Ross622
The collaboration between James Stewart and Anthony Mann is comparative to the collaboration between John Wayne and John Ford, the things that both pairs have in common are that both did mostly westerns and other genres, and both collaborations produced classic masterpieces that have stood the test of time. In "The Naked Spur" which is the 3rd of 8 films between Stewart and Mann, and in this movie Stewart plays a bounty hunter named Howard Kemp who is after an outlaw named Ben Vandergroat (Robert Ryan) who is responsible for the murder of a US Marshal. Along the way Kemp meets an old man named Jesse Tate (Millard Mitchell, in his second to last film role) who helps him to go after Vandergroat, and while they're going on a trail that they believe will lead them to the outlaw and their reward for bringing them to the police. On that trail the two men meet a soldier named Roy Anderson (Ralph Meeker), then Vandergroat is found and his girlfriend (Janet Leigh) comes to his rescue which then they go with Kemp and his partners to go to turn Vandergroat in as soon as they get to Abilene, Kansas. Even though the movie has a very small cast Mann and his screenwriters Sam Wolfe and Harold Jack Bloom really do a good job of allowing us to get to know each of the 5 main characters with very effective character development during the course of the movie. I'm not surprised that Jimmy Stewart would play the protagonist role, which like John Wayne, Cary Grant, Henry Fonda, Clark Gable, Gary Cooper and many others Stewart like the other actors that I just mentioned wouldn't have the guts to play the role of a villain because it was against their beliefs system which is totally understandable. Along with Stewart's the performances in the movie are top notch, of which Robert Ryan was totally menacing in his character, and Janet Leigh was the most likable person in the movie because she was the person who could expose the emotions of the other characters around her. though this isn't the best movie that Anthony Mann ever directed it is pretty close to the number 1 spot out of all three of the films I've seen that were directed by him. This isn't a masterpiece but it is a great film and arguably one of the best westerns of all time.
ma-cortes
An awesome rugged Western masterfully directed by Anthony Mann including his ordinary star, James Stewart . A bounty hunter called Howard Kemp (James Stewart) trying to bring a murderer to justice is forced to accept the help of two less-than-trustworthy strangers (Millard Mitchell , Ralph Meeker) . As he tracks down a vicious and cunning outlaw called Ben Vandergroat (Robert Ryan) accompanied by his gorgeous sweetheart (Janet Leigh) . The ordinary dramatic framework about three men attempting to bring another back to justice is compellingly maintained . Entertainment and excitement increases until a surprising climax .This exciting Western contains tension-filled , juicy atmosphere , thrills , suspense , gun-play and an impressive final on a high cliff which was one of filmmaker Mann's best moments . Magnificent western from the Anthony Mann/James Stewart team and their third collaboration and considered one of their best . Colour , music , scenarios , landscapes all marks well in this thrilling story about a compulsive bounty hunter who deals with four different roles . It describes a long journey in which there are extreme characters combined with psychological observations and enriched by eventual ambiguity and a tense picture about dishonesty and badness . This particular Western only starred by 5 characters contains an interesting screenplay by Sam Rolfe and being nominated for an Academy Award . By that time (1953) the picture was considered quite strong , tough , surprisingly violent and brutal ; today is deemed a classic film . And seems to be a great influence of wide range such as violence and scenarios . Filmed in Cinemascope in colorful cinematography by William Mellor ; Anthony Mann gets to take from nature the maximum impacts as rivers , valleys , mountains , being wonderfully photographed . Breathtaking background scenarios , dramatic close-up along with shining illuminations , all of them perfectly mingled with a tale full of violence , tension , intrigue and shoot'em up . When this film was released in Spain, its title was changed to "Colorado Jim" and the name of 'James Stewart's character was also changed from "Howard Kemp" to "Colorado Jim", for unknown reasons . The filming took place on location in Durango, Colorado , Rocky Mountains, Colorado, San Juan Mountains, Colorado, and Lone Pine, California . Nedless to say , the main and secondary cast is first-class . Top-of-the-range acting by the great James Stewart as a lone bounty hunter obsessed with hunting down the outlaw . There are top-notch acting from old-stagers as Millard Mitchell playing an aging prospector , as well as from Ralph Meeker as an ex-soldier and special mention to Robert Ryan as a leering killer . And delicate Janet Leigh , pretty much deglamourised here and sporting a new cropped haircut . Emotive as well as thrilling musical score performed by Bronislau Kaper . This top-drawer Western was stunningly realized by the master Anthony Mann , infusing the traditional Western with psychological confusion , including his characteristic use of landscape with marvelous use of Rockies Mountains which is visually memorable . Mann established his forte with magnificent Western almost always with James Stewart . In his beginnings he made ambitious but short-lived quality low-budget surroundings of Eagle-Lion production as ¨T-men¨ , ¨They walked by night¨ , ¨Raw deal¨ , ¨Railroaded¨ and ¨Desperate¨ . Later on , he made various Western , remarkably good , masterpieces such as ¨The furies¨ , ¨Devil's doorway¨ and ¨Man of the West¨ and several with his habitual star , James Stewart, as ¨Winchester 73¨ , ¨Bend the river¨ , ¨The far country¨ , ¨Man of the West ¨. They are characterized by roles whose determination to stick to their guns would take them to the limits of their endurance . Others in this throughly enjoyable series include ¨Tin star ¨ that is probably one of the best Western in the fifties and sixties . After the mid-50 , Mann's successes came less frequently , though directed another good Western with Victor Mature titled ¨The last frontier¨. And of course ¨Naker spur ¨ that turns out to be stylish , fast paced , solid , meticulous , with enjoyable look , and most powerful and well-considered . This well acted movie is gripping every step of the way . It results to be a splendid western and remains consistently agreeable . Rating : Above average , the result is a magnificent Western . Well worth watching and it will appeal to James Stewart fans .
mformoviesandmore
The scenery is stunning.The storyline is promising.The acting is is of a standard that would have been acceptable in the '50s. By today's standards it is quite corny.I enjoyed the opening. No lead up, it takes us straight in to action and we learn about the characters as the story unfolds.It has silly moments, like when the Indians attack. The Indians can't hit a target and ride around in the open. Each Indian, however, is dispatched with a single shot from the named cast.All in all, a bit of a ripping yarn that could have been a better film.
