
The Naked Spur
3.8
Western
1953
91 min
NR
A bounty hunter trying to bring a murderer to justice is forced to accept the help of two less-than-trustworthy strangers.
Starring:
Western
Drama
Thriller
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"Anthony Mann made his name directing westerns and film noirs in the 40s and 50s that were more nuanced and morally ambiguous than the normal fare of the time. This film immediately introduces its five main characters as familiar archetypes: the lawman, the old mining coot, the soldier, the outlaw and his naive girlfriend. It spends the rest of the movie subverting your expectations for those characters.
Jimmy Stewart plays the man pursuing Robert Ryan’s outlaw. During the apprehension, he unwillingly picks up two “partners” who help him capture Ryan and they now want a share of his bounty. Janet Leigh plays Ryan’s tomboy-ish girlfriend who is completely under his spell. Reveals come that show that not everyone is who they are pretending to be. Ryan tries to take advantage of the tension and play the partners against each other.
The movie is a beautifully shot TechniColor film. Stewart, who I am hit or miss on, is good here, as they give his character an ineptness that plays to his strengths as an actor. However it is Robert Ryan, who is great at playing the conniving a-hole, who steals the show. Just an excellent, well written western.
4 out of 5 Stars
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R
Ryan