Direct and briskly paced, this fits right in with most genre fare (any genre) of the 30s and 40s, especially those of such an abbreviated runtime. The movie has a story to tell, and it has no intention of wasting time to do so, even if it threatens to become overbearing in the process. It also wants to entertain, in a time when entertainment was simpler, and it has no notion of distinguishing earnestness from ham-handedness. George Hayes and Billy Lee's characters are especially grating in the latter regard, and while imbalanced sound design doesn't help, I dare say young Lee's acting and delivery is most abrasive of all. And yes, this also Between the pacing generally and Joseph Kane's direction specifically, some of the acting feels rather forced, even including star Roy Rogers. Setting aside such inelegance, however, there's much to appreciate here. James R. Webb's screenplay may not be particularly sophisticated, and the plot fits neatly within the standards of The Western, yet even such as is the story and scene writing can claim a fair bit of cleverness, and commendable themes. Of course the crew put in fine work, common for the genre, in terms of production design, art direction, costumes, and stunts and cinematography. 'Nevada City' may not be perfect, nor as polished as some of its brethren, but there are certainly far worse ways to spend one hour.
Gauche as Rogers' type of western often is, and perhaps less broadly appealing to modern audiences, there's still a surprising amount of variety therein. Some of his movies distinctly emphasize song, for example, while others are more focused on action. In this instance it seems to me that the picture cares most about its narrative, which isn't to say that other aspects are weaker by comparison, only perhaps less prevalent. This isn't to say that the story, receiving the most attention, is perfect; the protagonist's idea that comes early in the second half is so hare-brained as to defy any good sense, and for my part I just don't know what the point was. There's also so much zip to the proceedings that beats aren't allowed to manifest, breathe, and resolve of their own accord, and the feature stands at risk of blowing past any measure of suspense as much as fostering it. Nevertheless, this is a title that only wants its audience to have a good time, and it succeeds much more than not. It's more well made than not, and more well written; it may not be utterly gripping, absorbing, or essential, but it's enjoyable, and that's more than can be said of some of the most hyped-up films of the twenty-first century. 'Nevada City' may not be flawless, and even among its kin and contemporaries there are maybe other films that should be a higher priority, but if you have the chance to watch, this is a decent bit of fun. And that's good enough for me.
