The Naked Spur (1953)

Sorry, this movie sucks

Sick Product of a Sick System

Let's be realistic.

Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

Tough, sweating with tension, and towering as tall as the breathtaking Colorado Rockies, The Naked Spur is simply one of the best Westerns (of the 1950s) ever made.Set in and around the old west town of Abilene, including its surrounding mountainous region - James Stewart plays Howie Kemp, a no-nonsense, self-styled bounty hunter who, along with his newly acquired partners, Roy and Jess, set out to track down and capture psychotic killer, Ben Vandergroat.Once Vandergroat has been successfully apprehended, he quickly stirs up tensions between his 3 captors, cleverly playing on their fears, and vanity, and their obvious greed for a bigger cut of the $5000 reward that's on his head. It's plain arithmetic - The money splits 2 ways, better than 3.Released in 1953 - The Naked Spur is a very satisfying Cowboy Flick, featuring a superb supporting cast. It was directed by the ever-impressive, Anthony Mann, a dude who certainly knew how to deliver a first-rate "Western".

If you can get past the dumb title, this is a heckuva good outdoor western, filmed in majestic southwestern Colorado. It's four untrustworthy guys and one eye-candy woman trying to make it to Abilene, where three of the guys can collect a big reward for the fourth. What's unusual is none of the guys is particularly likable, so it's hard to know who to root for. There's the cashiered army lieutenant (Meeker), the grizzled old prospector (Mitchell), the embittered rancher (Stewart), and the giggling outlaw (Ryan). Then there's Ryan's girlfriend (Leigh) who only looks half-Hollywood. The shifting alliances among the bunch as they travel makes up the plot. This is the first of the celebrated Mann westerns and it shows in most every aspect: setting, script, photography, directing, and acting. (My only reservation is with the "sitting duck" staging of the Indian attack.) Nonetheless, get a load of that roaring river, too much for even white water rafting (the Uncompahgre, I believe). Then too, the tumbling rapids sort of mirrors the gang's shifting undercurrents. Stewart's never been better as the ornery Howie, basically the same kind of part he played in all his Mann westerns, while Ryan adds color with nervous snickers and giggles, definitely a different kind of bad guy. Ordinarily, I'd figure the girl was added for marquee purposes. After all, who wants to look at ugly guys for 90- minutes. But here Leigh's worked nicely into the plot. The showdown is a really memorable one and makes me doubt I'll do any more rock climbing.All in all, it's a spectacular western, with a fine cast and a suspenseful drama. In short, not a movie to be passed up

One of Mann's notable collaborations with Jimmy Stewart that captures the attention of the audience with enough action and good acting by many famed stars of those days such as Janet Leigh or Robert Ryan and, I need not mention, James Stewart. The film delivers an unforgettable story that teaches us lessons that have to do with greed and pure meanness. I shan't say more, alas I am perturbed that I will reveal important facts of the plot. Moving along, the scenery is quite dazzling and powerful, the film takes place on the rocky mountains so expect beautiful hills and valleys and streams. (Here start some info that could be called spoilers!) None the less I am still inclined to point out some dismal characteristics of the film that I did not enjoy. The film had a rather abrupt ending, like there wasn't enough time to film a couple of scenes more. I believe that instead of suddenly showing the brutal nature of a character there should have been some kind of transition or slower progression to make the plot a little more believable. Although the sudden ending might actually add to the brilliance of this western. Summarizing, This western has enough action packed scenes, good acting by very famous actors such as James Stewart and Janet Leigh, beautiful scenery and classic Anthony Mann cinematography. As such I believe this film deserves a 7/10 which is, by my standards, quite excellent

Another of the Great Mann/Stewart Collaborations that combined Deep Characterizations, Beautiful Landscapes, and a Remarkable Style that Penetrated and presented Colorful and Realistic Stories populated by Complex and Interesting Situations.The Western like most Genres is a Panorama of work that ranges from Trite to Terrific. This is one of the latter. A Tense and Claustrophobic feeling that Ironically is felt even though the whole thing was Shot Outdoors because there is a constant Intrusion of Natural Boundaries. Rocky Cliffs, Raging Rivers, Caves, and clumps of Forest all close in to Corral the proceedings.The Cast is as Good as the Script and the Direction and there is a large amount of Abnormal Psychology that is an unwelcome presence and must be dealt with. Everyone is Thinking about Paydays, Double-Crosses, and Thin Alliances, what could have been and what must be done. This makes for quite an Uncomfortable Ride and this is a Dark Saga set in front of a Lush but Imposing Background.