NewInMunich Review of The Naked Spur

The Naked Spur (1953)

Millard Mitchell, an unsung hero in an Adult Western

[7/10 · 25 September 2005]

I want to sing the song of praise for Millard Mitchell, whom i have seen in supporting parts everywhere, from 12 O'clock High to Thieves Highway to Naked Spur and Winchester 73 together with Jimmy Stewart. And he does stand up to anybody in the cast, from lead men and fine actors Stewart and Ryan, as well as supporting cast Leigh and Meeker, which pretty much makes up for the whole cast. The story is maybe the darkest of the Mann / Stewart cooperation, with Jimmy Stewart as a man bordering to insanity in his fight to get 5.000 Dollars to reclaim his farm lost in the Civil War. He would stop from nothing until close to the end, when only he and Leigh are left alive. This is told in spectacular landscape in good pace and with all the twists and turns. And nobody is a clean character here, not Stewart, definitely not Ryan as the villain and murderer, Meeker as an discharged officer or the obviously under-age Leigh as Ryans love interest. Still worth watching after all the years, 8/10.