i happen to catch this film on a late night show on a classic movie channel . i be really surprise by this film . i have see other comment on it that refer to the movie a under rat and and i couldn not agree more . lee marvin do a fantastic job portray bank robber harry spike who meet and befriends three teen age boy who gradually come to admire spike and his lifestyle . after spikes leave the boy and circumstance lead them to run away together and begin what they think would be the adventure of thier life . they soon find that adventure and life and and harry spike be not all they seem to be . ron howard and gary grime and charlie martin smith play thier part perfectly . the film also benefit from the reality lent by the dilapidated and run down building in the various town show in the movie and rather than the cheesy gunsmoke type set that be normally see in film of this genre and time . i can not recommend this movie highly enough . positive .