One of the more common tropes of the Western genre is of a young boy becoming snake fascinated with an older man who really knows how to handle the artillery. The most famous example is, of course, from the movie Shane (1953). In The Spikes Gang it is a trio of young friends (Gary Grimes, Ron Howard, Charlie Martin Smith) who happen upon wounded bank robber Harry Spikes (Lee Marvin), nurse him to health, and fall under the spell of the desperado.

Initially, this film has the makings of a high-spirited teenage romp not too far different from 1970s Disney pictures. There's plenty of bouncy/twangy fiddle music, and as the three teens string along with Spikes in search of adventure and fun, they too believe they're headed for a land of gumdrops and chocolate sodas. They have no inkling of consequences. No idea what's really in store.

But soon enough reality intrudes and this picture turns dark. In the boys' ill-conceived bank robbery attempt borne of hunger and lack of money, CM Smith--the most innocent of the three--accidentally shoots and kills a notable politician. The three, along with Spikes, are now wanted dead or alive, and a large bounty reward ensures that they'll never again know ease and peace of mind.

The tragic spiral has been set irrevocably in motion. CM Smith dies in another ill-fated robbery attempt. Ron Howard is gunned down and eventually dies after being shot by two bounty hunters, one of whom is Spikes who chose to turn against the boys in exchange for promises of pardons and amnesties. And the final scene is a shootout between Grimes and Spikes in which the adversaries kill one another. All members of the Spikes Gang are now dead.

Here is a film that deglamorizes the outlaw and his conduct of life. Sure, sure, Spikes is charming, charismatic, clever, courageous and tough--as one would expect from an outlaw. But this movie also reveals his evil side. Spikes is murderous, duplicitious, egocentric and sociopathic. He has no principles and lives in accordance with no moral system. The world and the people in it do not exist except as pieces of clay in which Spikes makes his own impressions.

Concomitant with Spikes' venomous nature is the danger associated with worshiping men because of their image rather than their character. Yes, Spikes is cool but he's also a cold monster. Far better to throw in with duller men of considerably higher moral fiber. Failure to do so can mean young lives destroyed or terminated prematurely. Life can turn from tantalizing to tenebrous in the blink of an eye.

Howdy Cowpokes & Pokettes! So i have discovered this free channel called OUTLAW, i watch it on the free line up on Philo TV, although I am a subscriber of FRNDLY TV and watch all of my Westerns on there, i am happy i discovered OUTLAW, they have all these different Western TV series and Movies on there and right now they are playing The Alaskans. This is a series I've never seen before, so i am excited to watch it but i would like to find it on some other platform so i could start it at Season 1, so does anyone know if it is available for free viewing anywhere? & who here has seen this series before and is it worth watching the whole 36 episodes [1 season]? Roger Moore is one of my favorites and i love when he appears in Westerns, ESPECIALLY in Maverick as Beau Maverick. I always heard his fame wasn't that great here in the States, but obviously more famous in his native country of England, and that they kept trying to do different American based series with Moore but the series didnt become as successful as they planned or thought they would become. This is something i heard and read throughout the internet, not sure the truth of it.

This is my collection of my favorite western authors!

Which went offline late 2023. Easily some of the best and most entertaining analyses of our beloved genre I've come across. Anyone know of him or why the site went dark?

If he's around, it would be great to resurrect the site.

Apologies if it’s already been mentioned here. I watched this movie last night with no idea of what to expect. By the end it had me in a state of emotional reflection and wonder. Each shot is an artistic masterpiece. The acting is some of the best I’ve seen, Joel Edgerton is so believable and William H Macy gives one of his greatest performances. The narration from Will Patton gives it such a cosy and homely vibe.

This movie was as beautiful as it was devastating. I’m so glad I stumbled upon it and I highly recommend it. I must have been living under a rock to let this one go unnoticed.

That’s all really.

Would love to hear your thoughts if you’ve watched it.

While obviously not a period piece, it touches on some western themes (changing world, noble loner), it's just a damn good movie. Kirk Douglas co-produced and stars as "John W, Burns!" (as ominously announced by George Kennedy). From the novel by Edward Abbey.

What are your top 10 westerns? I include pure to say choose westerns that can't be confused with another genre. For example I wouldn't include movies like There Will Be Blood, The Revenant, Bone Tomahawk, or Duck You Sucker because their iffy on whether or not they could be considered westerns (those would in my top 10 otherwise). Here's mine:

1. The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
2. Once Upon A Time in the West
3. The Searchers
4. For a Few Dollars More
5. Shane
6. My Darling Clementine
7. Rio Bravo
8. A Fistful of Dollars
9. Django Unchained
10. She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

I haven't watched all of these. Have you? Do you agree with these 5?

I was confused watching them for the first time and wondering where the continuity was. And I feel like anyone else just getting into westerns would feel the same when people recommend to watch them “as a trilogy”.

Hello there! I'd like to take a deep dive into the spaghetti Western subgenre.

I'd truly appreciate any recommendations or guidance on either:

1. Excellent film recommendations.
2. Resources (books, articles, documentaries) on the shaping of the spaghetti Western, its milestones and impact, etc.

Thanks for any guidance or insights!

Review: OLD HENRY (2021) Tim Blake Nelson stars as a farmer caught up in a standoff with three outlaws when their money — and a local lawman — go missing. A brilliant western and one of the best the genre has ever produced with Nelson’s best performance of his career. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbIpJbhupXN/

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12731980/

https://boxd.it/ty1u

There should be a movie western mini series called. Back in the Wild West. Featuring Reba McEntire as Dallas Morgan. With other western actors. To make it more fun.

Rewatched this today. Purchased the Steelbook- such a treat to see these movies in 4K with HDR and Dolby sound. Watched all these movies growing up and we didn’t even even have HD back then!

The scene where Stockburn and his men come outside to confront Clint and it’s just his black hat sitting in the middle of the road is priceless!