The Spoilers (1906) is a novel by Rex Beach based in Alaska that was one of the best selling novels of 1906.[1][2][3]
The book was quickly adapted into a play, and was later adapted to film five times, in 1914, 1923, 1930, 1942, and 1955.[4] The novel is based on a true story of corrupt government officials, such as Alexander McKenzie, seizing gold mines from prospectors, which Beach witnessed while he was prospecting in Nome, Alaska during the Nome Gold Rush.[5][6][7][8]
Plot
Young fearless prospector Roy Glenister and his older partner, Dextry are headed back to Nome on the first ship of the season, eager to return to protect their gold claim called the "Midas", which promises to yield them great wealth. On the trip, they defend a young woman who boards the ship from her pursuers—and who is also intent on reaching Nome as soon as possible. Glenister immediately begins to fall for the young beauty, who turns out to be Helen Chester, niece of Judge Arthur Chester, recently appointed as the first federal judge for the Alaska Territory—the "law" is coming to the wild northern frontier. Except it turns out the law is crooked. The Judge and the federal marshall are really under the thumb of strongman politician Alexander McNamara. After reaching Nome, McNamara succeeds in being appointed receiver of all the most lucrative mining claims in the region, based on fraudulent disputes over the validity of the miners' claims. Glenister, Dextry, and a number of naive Swedes are dispossessed of their lands. The miners hire lawyers to fight on the legal side, and also form a vigilante group to fight the "law". McNamara rules ruthlessly, running the mines himself. Glenister sinks into despair, believing that Helen is in on the conspiracy against the miners, and almost loses his stake in the Midas in a night of reckless gambling. He is only saved from that fate by Cherry Malotte, whose unrequited love for Glenister has brought her to Nome. Helen slowly learns about the scheme being perpetrated by McNamara, her uncle, and others, while her affections are torn between Glenister and McNamara.
Historical basis
The novel is loosely based on actual events that occurred during the Nome Gold Rush while Rex Beach was in Nome. Beach himself documented the non-fiction version in a series titled "The Looting of Alaska", which was published in the January through May 1906 issues of Appleton's Booklovers Magazine.[9] "Alexander Macnamara" of the novel is a fictionalized version of Alexander McKenzie, an influential behind-the-scenes politician who had the federal judge at Nome, Arthur H. Noyes, make him the receiver of valuable gold placers. The principal victims were a trio of prospectors enviously called "the three lucky Swedes" (actually two naturalized US citizens of Swedish birth, and a Norwegian), Japhet Lindeberg, Erik Lindblom, and John Brynteson. The scheme was halted when McKenzie was arrested by federal marshals sent to Nome by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. He served three months in jail for contempt of court before being pardoned by President McKinley.
The Spoilers is a 1914 American silent Western film directed by Colin Campbell. The film is set in Nome, Alaska during the 1898 Gold Rush, with William Farnum as Roy Glennister, Kathlyn Williams as Cherry Malotte, and Tom Santschi as Alex McNamara. The film culminates in a spectacular saloon fistfight between Glennister and McNamara. In 1916, an expanded version was released, running 110 minutes.
The film was adapted to screen by Lanier Bartlett from the Rex Beach novel of the same name. The film was remade in 1923 (with Noah Beery as McNamara), 1930 (with Gary Cooper as Glennister and Betty Compson as Malotte), 1942 (with John Wayne as Glennister, Randolph Scott as McNamara, and Marlene Dietrich as Malotte), and 1955 (with Jeff Chandler as Glennister, Rory Calhoun as McNamara, and Anne Baxter as Malotte).[2] All of the films feature a lengthy, intense fight sequence.
Cast
William Farnum as Roy Glenister
Kathlyn Williams as Cherry Malotte
Thomas Santschi as Alex McNamara
Bessie Eyton as Helen Chester
Frank Clark as Dextry (billed; Frank M. Clark)
Jack McDonald as Slap Jack (billed; Jack F. McDonald)
Wheeler Oakman as Drury, The Broncho Kid
Norval MacGregor as Judge Stillman
William Ryno as Struve
Marshall Farnum as Lawyer Wheatin
Jules White
Cleo Ridgely
Preservation status
The film exists in the Raymond Rohauer (Cohen Media Group) collection in an incomplete print.[3]
The Spoilers is a 1923 American silent drama film directed by Lambert Hillyer. It is set in Nome, Alaska during the 1898 Gold Rush, with Milton Sills as Roy Glennister, Anna Q. Nilsson as Cherry Malotte, and Noah Beery as Alex McNamara. The film culminates in a saloon fistfight between Glennister and McNamara.
The Spoilers was adapted to screen by Elliott J. Clawson from the 1906 Rex Beach novel of the same name. Film versions also appeared in 1914, 1930 (with Gary Cooper as Glennister), 1942 (with John Wayne as Glennister, Marlene Dietrich as Malotte, and Randolph Scott as McNamara), and finally in 1955.[1]
The character of Cherry Malotte also appears in Beach's The Silver Horde.
Cast
Milton Sills as Roy Glennister
Anna Q. Nilsson as Cherry Malotte
Barbara Bedford as Helen Chester
Robert Edeson as Joe Dextry
Ford Sterling as Slapjack Simms
Wallace MacDonald as Broncho Kid
Noah Beery Sr. as Alex McNamara
Mitchell Lewis as Marshall Voorhees
John Elliott as Bill Wheaton, Attorney
Robert McKim as Struve
Rockliffe Fellowes as Matthews
Preservation
A print of The Spoilers is maintained in the film archives at Gosfilmofond in Moscow and the Centre National du Cinéma at Fort de Bois-d'Arcy.[2]