The Naked Spur

12/19/2025

There were not that many actors who could cross the genres as effortlessly as James Stewart, and he proves that here in this superior western that pitches him as disgruntled bounty hunter “Kemp”. He is on the trail of the ingenious “Vandergroat” (Robert Ryan) who’s found himself a vantage point that he can readily defend with rifle and rocks. “Kemp” is a lone wolf, so isn’t naturally inclined to work with the wandering prospector “Tate” (Millard Mitchell) nor with the dubious and flamboyant soldier “Anderson” (Ralph Meeker) - especially when they learn there is $5,000 riding on the head of their quarry. Anyway, team up they do and soon they manage to ensare not just “Vandergroat” but his feisty gal “Lina” (Janet Leigh) too. Now he still has to get him turned-in before anyone gets a red cen