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showtimesofficial sitesmiscellaneousphotographssound clipsvideo clipsThe Naked Spur (1953) More at IMDbPro »
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Sam Rolfe (written by) and
Harold Jack Bloom (written by)
Release Date:
3 August 1953 (Sweden) more
Tagline:
Packed with Technicolor Thrills!
Plot:
A bounty hunter trying to bring a murderer to justice is forced to accept the help of two less-than-trustworthy strangers. full summary | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win more
NewsDesk:
(2 articles)
Walter Hill: The Hollywood Interview
(From The Hollywood Interview. 9 September 2009, 12:07 AM, PDT)
Actress Janet Leigh Dies at 77
(From IMDb News. 4 October 2004)
User Comments:
Taut, rugged western...grinning Ryan steals the show... more (53 total)
Cast
(Complete credited cast)| James Stewart | ... | Howard Kemp | |
| Janet Leigh | ... | Lina Patch | |
| Robert Ryan | ... | Ben Vandergroat | |
| Ralph Meeker | ... | Roy Anderson | |
| Millard Mitchell | ... | Jesse Tate |
Additional Details
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
91 min
Country:
Language:
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Certification:
Portugal:M/12 | UK:A (original rating) | Australia:PG (TV rating) | Finland:K-16 | West Germany:16 (nf) | Canada:G (video rating) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Australia:G | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #16067)
Filming Locations:
Company:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
In Germany all films get dubbed, and at that time even the titles were translated. Thus it happened that in the German dubbed version James Stewart's name is spelled wrong in the front credits, with a d in the end. more
Goofs:
Continuity: In the cave face-off scene, after Stewart (Kemp) gives Ryan (Vandergroat) the pistol, in 5 subsequent scenes the pistol alternates from being inside his vest, to outside his vest, to inside, to outside, and finally to outside but leaning way over about to fall out of his pants. In the scene changes, Ryan supposedly didn't move except to lower his hands during the first sequence of the scene, but when the camera changed from Stewart to Ryan and back several times, each time the pistol position alternated from inside the vest to outside. more
Quotes:
Ben Vandergroat: Money splits better two ways than it does with three. more
Movie Connections:
Featured in A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies (1995) (TV) more
FAQ
This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.more (53 total)
Message Boards
Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Naked Spur (1953)| Recent Posts (updated daily) | User |
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| Best Western? | missrljane |
| I had some problems... | KingFritzLang |
| Smart and compact, but deeply flawed? | luise-6 |
| What happened... | caitrp10 |
| Finally on DVD | seattlemariner |
Recommendations
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| Adventures of Frank and Jesse James | Rio Lobo | How the West Was Won | Custer's Last Stand | The Lone Ranger Rides Again |
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Related Links
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| News articles | IMDb Western section | IMDb USA section |
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I never realized what a scene-stealer ROBERT RYAN could be until I saw THE NAKED SPUR. Although JAMES STEWART is the nominal big name star, it's Ryan's charming, snake-like villain who dominates this rugged western despite strong performances from the entire cast. He obviously relishes his role and is a joy to watch.
This is more a character study of a group of desperate losers than your average shoot 'em up western and Anthony Mann has directed it with the focus on the strong clashes between each one of them. RALPH MEEKER does an outstanding job as a war deserter who is both a help and a hindrance to the group as they seek to return outlaw Ryan to Kansas so justice can prevail. Stewart's character is given strong motivation for his deeds but Janet Leigh, as the outlaw's girlfriend, has a role that is not plausibly explained.
Photographed in Colorado's Rocky Mountains, it's a rugged kind of technicolor western that gives all of the performers physically demanding roles--and all of them are more than up to it.
Stewart, Leigh, Mitchell and Meeker are all superb--but it's Robert Ryan's devious villain that will linger longest in the memory.