THE NAKED SPUR (1953) * They have the bad guy treed by the time the opening credits finish so you have to wonder where they'll go from there. Once you see, the only question is why. There's not a likeable character in the film, and that's saying something for a Jimmy Stewart movie. He always has those blue eyes, but there's no twinkle in them here, absolutely no Mr. Smith Goes to Washington virtue, only passing Vertigo madness, and the forced determination is like flat 7-up left out in the sun to bake. Where Stewart is understated Roy Anderson is over the top sideways and nauseating. They're very different actors but when they get together...it leads to one of the fakest fights in Hollywood history, a 90-second affair during which no one swings and no one connects, they just roll around in the dust a bit trying to rope each other, and at the conclusion of which they both pass out from exhaustion and Jimmy falls in the river. The stupidity of the plot, pathetic attempts at action, and occasional shots of Stewart falling off a horse, is matched nicely by Janet Leigh's dye-job and "regular boy" haircut.
back to Brilliant Observations on 2120 Films page, or Index
go back home, or send me email
Reviews won't do it any more! I need sustained brilliance! I want to buy your exciting new terrorist novel!
I've already read both of your novels. Thank you, they're amazing. Now I want to check out your weekly blog on everything