The Spoilers (1930)




William Boyd, Gary Cooper - The Spoilers

William Boyd, Gary Cooper - The Spoilers

Betty Compson, Gary Cooper - The Spoilers




While traveling to Nome, Alaska, Roy Glenister (Gary Cooper) meets the striking Helen Chester (Kay Johnson) and they quickly become romantically involved. Glenister is a co-owner of a profitable mine called The Midas. Upon his arrival in Nome, he finds that his partners, Slapjack Simms (Slim Summerville) and Joe Dextry (James Kirkwood), are embroiled in a legal battle with three corrupt officials: United States Marshal Voorhees (Jack Holmes), Judge Stillman (Lloyd Ingraham), and politician Alec McNamara (William "Stage" Boyd). These officials have been involved in a scheme where they lay claim to various mines, evict the miners and make McNamara the owner of the disputed properties. They also set their sights on claiming The Midas. McNamara also steals money from Glenister, Dextry, and Slapjack, preventing them from seeking legal assistance from the United States. When Dextry and Glenister plan to take matters into their own hands, McNamara calls in a group of soldiers to protect "his property". As Glenister and McNamara prepare for a showdown, Helen intervenes and suggests that the dispute be resolved through the courts. Later, after a jealous saloon owner, Cherry Malotte (Betty Compson), falsely tells Glenister that Helen and McNamara are conspiring to cheat him, Glenister and McNamara settle their differences through a physical altercation, with Glenister emerging victorious. Afterwards, Glenister wins Helen's hand in marriage.


Vintage magazines

Photoplay , October 1930
Photoplay , October 1930
Photoplay , November 1930


Books with substantial mentioning of The Spoilers

Homer Dickens
The Films of Gary Cooper
Secaucus, NJ, 1970

Books with an entry on The Spoilers

Herb Fagen
The encyclopedia of westerns
New York, 2003