The Naked Spur (1953)
James Stewart made a lot of westerns in the 1950s, but if you don’t find him believable on top of a horse (rather than in Congress) you won’t change your mind by watching The Naked Spur. I didn’t like this one, mainly because of Jimmy’s character. I’m not sure if the screenplay was written to make him such a mean “hero” or if it was his interpretation of the lines to snarl and grouch his way through. There was also an element of “sex sells” that bothered me. The title didn’t have anything to do with the story. Janet Leigh was pretty much exploited for audience draw. Her haircut and color were very much out of place for the setting; if she really had short platinum hair she would have been treated like a prostitute. With her tight-fitting blouses and britches, she wouldn’t have been so sheltered by her male companions.
The plot starts off simple: Jimmy is a bounty hunter out to catch murderer Robert Ryan. Robert has Janet as a sidekick, and Jimmy comes across a couple of fellows (Ralph Meeker and Millard Mitchell) who are interested in dividing up the reward. But as the movie continues there’s more than meets the eye. . .
Robert Ryan has never smiled so much, and his long, wavy hair is so darling, it’s just impossible to believe he really is the bad guy. James Stewart seems equally villainous, with his mercenary obsession with money, his manipulation of his sidekicks, and his poor treatment of his prisoner. He snaps, shouts, and repeatedly says, “Don’t act like we’re friends,” when nothing Robert says indicates they’re enemies. And if they were friends, or even acquaintances, his continued effort to bring him in to get a $5,000 reward isn’t very admirable.
So who is the villain and who is the hero? And which one will Janet fall in love with? I’d recommend a viewing for Ryan fans, but Stewart fans will probably be disappointed.
More James Stewart movies here!
The plot starts off simple: Jimmy is a bounty hunter out to catch murderer Robert Ryan. Robert has Janet as a sidekick, and Jimmy comes across a couple of fellows (Ralph Meeker and Millard Mitchell) who are interested in dividing up the reward. But as the movie continues there’s more than meets the eye. . .
Robert Ryan has never smiled so much, and his long, wavy hair is so darling, it’s just impossible to believe he really is the bad guy. James Stewart seems equally villainous, with his mercenary obsession with money, his manipulation of his sidekicks, and his poor treatment of his prisoner. He snaps, shouts, and repeatedly says, “Don’t act like we’re friends,” when nothing Robert says indicates they’re enemies. And if they were friends, or even acquaintances, his continued effort to bring him in to get a $5,000 reward isn’t very admirable.
So who is the villain and who is the hero? And which one will Janet fall in love with? I’d recommend a viewing for Ryan fans, but Stewart fans will probably be disappointed.
More James Stewart movies here!