The Spikes Gang (1974)

User Rating:

6.0/10   

Director:

Richard Fleischer

Writers:

Giles Tippette (novel)
Irving Ravetch (writer) ...

Release Date:

11 April 1974 (West Germany)

Genre:

Western

Tagline:

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

Plot Keywords:

Bank Robbery | Mexican | Bank Robber | Gunshot Wound | Teenage Boy

Cast

Lee Marvin	...	Harry Spikes
Gary Grimes	...	Will Young
Ron Howard	...	Les Richter
Charles Martin Smith	...	Tod (as Charlie Martin Smith)
Arthur Hunnicutt	...	Kid White aka Billy Blanco
Noah Beery Jr.	...	Jack Basset (as Noah Beery)
Marc Smith	...	Abel Young
Don Fellows	...	Cowboy
Elliott Sullivan	...	Billy (Harry's friend in saloon)
Robert Beatty	...	Sheriff (credit only)
Ralph Brown	...	Posse leader
Bill Curran	...	Gillis
Ricardo Palacios	...	Doctor in Piedra Negras, Mexico
David Thomson	...	Sheriff of Carrizo Springs
Bert Conway	...	Bank teller

Runtime:

96 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

West Germany:16 (f) | Australia:M | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:PG (certificate #23769)

Filming Locations:

Tabernas, Almería, Andalucía, Spain

Company:

Duo Productions

Trivia:

'Robert Beatty' (Sheriff) is nowhere to be seen, despite being credited.

Quotes:

Harry Spikes: You brought down a big one boys. There's a bounty on ya. They don't care if you're cold or warm, they'll pay $1500 for each one of ya.
Les Richter: Well, that makes us sitting ducks, don't it... not knowing which way we're going to get flushed.
Harry Spikes: That's the game.

Good and unknown western with great casting by young man actors and a sensational Lee Marvin

After escape home,three young man friends(Gary Grimes,Charles Martin Smith,Ron Howard) form an alliance, a dynamic trio trio combining raw untamed youth.They find an old man(Lee Marvin) with the experience only a master gun-fighter can offer.They formed his own gang and carried out a number of bank robberies and murders.They are converted an outlaws with a price on their heads.But they are trapped in Mexico,while awaiting trial in Mexico are released on bail by the bandit Spikes.The three young man accompanied by the veteran crook on the raid bank in which two of them were severely wounded.The lawmen formed a posse were engaged to hunt down the gang.

The film packs action western, riders pursuits,emotion,shoot outs and is quite entertained .Besides contains good feeling as the friendship,faithfulness and companionship although was betrayed for one of them on the final.The trio young players is phenomenal,they will get much success in the future,especially Ron Howard(American Graffiti) with a successful career as director(Beautiful mind,Cinderella man,Da Vinci Code);Charles Martin Smith as famed secondary(Starman,Untouchables);Gary Grimes(Summer of 42,Class of 44) as starring of Westerns with similar role of naive cowboy(Cahill US Marshal,CulpepperCattle) though nowadays he is retreated.And, of course, the great Lee Marvin ,he makes a terrific acting. Also appear two noted secondaries actors from numerous western :Noah Beery Jr and Arthur Hunnicut. The film was shot in Almeria(Spain),location where were filmed hundred spaghetti western during the 60s and 70s . The motion picture is well directed by Richard Fleischer. The movie will like to Lee Marvin fans and twilight western enthusiastic.