I just watched Black Spurs (1965) on Grit TV. It's one of several westerns made by A. C. Lyles during the 1960s. He always employed older, veteran actors, many of whom were over the hill.
Santee is a cowhand engaged to dressmaker Anna. When the bank is robbed by El Pescadore, Santee sees a chance to get the $3,000 reward and buy that ranch he's always wanted. It takes him ten months but he finally kills El Peacadore, and takes the outlaw's unique black spurs to wear himself. But, he then learns that in his long absence Anna has married Ralph Elkins, the sheriff of Lark, Kansas. Embittered, Santee conspires with Kyle, owner of the town of Kyle, Kansas to turn Lark into a hell town so that the railroad will change its proposed route from Lark to Kyle. He imports a crooked gambler, dancehall girls, and gunslingers to accomplish the job. Sheriff Elkins is no match for the bad guys. But will Santee go through with his plan? Or will he decide to do the right thing and stand up to the bad guys?
The male actors are mostly overweight. Rory Calhoun, Bruce Cabot, Richard Arlen, Lon Chaney Jr., Scott Brady, and Jim L. Brown are past their prime. Only Joseph Hoover and Jerome Courtland appear trim and fit.
Of the actresses, Linda Darnell looks bloated. She doesn't have much to do, anyway. Ageless Terry Moore looks very good. And Patricia Owens is still youthfully trim and beautiful at 40. It's too bad her part wasn't larger.
Black Spurs (1965) has a fairly good script and character development. The fast pace keeps the viewer interested in waiting to see what Santee will finally do at the end.
Santee is a cowhand engaged to dressmaker Anna. When the bank is robbed by El Pescadore, Santee sees a chance to get the $3,000 reward and buy that ranch he's always wanted. It takes him ten months but he finally kills El Peacadore, and takes the outlaw's unique black spurs to wear himself. But, he then learns that in his long absence Anna has married Ralph Elkins, the sheriff of Lark, Kansas. Embittered, Santee conspires with Kyle, owner of the town of Kyle, Kansas to turn Lark into a hell town so that the railroad will change its proposed route from Lark to Kyle. He imports a crooked gambler, dancehall girls, and gunslingers to accomplish the job. Sheriff Elkins is no match for the bad guys. But will Santee go through with his plan? Or will he decide to do the right thing and stand up to the bad guys?
The male actors are mostly overweight. Rory Calhoun, Bruce Cabot, Richard Arlen, Lon Chaney Jr., Scott Brady, and Jim L. Brown are past their prime. Only Joseph Hoover and Jerome Courtland appear trim and fit.
Of the actresses, Linda Darnell looks bloated. She doesn't have much to do, anyway. Ageless Terry Moore looks very good. And Patricia Owens is still youthfully trim and beautiful at 40. It's too bad her part wasn't larger.
Black Spurs (1965) has a fairly good script and character development. The fast pace keeps the viewer interested in waiting to see what Santee will finally do at the end.