Released - February, 1953 

Directed By - Anthony Mann

Starring - James Stewart (Howard Kemp), Janet Leigh (Lina Patch), Robert Ryan (Ben Vandergroat), Ralph Meeker (Roy Anderson).

Description – Bounty hunter Howard Kemp has been tracking Ben Vandergroat for a long time. Vandergroat is wanted for the murder of a marshall in Abilene.

During his pursuit, Kemp meets and enlists the aid of a couple of questionable characters; a grizzled old prospector named Tate and a dishonorably discharged Union soldier named Anderson. Both believe Kemp to be a sheriff and not a bounty hunter.

The three have come across and trap someone on the top of a hill in the Rocky Mountains. Kemp feels it must be Vandergroat. Sure enough, it is Ben Vandergroat and Lina Patch the daughter of one of Ben’s friends killed during a bank robbery.

After capturing Vandergroat, the prospector and disgraced soldier learn that Kemp is not a sheriff and is just looking for the $5,000 reward on Vandergroat’s head. The two agree to help Kemp claim the reward with an eye on the reward for themselves.

This will be no easy trip as Vandergroat begins to use greed to set the partners against one another as well as using the beautiful Lina to come between Kemp and Anderson. To make things even worse they come upon a group of BlackFeet warriors who, while usually friendly, are out of their area and seem to be looking for someone.

Throw in a brutal rainstorm, a cave in, an attempt to cross a raging river and you have one of the most exciting westerns ever made; possibly James Stewert’s best.

NOTABLE: In 1997, The Naked Spur was added to the National Film Registry.

The Naked Spur received one Academy Award nomination for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay.

Personal Note: One of the best Westerns ever made. A good script, solid acting, and beautifully shot in Technicolor on location in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado.

The Naked Spur

James Stewart – The Signature Collection (The Cheyenne Social Club / Firecreek / The FBI Story / The Naked Spur / The Spirit of St. Louis / The Stratton Story)

James Stewart – The Western Collection (Destry Rides Again / Winchester ?73 / Bend of the River / The Far Country / Night Passage / The Rare Breed)

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Released – February, 1952 

Directed By – Anthony Mann

Starring – James Stewart (Glyn McLyntock), Arthur Kennedy (Emerson Cole), Rock Hudson (Trey Wilson), Jay C. Flippen (Jeremy Baile), Julie Adams (Laura Baile), Lori Nelson (Marjie Baile).

Description – While scouting for a wagon train of settlers heading for Oregon former outlaw Glyn McLyntock come upon a lynching. Emerson Cole is about to be hanged for stealing a horse. McLyntock rescues Cole who now joins the wagon train headed west.

Later that night, their party is attacked by a band of Indians and Cole returns the favor by saving McLyntock’s life. However, settler Laura Baile is badly injured and stays behind to recover in Portland. Cole also stays due to his interest in the woman and the money-making opportunities in the city.

McLyntock and the remainder of the pioneers continue on to establish a settlement and arranging to have additional supplies for the coming winter sent to them. With winter closing in and no supplies in sight, McLyntock and Jeremy Baile return to town to investigate.

They find that the gold rush has driven up the price of supplies and the supplier has chosen to sell to the highest bidder. With the help of Cole and his men they are able to begin to take the supplies back to the settlement.

Along the way they are met by a group of miners who offer a very high price for the supplies tempting Cole and his men. The temptation of all that money proves too much and a double-cross is inevitable.

NOTABLE: James Stewart starred in five classic westerns directed by Anthony Mann. In each, Stewart played a man struggling with his past. These films played a large part of the resurgence of the western genre during the 1950′s.

It is rumored that this was the last film where James Stewart had his own hair.

Though initial reviews of this film were poor, it has gone on to be respected as a fine example of the adult western genre and proved to be a turning point in the career of James Stewart. Previously associated with light comedic roles, he was now able to be cast playing more violent, ruthless characters.

Bend of the River

James Stewart – The Western Collection (Destry Rides Again / Winchester ?73 / Bend of the River / The Far Country / Night Passage / The Rare Breed)

Enjoy browsing the Hollywood Movie Memories Film Store