The Spikes Gang (1974)

One day, three farm boys come upon a wounded outlaw named Harry Spikes. They take him to one of the boys' barn... See full synopsis »

Director:

Richard Fleischer

Writers:

Irving Ravetch (screenplay), Harriet Frank Jr. (screenplay),

Stars:

Lee Marvin, Gary Grimes, Ron Howard

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lee Marvin	...	Harry Spikes
Gary Grimes	...	Will
Ron Howard	...	Les
Charles Martin Smith	...	Tod (as Charlie Martin Smith)
Arthur Hunnicutt	...	Kid White
Noah Beery Jr.	...	Basset (as Noah Beery)
Marc Smith	...	Abel Young
Don Fellows	...	Cowboy
Elliott Sullivan	...	Billy
Robert Beatty	...	Sheriff (credit only)
Ralph Brown	...	Posse Leader
Bill Curran	...	Gillis
Ricardo Palacios	...	Doctor
David Thomson	...	Sheriff of Carrizo Springs
Bert Conway	...	Bank Teller

Storyline

One day, three farm boys come upon a wounded outlaw named Harry Spikes. They take him to one of the boys' barn... See full synopsis »

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Plot Keywords:

runaway | teenage boy | bank robbery | bank robber | street shootout | 

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Taglines:

Three boys wanted to be like their hero. Harry Spikes. They got their wish. Soon they were worth a fortune. DEAD or ALIVE.

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Genres:

Western

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

11 April 1974 (West Germany)

Also Known As:

Demir mizraklilar

Filming Locations:

Tabernas, Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Company Credits

Production Co:

Duo Productions, Mirisch Corporation, The, Sanford Productions (III)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The extremely low holsters worn by the three boys are so unauthentic to the period as to be downright silly.

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Quotes

Harry Spikes: Don't look so scared boys. Hell, look at me.
[Turns around while naked, indicating his various wounds]
Harry Spikes: Vadalia... Northfield... Jonesboro... Elysian Township... Marysville... Gallatin. Oh, I ducked a little late a few times, but I'm still standin'. The thing to do, my friends, is to admit to your fate with Christian resignation and live bravely until your appointed time.

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Connections

Featured in Hollywood Remembers Lee Marvin (2000)

User Reviews

Between Heaven and Hell

This is probably Richard Fleischer's last good movie;it's considered polite to say that all he did after "solyent green" is worthless.Richard Fleischer made lots and lots of great movies from " follow me quietly" to " the narrow margin" ,from "20,0000 leagues under the sea" to "The Vikings "and from "Barabbas" to "the Boston strangler" to the stunning (and perhaps his masterpiece) "10 Rillington Place" After "Solyent green" which featured the extremely moving scene of the death of Edward G.Robinson (who eventually died some months after),only "Spikes gang" shows something of the unqualified brilliance that accompanies Fleischer in his career through "Solyent green" .It is a western which has nothing to do with the epics of Ford,Daves or Walsh or Mann.It has also (fortunately) nothing to do with Peckinpah.

Filmed in Spain,its spirit is actually close to that of Arthur Penn,particularly "Bonnie and Clyde".When Grimes is daydreaming and sees his father tell him :"you're no longer my son;you're dead" ,it recalls that scene when Bonnie meets her mom for a picnic and the old lady says "you're already dead ,Bonnie Parker" .

The three lads are in search of a father ,which is very Pennesque ,notably in "the left handed gun" .even in a non-western film such as "the miracle worker" Ann Sullivan was Helen Keller's second mom. Grimes' father was a religious man ,perhaps not far from being a fanatic (his part is too underwritten).Remember that scene in the bank where the ticking of the clock merges of the memories of the whip coming down .Lee Marvin is their new father and I go as far as to write that Grimes is some kind of father to his two mates too when he is absent.

The three lads are amateurs and cannot free them of the concept of right and wrong ,coming from a religion which does not give any answer;when they're eating hosts and drinking sacred wine,one of the youngest speaks of blasphemy but their leader tells them so "Christ would give them to us if He were here" .

Lee Marvin's character is extremely interesting.Lee Marvin never overplays and the discovery that he was once married to an educated wife ,a teacher who spoke several languages and played the piano comes aside as a shock.This memory is necessary ;without it,the ending would not make any sense.

An inferior director would have made "men" of the three teenagers ;but they can't :their dreams ,their remorse,the letter one of them sends to his mom,the trust they put in Marvin,all indicates that when they die they will still be big children.

Like this?try this.....

"Run for cover" Nicholas Ray 1955