The Spikes Gang **** (1974, Lee Marvin, Gary Grimes, Ron Howard, Charles Martin Smith, Arthur Hunnicutt, Noah Beery Jr) – Classic Movie Review 4,255

In one of just six films he made between 1971’s Summer of ’42 and Gus in 1976, Gary Grimes stars with Lee Marvin in the rousing 1974 Western film The Spikes Gang.

‘Three boys wanted to be like their hero. Harry Spikes. They got their wish. Soon they were worth a fortune. DEAD or ALIVE’

Director Richard Fleischer’s rousing 1974 Western film The Spikes Gang stars Gary Grimes, Ron Howard and Charles Martin Smith as Will, Les and Tod, three teenage farm lads on the run, who help grizzled wounded bank robber Harry Spikes (Lee Marvin).

In return, Spikes teaches them his criminal craft when they sign up for his Spikes Gang and soon there is a price on all their heads.

Extremely well acted both by Marvin and the boys, as well as the character actors (notably Arthur Hunnicutt and Noah Beery Jr), this always intriguing, often exciting if minor Western is aimed bull’s eye at the Seventies youth market. Expertly made in Spain by director Fleischer, and beautifully shot by London-born cinematographer Brian West, it is friendly, funny, violent and sentimental in turns, effectively juggling all these disparate moods and bringing a fresh spin to an old story.

Irving Ravetch and Harriet Frank Jr’s screenplay is based on Giles Tippette’s novel The Bank Robber.

Also in the cast are Arthur Hunnicutt, Noah Beery Jr, Marc Smith, Don Fellows, Elliott Sullivan, Robert Beatty, Ralph Brown, Bert Conway, Bill Curran, David Thomson, Frances O’Flynn and Ricardo Pallacios.

It counts as a spaghetti Western as it is shot in Spain in Tabernas, Almeria, and Andalucia, with the Spanish landscapes standing in for the American Southwest.

It is produced by Richard Fleischer and Walter Mirisch. and made by the Mirisch Company and distributed by United Artists.

Ron Howard recalled Walter Mirisch: ‘When I acted in The Spikes Gang, I learned that a prolific and brilliant producer could also be a terrific guy and a wonderful teacher.’

Walter Mirisch (November 8, 1921 – February 24, 2023) won the Academy Award for Best Picture as producer of In the Heat of the Night (1967). He also produced the Western films Man of the West (1958) and The Magnificent Seven (1960);

Charles Martin Smith and Ron Howard also appeared together in American Graffiti (1973).

The cast

The cast are Lee Marvin as Harry Spikes, Gary Grimes as Wilson Young, Charles Martin Smith [Charlie Martin Smith] as Tod Hayhew, Ron Howard as Les Richter, Arthur Hunnicutt as Kid White (aka Billy Blanco), Noah Beery Jr as Jack Basset, Marc Smith as Abel Young, Don Fellows as Cowboy, Elliott Sullivan as Billy, Robert Beatty as Sheriff, Ralph Brown as Posse Leader, Bill Curran as Gillis, Ricardo Palacios as Doctor, David Thomson as Sheriff of Carrizo Springs, Bert Conway as Bank Teller, Adolfo Thous as Pawnbroker, Allen E Russell as Morton, Frances O’Flynn as Mrs Young, Rafael Albaicín as Shopkeeper, Tito García as Mexican Man, and Juan Manuel Torres Gómez.

Robert Beatty’s appearance as Sheriff may have been cut out.

The Spikes Gang is directed by Richard Fleischer, runs 96 minutes, is made by the Mirisch Company and distributed by United Artists, is written by Irving Ravetch and Harriet Frank Jr, based on Giles Tippette’s novel The Bank Robber, is shot by Brian West, is produced by Richard Fleischer and Walter Mirisch, and is scored by Fred Karlin.

Release date: May 1, 1974.

Gary Grimes (born June 2, 1955)

Grimes appeared in only six films: the 1971 film Summer of ’42, The Culpepper Cattle Co (1972). the sequel Class of ’44 (1973), Cahill US Marshal (1973), The Spikes Gang (1974), and Gus (1976)

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 4,255

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert