On TV, it was either this western, or the apparently rubbish fantasy film by Sir Ridley Scott starring Tom Cruise called Legend, and I think I made the right decision. From director Anthony Mann (Winchester '73), this western sees Howard Kemp (James Stewart) meet Jesse Tate (Millard Mitchell), and then sheriff Roy Anderson (Ralph Meeker). He doesn't explain why for a little while, bu Howard is looking for and trying to catch wanted criminal Ben Vandergroat (Robert Ryan), and when he catches him after a little gun battle, along with Lina Patch (an attractive Janet Leigh), he reveals the high reward for Vandergroat's capture, and they all (apart from Lina) make a deal to split the reward when they reach the town. On the journey they encounter disagreements, a great Indian battle that ends with Howard hallucinating from a gun wound, and the film ends with all but Howard and Lina dying, and eventually forgetting the reward completely (for love, duh). Typical and predictable in a couple of places, but still a good film, and obviously I love almost anything with James Stewart (one of my most favourite actors). Good!
Review of The Naked Spur
