Wanda Nevada (1979) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A drifter and a young orphan survive pursuit, danger, and supernatural threats while their bond grows during a gold expedition.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Dangerous Card Wager

Beaudray wins Wanda in a card game, but she stays with him after the wager. A prospector's mine story, murder, and dropped pouch draw them into a dangerous pursuit.

Key Events

• Beaudray Wins Wanda — Beaudray wins Wanda in a card game, beginning their uneasy association. Characters: Beaudray Demerille, Wanda Nevada Location: Arizona card game
• Wanda Follows Beaudray — Wanda refuses to leave Beaudray and accompanies him to a pool hall. Characters: Beaudray Demerille, Wanda Nevada Location: Pool hall
• The Mine Story — An aging prospector describes a Grand Canyon gold mine and drops a pouch. Characters: Wanda Nevada, Ruby Muldoon, Strap Pangburn Location: Pool hall
• Prospector Is Killed — Ruby and Strap harass and kill the prospector while Wanda witnesses the danger. Characters: Wanda Nevada, Ruby Muldoon, Strap Pangburn Location: Outside the pool hall
• Escape Into the Car — Wanda hides in Beaudray's car and tells him about the killing while the criminals give chase. Characters: Beaudray Demerille, Wanda Nevada, Ruby Muldoon, Strap Pangburn Location: Roadside near the car

The Map Into Darkness

Beaudray and Wanda discover a mine map and exchange their car for canyon supplies. They enter the Grand Canyon while two criminals follow their trail.

Key Events

• The Mine Map — Beaudray and Wanda open the pouch and discover a map leading to the Grand Canyon. Characters: Beaudray Demerille, Wanda Nevada Location: Desert campsite
• Trading For Supplies — They trade the car for pack mules and supplies before entering the canyon. Characters: Beaudray Demerille, Wanda Nevada Location: Arizona supply stop
• Into The Haunted Canyon — Beaudray and Wanda enter the canyon as tales of Apache ghosts circulate and the criminals follow. Characters: Beaudray Demerille, Wanda Nevada, Ruby Muldoon, Strap Pangburn Location: Grand Canyon trail

Love Above The Cave

The travelers meet Dorothy, whose brief connection with Beaudray provokes Wanda's jealousy. Wanda's fall leads to a mutual declaration of love and the discovery of gold.

Key Events

• Meeting Dorothy — The travelers meet Dorothy, a Life photographer camping in the canyon. Characters: Beaudray Demerille, Wanda Nevada, Dorothy Deerfield Location: Canyon camp
• Jealous Camp Interruption — Wanda interrupts Beaudray and Dorothy after their private conversation becomes intimate. Characters: Beaudray Demerille, Wanda Nevada, Dorothy Deerfield Location: Dorothy's tent
• Shared War Losses — Dorothy and Wanda reveal that wartime military service took their husbands or fathers. Characters: Beaudray Demerille, Wanda Nevada, Dorothy Deerfield Location: Canyon camp
• The Rope Ladder — Beaudray and Wanda find a rope ladder leading down toward a small cave. Characters: Beaudray Demerille, Wanda Nevada Location: Canyon wall
• Wanda Falls — After confessing her love, Wanda is startled by an owl and falls during the descent. Characters: Beaudray Demerille, Wanda Nevada Location: Canyon cave entrance
• Gold In The Cave — Beaudray explores the cave and discovers gold, then shows Wanda a large nugget. Characters: Beaudray Demerille, Wanda Nevada Location: Small canyon cave

Gold Under Pursuit

Beaudray and Wanda mine the cave but lose their mules and discard the gold to avoid unseen attackers. Ruby and Strap then confront them at gunpoint.

