This movie plays like a 70's made-for-tv movie (which I LOVE because that's what I've been collecting for years :)with it's very young cast of Ron Howard, Charles Martin smith & Gary Grimes who I have in another good 70's western "The Culpepper Cattle Company".
shareI don't think it plays as a made for tv movie at all. It's violent and gritty. I think it's one of the finest westerns ever made!
I did not mean "plays like a Tv Movie" as a cut, but on the contrary, as a compliment...there are many violent, suspenseful, gritty tvm's.
But as far as western (&other) feature's, way too many move slowly and spend time on wasted scenery & dialogue, because they have the time and money to indulge. That is why editing is so necessary, there is so much footage to cut down. But the "made for tv" movie does not have that budget and wastes no time and tells the story they want to tell and makes it point. That's also part of why the smaller independent films are also so well done. I LOVED the Spike's Gang... part of what was fun about Tv Movies was seeing beginning stars just starting out, and it was neat seeing a young Ron Howard, Charles Martin Smith & Gary Grimes and they probably felt lucky to be starring in a real feature. I totally recommend this movie to anyone and now after recalling it want to pull it out & watch again :)
"War is not healthy for children or any living things."
Aha, nice post man. Couldn't agree more!
I get your point - but Ron Howard was a veteran actor at this point. This role might have been one of his biggest movie roles to date, followed by the Shootist 2 years later
Ron Howard was a 16 or 17 year old kid on MASH in 1970 and the same age or younger in 72 and 76 -- he was Huck Finn in 1975. One of his great gifts as an actor was looking young. He went bald ironically.
Charles Martin Smith and Ron Howard were both in American Graffiti before The Spikes Gang
Gary Grimes has three good roles before this one He is an actor, known for Summer of '42 (1971), The Culpepper Cattle Co. (1972) and Cahill U.S. Marshal (1973).