The Naked Spur (1953)

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 cent, but this small and untrusting group still have their problems to face - not least some Indians on the warpath and a duplicitous “Vandergroat” who is determined to use bribery, corruption and/or his revolver to make sure he escapes - with or without a “Lina” who is starting to show just an hint of divided loyalty. Stewart and Ryan work well together, but the other three in this tightly cast drama contribute just as much to this tautly directed plot that has wit in the script, some grand cinematography and just a little well managed romance bubbling under, eventually, too. Though on the face of it, this might seem a little precessional - I found there to be an increasing degree of doubt as to just what might happen at the end as consciences started to kick-in and loyalties started to evolve. Might it be a victory for the bullet or maybe for something altogether more unexpected? This just goes to show that you can create a characterful story in ninety minutes, with plenty of action and tension to keep us intrigued, and neither Ryan nor Stewart disappoint.