Fans of classic western tales perk up when they hear the name Anthony Mann. The prolific filmmaker knew his way around a dusty, violent affair with works such as The Furies to his name, but it is the films that he put out with James Stewart (Vertigo) that drew the most acclaim. Winchester ‘73 and Bend of the River are among the finest you could ask for from the genre, but it is their third collaboration The Naked Spur from 1953 that especially stands apart. This powder keg of a story really knew how to play with tension as it kept the primary action to five main characters who would gradually show their true colors as they were met with various obstacles and temptations. This captivating script was one of the few westerns to receive a nomination for Best Original Screenplay at the Academy Awards, an honor that you will agree that it deserves after you finish watching this one. It has been nearly seventy years since this film was released, and it still packs a mighty punch.
The year is 1868 and Howard Kemp (Stewart) is in dogged pursuit of a criminal known as Ben Vandergroat (Robert Ryan, Crossfire), a wild killer with a $5,000 “dead or alive” bounty on his head for the murder of a Kansas marshal. When the trail starts getting a bit cold, he comes across a lively old prospector named Jesse Tate (Millard Mitchell, Twelve O’Clock High) who agrees to help him for a $20 fee. Jesse is under the assumption that Howard is a member of the law, so he is quite unaware about the significant bounty he is missing. In actuality Howard is a rancher in desperate need of some money who sees this bounty as a quick way to get what he needs. Once they corner Ben in a tough spot, they run into Roy Anderson (Ralph Meeker, The Dirty Dozen), a man recently dishonorably discharged from his regiment who assists in securing Ben. Accompanying Ben is Lina (Janet Leigh, Psycho), whose deceased father was friends with the bandit. What should be the end of the story is just the beginning once the information about the bounty comes to light.
What makes The Naked Spur so great is the way it really delves into the psychology of these five individuals. While all of them can present with some level of charm, they all have the possibility of being duplicitous or worse. The agreement to split the money three ways is not settled upon easily, but as the three reluctant partners march Ben and his companion to the nearest town he deftly attempts to turn the men against one another by playing on their greed and paranoia. Roy is the most outwardly unsteady of the three partners; he displays a cocky nature at every turn and is revealed to be in serious trouble with the Blackfoot. These Native American characters are archetypes used to give quick insight into the character rather than given depth themselves, which is effective because you will despise Roy for how they are treated in this film. Even the character of Howard is fueled by greed, but with Stewart behind the role you hold out hope for something greater for him.
This may come in the form of Lina, who at first appears to be “with” Ben, but soon finds herself with complicated feelings for Howard. The situation is complicated by the fact that it is hard to trust Lina when it seems she is trying to aid Ben in his escape at every turn, but things are not always as they appear. Mann plays with tension like a maestro; there is tension around their proximity to death in several instances, from the idea of gaining and losing out on large sums of money, and from the possibility of love – an idea that does not seem practical when all you know is trying to survive. At just over 90 minutes in length, the story has the perfect amount of time to build and evolve with key twists and turns from the characters that crescendo into a parade of violence and poor decision-making. Mann’s eye behind the camera uses his expansive framing and deliberate cutting to accentuate the narrative in all of the most exhilarating ways. Despite the action taking place mostly in wide-open plains, Mann can make the frame feel so claustrophobic when he needs to keep you holding your breath. The Naked Spur is a fantastic piece of filmmaking that stands as a highlight from the genre.
Video Quality
Warner Archive presents The Naked Spur with a spectacular new 1080p master transfer that appears to be sourced from a 4K scan of the original Technicolor negatives. Warner Archive has been knocking it out of the park lately with eye-popping Technicolor films on Blu-Ray, and this one is no exception in this virtually flawless presentation. The film appears to be entirely free of dirt and damage, which makes this gritty tale feel that much more engrossing. The level of detail and clarity is stunning with the appropriate amount of natural film grain intact. The film features some fabulous colors within the landscapes and lighting that pop off the screen with an immense vibrancy. The black levels are incredibly deep with an impressive stability throughout. There does not appear to be any jarring digital anomalies such as compression artifacts, banding or any other such issues. This presentation garners top marks for Warner Archive.
Audio Quality
Warner Archive has delivered a DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio presentation that is simply outstanding. Dialogue is the driving force of this film, and it comes through clearly from beginning to end. When it comes to the music in this feature, the track is in great form with its handling of the different core elements. The score from Bronislaw Kaper feels essential to the story and it comes through flawlessly with remarkable fidelity. The track balances vocals with the environmental sounds with magnificent clarity. Even in the most active moments such as the attack on the Native Americans, there are no moments where the track ever appears as if it will fail to maintain its stability. Warner Archive has provided an A+ audio presentation that does not exhibit any glaring signs of age-related wear-and-tear. The disc also comes with optional English (SDH) subtitles.
Special Features
- MGM Short – “Things We Can Do Without”: A nine-minute “Pete Smith Speciality” which humorously showcases many of life’s modern conveniences and how they may be more trouble than they are worth. This is silly but amusing.
- Cartoon – “Little Johnny Jet”: A seven-minute Tex Avery cartoon from 1953 about an obsolete B-29 plane searching for work to support his family in a world that values jet engines.
- Theatrical Trailer: A nearly three-minute trailer is provided for The Naked Spur.
Final Thoughts
The Naked Spur stands as one of the great westerns thanks to the impeccable direction from Anthony Mann. With such a compact cast, every performer gets a chance to really show off and feel like a three-dimensional character. There is not a false note from any of them. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray featuring a tremendous A/V presentation and a couple of fun supplemental features. Even if you are only a casual fan of westerns, this one is worth your time. Recommended
The Naked Spur can be purchased directly through the Warner Archive Amazon Store or various other online retailers.
Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.
Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.
Dillon is most comfortable sitting around in a theatre all day watching both big budget and independent movies.
