Flesh and the Spur (1956)

Thanks for the memories!

Simply Perfect

Fantastic!

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

At the opening credits the viewer knew that this was going to be a low-budget film as the people appearing in flick came onto the screen in large case letters as if written on a neighbors typewriter. But even with the minimal action and the hefty dialog, this movie did provide a small amount of entertainment. So what if the acting was rough and the film appeared to be aimed at the adolescent male, the story was interesting and the twist at the end made for a compelling tale.The story began with a prison break where a stripped-clothed male has escaped. The male, which we will learn was part of the Checker Gang, then kills a rancher in order to get the rancher's gun and horse. Now the brother of the rancher, Luke Random, vows to track down the convict and take his revenge.Along the way Luke runs in to a man, Stacy Doggett, that is also looking for the Checker Gang, an Indian female that has been rejected from her tribe and an older traveling elixir man that has a daughter. These characters will ride together into situation that contain danger and death. All trying, in their own way, of getting at least one of the Checker Gang members.As with this drive-in feature type movie of this generation, there are cowboys, Indians, villains and pretty girls with all having a share of some action. From a spur fight to a chick being tied up supposedly naked to a post, the teenage target group was pleased. But for the rest of us, it was a cheaply made movie that did its best to succeeded. And for the ending alone, they got all from the money spent.NOTE- This movie was supposedly film in Pathecolor (unclear of the process of that system). The film I saw was in black and white plus was somewhat rough with many splices.

One of the infamous Checker gang escapes from prison and on the run shoots John Agar down and takes his weapon with him. As Agar's dad had two long barreled weapons made he gave one each to his twin sons. And it's John Agar out looking for the guy who killed his brother John Agar.During his search for the Checker gang Agar collects a curious crew around him. Michael Connors a wanted outlaw with an edge to him, talkative trick shot artist Raymond Hatton, and exiled Indian princess Marla English.Flesh And The Spur was strictly for the drive-in trade. Those matched long barreled pistols that are harped on have a homoerotic twist to them that you couldn't miss. Sometimes you think Agar is more interested in that matched set than in getting his father's killer. All these folks have done better work, especially Hatton whose credits go back to the earliest of silent films.

This is a basic good Western film. It doesn't pretend to be anything classic, so it just delivers the basic action, scenery, and gorgeous damsels in distress that make for great male movie watching.It begins with a man, whose face is never shown, breaking out of prison and possibly killing a guard, then definitely killing a farmer and stealing his revolver. The farmer's brother seeks revenge, and the only clue he has is the revolver, part of a matched pair.He meets up with a Native American damsel in distress, whom he saves, and an ex member of a notorious gang, and then an old Wild West Show marksman, and together they whittle down the notorious gang which is led by the man with the stolen revolver.There isn't a lot of mystery, as it is pretty clear who everyone is from the start, but the action and scenery is good, and the characters are worth following.

If I would have seen `The Flesh and the Spur' when it was originally released I would dismiss it as a weak western. Seeing it nowadays when westerns are so scarce I cannot help enjoying it. Probably because it has that flavor of the fifties. Mara English is a strong presence, she is sensual and interesting. Also Mike Connors is very good as Stacy Tanner.The film starts when a man runs away from prison and ends up killing John Agar´s brother.As he takes his gun, the rest of the film is about the search of Agar for the gun and the killer. During his search he becomes friendly with Connors and also rescues Mara English who eventually falls in love with him.