Western Badguys … Lee Marvin … that’s a wrap

The Spikes Gang

I’m gonna say that The Spikes Gang (1974) was the last true Western that Lee Marvin made.

The Spikes Gang posters / 1974
The Spikes Gang posters / 1974

A pretty good little film that never got it’s due. Certainly worth a see.

Director Richard Fleistchers message is loud and clear: a badguy is not a hero (even if he is a Movie Star) and there is no glory – or freedom – in being a crook. And who better to deliver that message than Lee Marvin?

A great little cast – Gary Grimes, Charles Martin Smith, Marvin, Ron Howard – including two sweet cameo supporting roles by (Western Great) Arthur Hunnicutt and Noah Beery Jr. 

The Spikes Gang
The Spikes Gang; Gary Grimes, Charles Martin Smith, Marvin, Ron Howard
Arthur Hunnicutt - Noah Beery Jr.
Arthur Hunnicutt – Noah Beery Jr.
The Spikes Gang
The Spikes Gang; Ron Howard and Gary Grimes (standing / back)
Marvin and Charles Martin Smith (sitting)

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Paint Your Wagon / 1969

Paint Your Wagon (1969) may qualify as having Western flavour … and Clint Eastwood. But it’s a musical. (Yet … so was Cat Ballou … in part) I think it’s a pretty good movie in it’s own right – and many folks like it, but … I don’t categorize it as a Western.

Survey says … ?? Your opinion ?

paint your wagon
Paint your Wagon / 1969

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Death Hunt / 1981

Death Hunt / 1981
Death Hunt / 1981

Death Hunt (1981). It has action, guns and horses … and Charles Bronson. But a Western? I don’t feel it.

Others may challenge these judgements. My opinion is not final on anything.

Saddledome Rise SE, Calgary, AB T2G, Canada

Author: jcalberta

Howdy! I love Westerns. ... and the intent of MyFavoriteWesterns.com is to celebrate Western Movies/Film - old and new. This site will eventually show my top 30 favorite Westerns - or more. I will have original graphic work with regular updates. All this - and more ... Yee Haw ... !! - jcablerta / Moderator / Administrator

4 thoughts on “Western Badguys … Lee Marvin … that’s a wrap”

  1. Paint your wagon is in my view a pure western… It’s different for Death Hunt, in so far as it occured in modern times, but it sounds more like a nordic western (Call of the Wild, Croc Blanc), I like this movie… Marvin and Bronson were good friends in life, but not in this story !…
    Didier

    1. Sir,�

      Very good. I like Paint Your Wagon to be sure – it surely has Western flavour – just that it’s a musical.�

      Death Hunt is pretty good – Marvin and Bronson always great to watch.� Maybe I’m just tired of snow!

      Had some great posters.�

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