. Tony Latino, and Paul Scrabo. The commentators address the connection between Nevada Smith and The Carpetbaggers (and whether the former may have been a legitimate prequel), the famous age-issue with Steve McQueen's character, how McQueen could not change some things he did not like, the authentic violence throughout the film, the critical reception of the film, etc. The commentary covers a lot of ground and has interesting information that is not directly related to Nevada Smith but will be of interest to a McQueen fan.

• Trailer - presented here is a vintage U.S. theatrical teaser trailer for Nevada Smith. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

• TV Spots - presented here are a couple of vintage U.S. TV spots for Nevada Smith. In English, not subtitled. (2 min).

• Radio Spot - presented here is a vintage U.S. radio spot for Nevada Smith. In English, not subtitled. (1 min).

Nevada Smith Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Nevada Smith is a mismanaged film with many flaws, some quite bizarre. Steve McQueen is called "son" and "boy" by men who are not much older than him, while his Indian mother looks perplexingly young. The Carpetbaggers was supposedly a source of inspiration, but it is impossible to tell how. Several good character actors are wasted in underwhelming material, too. Yes, the bad characters are great, and there are plenty of terrific visuals, but given the enormous talent gathered, the end product is impossible to praise. This release brings to Australia the recent 4K restoration of Nevada Smith. It is included in Imprint Films' Tales of the Wild West: Collection One five-disc box set. RECOMMENDED, but only to the fans.