"The Spoilers" is an unabashed adventure flick brimming with romance, humor and spectacular action. The plot, such as it is, is simple but compelling. When government agents arrive in Alaska and ‘steal’ a gold miner’s claim, the miners decide to retaliate. Both Randolph Scott and John Wayne cut dashing figures of masculinity across the stark but beautiful Alaskan backdrops while Marlene Dietrich – as the lusty, husky madam, is at her most provocatively sensual best. The climactic fistfight, between Wayne and Scott is defiantly brutal to say the least.
TRANSFER: Exemplary. The B&W picture can be nicely balanced. Blacks are sometimes unstable. There’s a limited amount of film grain and age related artifacts that enhances the performances. Digital anomalies are generally not an issue, though some edge enhancement is present. The audio is mono but nicely cleaned up.
1942, 87 minutes, B&W