The Spikes Gang
| The Spikes Gang | |
|---|---|
 The Spikes Gang DVD cover, artwork by Tom Jung |
|
| Directed by | Richard Fleischer |
| Produced by | Richard Fleischer Walter Mirisch |
| Written by | Giles Tippette (novel) Irving Ravetch Harriet Frank, Jr. |
| Starring | Lee Marvin Gary Grimes Charles Martin Smith Ron Howard Arthur Hunnicutt Noah Beery, Jr. |
| Music by | Fred Karlin |
| Cinematography | Brian West |
| Editing by | Frank J. Urioste Ralph E. Winters |
| Distributed by | United Artists Optimum Releasing |
| Release date(s) | 1974 |
| Running time | 96 min. |
| Language | English |
The Spikes Gang is a 1974 Mirisch Company motion picture adaptation of the Giles Tippette novel The Bank Robber.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
Starring Lee Marvin as an aging bank robber of the American Old West, the film follows his encounters with three coming of age farm boys played by Gary Grimes, Charles Martin Smith, and Ron Howard. Veteran character actors Arthur Hunnicutt and Noah Beery, Jr. both appear in separate "scene stealing" performances.[1]
It was filmed in Tabernas, Almeria, and Andalucia, in Spain.
The production style of director Richard Fleischer received generally favorable reviews.[2] "It was only the second matchup for the director and Marvin and the actor gives a seething, unpredictable performance as the untrustworthy Harry Spikes. You can see why a trio of farmhands, well-played by his co-stars, would want to emulate him; you can also see why they come to resist the lethal charm of his coercion.", wrote one critic.[1]
Ron Howard later praised producer Walter Mirisch saying, "When I...acted in one of his productions, The Spikes Gang, I learned that a prolific and brilliant producer could also be a terrific guy and a wonderful teacher."[3]
[edit] Synopsis
Harry Spikes is an aging bank robber of the fading "Old West." Injured and near death, he is found and mended back to health by three impressionable youths who are life-long friends -- Wil, Tod, and Les. Later, encouraged by Spikes's reminiscences, they run away from home seeking excitement and easy living.
Reunited with Spikes on several occasions, the boys follow his tutoring, ultimately resulting in the gravest of consequences.
[edit] Featured cast
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
| Lee Marvin | Harry Spikes |
| Gary Grimes | Wilson Young |
| Charles Martin Smith as Charlie Martin Smith |
Tod Hayhew |
| Ron Howard | Les Richter |
| Arthur Hunnicutt | Kid White aka Billy Blanco |
| Noah Beery, Jr. as Noah Berry |
Jack Basset |
| Marc Smith | Abel Young |
| Don Fellows | Cowboy |
| Susan Coyne | Clara Cratchitt |
| Elliott Sullivan | Billy |
[edit] Home media
The film is available in DVD-R format, MGM on Demand; also available in Region 2. The VHS version is long out of print.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Cashill, Robert. "Point Blank". Between Productions. http://robertcashill.blogspot.com/2007_08_01_archive.html. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
- ^ London, Time Out. "The Spikes Gang". TimeOut London. http://www.timeout.com/film/reviews/75155/the-spikes-gang.html. Retrieved 2009-06-24.
- ^ Mirisch, Walter. "I Thought We Were Making Movies, Not History". UW Press. http://uwpress.wisc.edu/Presskits/Mirisch.html. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
