The Naked Spur

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Draco R Feb 18, 2019 In this film, James Stewart plays a taciturn frontiersman who loses his home while he's off fighting the Civil War. To raise enough money for a new grubstake, Stewart becomes a bounty hunter in Colorado territory. His first quarry is fugitive killer Robert Ryan. Filmed in my home state Durango, CO . This 1953 film has Janet Leigh in jeans, beautiful location shooting (and Technicolor cinematography) . In this taut revenge Western, from Oscar-nominated script by Sam Rolfe and Harold Jack Bloom, Jimmy Stewart gives one of his best performances, revealing a darker facet to his screen persona that only a superb director like Anthony Mann could bring out. I like the anti-hero aspect of James Stewart as he take on the fugitive Robert Ryan in some intense psychological warfare. Mann never failed to deliver an astonishing ending to his Westerns, but this is one of his best. See more

Leia G Oct 31, 2018 Contrary to what Iâ(TM)ve read, I donâ(TM)t think the characters in this film are really all that complicated, in fact, theyâ(TM)re all pretty simple, but to its credit, theyâ(TM)re also all far from admirable. I also liked its economy of characters â" there are only five with speaking parts, and it gives the film a lean simplicity. The scenery is the real star though, shot on location in the Rocky Mountains, with beautiful trees, rocky outcrops, and a raging river. Leading the three who are trying to bring in a wanted man is a civil war vet (Jimmy Stewart) who was duped out of his ranch by a woman, and at first falsely represents himself as a lawman. The two others who horn their way into his plan, seeking to share the reward are a grizzled old prospector (Millard Mitchell) who has failed to strike it rich after decades trying, and a dishonorably discharged soldier (Ralph Meeker) who raped an Indian girl. The man theyâ(TM)re trying to bring in is (Robert Ryan) is wanted for killing someone by shooting him in the back. He has a young woman with him (Janet Leigh) who is naively loyal to him, and follows the schemes he hatches to try to escape. Great group, eh? This creates a realistic feel, and in a setting without the structure of community, we see the struggle between selfish and cooperative behavior, and that most primal of power dynamics, that â~might makes rightâ(TM). This already ambiguous group get still more twisted up by Ryanâ(TM)s manipulations. He sows the seeds of doubt and pits them against each other from the start in such obvious ways, that one really wonders why heâ(TM)s not gagged or pistol whipped. The story is a bit predictable, and includes a requisite scene where a dozen Indians are gunned down with single shots to each, despite being moving targets. The love interest that develops between Stewart and Leigh is too sudden and unbelievable, though Stewart as always turns in a strong performance, particularly when he gets nasty. The trouble is, the other four performances are pretty average, the story is plodding, and the quality of the film itself is not all that great, so it became a little tedious to continue watching about halfway in. The final action sequences towards the end are fantastic though, and made me consider a slightly higher rating. I wonâ(TM)t spoil them, but will just say that theyâ(TM)re both gripping and beautiful, involving the natural scenery and shot from excellent angles. I was less a fan of the final ending itself, which seemed to me to have an invented conflict. Because it seems so unrealistic, it weakens the moral message director Anthony Mann was trying to convey. If youâ(TM)re a fan of the genre, youâ(TM)ll probably like this film a bit better, and if not, itâ(TM)s still watchable for Jimmy Stewart, the action at the end, and the river. See more

Anakin W Oct 16, 2017 Meh. Pretty forgettable

Ron W Aug 6, 2017 Western from 1953 shot in Technicolor by studio MGM and shot almost entirely on location in the rapids and mountains of Colorado, U.S.A. Directed by Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart as a bounty hunter aiming to earn the reward of $5000 for the capture of killer Ben Vandergroat (Robert Ryan). Stewart plays Howard Kemp who is psychologically damaged after his fianceè left him and he lost his ranch property after serving in the army and going to war. Kemp gets a couple of hangers on on the way an old gold prospector who may know the unfamiliar Colorado terrain and a soldier who was discharged from the army dishonorably. The killer himself lives on the edge and what follows is a story of cat and mouse between the characters questioning each other's motives. Mann films most if not all of the film on location in colour and turns what appears to be a simple cowboys and Indians story into a psychological thriller. The lush location shoot in Colorado is put to full use. Stewart does what he does best playing a psychologically flawed character. I find it quite remarkable that such films from the genre were released almost weekly but now it is probably an annual event. See more

Leia W Oct 1, 2012 A well made and beautifully shot unusual western. It was the first I had seen Ryan play a different character than what he normally does. 1001 movies to see before you die. See more

Harry P Jan 14, 2008 Beautifully shot western with James Stewart and Anthony Mann re-teaming for what might be their best film together. It's a story of betrayal and who better to play opposite Stewart than the indignant Robert Ryan? Very good movie. See more

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The Naked Spur

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