Key Events

• Four Bags Of Gold — Beaudray and Wanda mine four bags of gold while Ruby and Strap watch from a distance. Characters: Beaudray Demerille, Wanda Nevada, Ruby Muldoon, Strap Pangburn Location: Gold cave and canyon camp
• The Missing Mules — The pair returns to find the mules gone and arrows planted around the camp. Characters: Beaudray Demerille, Wanda Nevada Location: Canyon camp
• Gold Thrown Away — Fearing unseen attackers, they throw the gold bags into the canyon and begin walking. Characters: Beaudray Demerille, Wanda Nevada Location: Canyon river
• Gunpoint Demand — Ruby and Strap hold Beaudray and Wanda at gunpoint and demand the gold. Characters: Beaudray Demerille, Wanda Nevada, Ruby Muldoon, Strap Pangburn Location: Canyon trail
• The Shootout — Wanda denies possessing gold, a shootout follows, and Ruby and Strap flee unharmed. Characters: Beaudray Demerille, Wanda Nevada, Ruby Muldoon, Strap Pangburn Location: Canyon trail

The River And The Arrow

The pair finds the criminals crucified, recovers the gold, and escapes by boat. A glowing arrow nearly kills Beaudray before the lovers reach a hopeful final escape.

Key Events

• Crucified Pursuers — The pair finds Ruby and Strap crucified and discovers the scattered gold nearby. Characters: Beaudray Demerille, Wanda Nevada, Ruby Muldoon, Strap Pangburn Location: Desert
• Boat Beneath The Sand — Beaudray and Wanda recover the gold and uncover a boat buried along the shore. Characters: Beaudray Demerille, Wanda Nevada Location: River shore
• The Glowing Arrow — An owl appears and a glowing arrow strikes Beaudray while Wanda sleeps beside the river. Characters: Beaudray Demerille, Wanda Nevada Location: Riverside campsite
• Love On The River — Beaudray pushes the boat into the river, confesses his love, and loses consciousness near death. Characters: Beaudray Demerille, Wanda Nevada Location: Drifting boat
• Escape From The Hotel — Recovered and wealthy, Beaudray arrives as Wanda escapes institutional authorities and joins him. Characters: Beaudray Demerille, Wanda Nevada Location: Hotel and street
• No Gold In The Canyon — Beaudray jokes that everyone knows there is no gold, and he and Wanda drive into the sunset. Characters: Beaudray Demerille, Wanda Nevada Location: Road outside the hotel

Story Breakdown

• Card Game Encounter — Beaudray and Wanda are brought together through an unusual wager.
  • Wanda Is Won — Beaudray wins Wanda in a card game.
  • Unwanted Companionship — Wanda follows Beaudray to the pool hall.
• Murderous Mine Pursuit — A prospector's mine secret creates the central threat.
  • Prospector Killed — Wanda witnesses the prospector's murder.
  • Map Recovered — Beaudray and Wanda find the mine map.
• Canyon Expedition — The protagonists exchange their car and enter the dangerous canyon.
  • Supplies Acquired — They obtain pack mules and mining supplies.
  • Criminals Follow — Ruby and Strap track them into the canyon.
• Love And Discovery — Jealousy and emotional confession accompany the discovery of the gold cave.
  • Dorothy Arrives — The travelers meet a Life magazine photographer.
  • Gold Cave Found — Beaudray discovers gold after Wanda's fall.
• Gold And Violence — The discovered wealth intensifies danger from both visible and unseen forces.
  • Mules Disappear — The camp is abandoned with arrows nearby.
  • Gunpoint Showdown — Ruby and Strap demand the gold.
• River Survival — The protagonists escape the canyon but face a final supernatural attack.
  • Boat Escape — Beaudray and Wanda travel downstream with the gold.
  • Arrow And Recovery — Beaudray is struck, survives, and reunites with Wanda.
• Sunset Resolution — Wealth and recovery allow the pair to escape institutional control and public scrutiny.
  • Hotel Flight — Wanda escapes before being sent away.
  • Convertible Departure — Beaudray and Wanda drive away together.

Directed by

Peter Fonda

Key Cast

• Peter Fonda — Beaudray Demerille
• Brooke Shields — Wanda Nevada
• Fiona Lewis — Dorothy Deerfield
• Luke Askew — Ruby Muldoon
• Ted Markland — Strap Pangburn