The Spikes Gang (Richard Fleischer, 1974)

Uncertain in tone, starting as a comedy western and then trying its hardest to turn gritty and sombre, and uncertain in location, being filmed in Spain to no great effect, this is a forgettable episode for both the director of cult classics like Soylent Green, and the formidable screen presence that is Lee Marvin. He plays a brusque aging bank robber who takes three pipsqueaks fancying a shot at the romantic life of the outlaw under his wing. The fact that one of them is Ron Howard just before Happy Days may give some advance warning of how credible the juvenile gunslingers are, and Marvin's worldly gruffness cannot save the film from slowly fading out of sight through a succession of drab shoot-outs, culminating in a contrivedly cynical ending.

4/10