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Thanks for the memories!

Simply Perfect

When a movie has you begging for it to end not even half way through it's pure crap. We've all seen this movie and this characters millions of times, nothing new in it. Don't waste your time.

A movie that not only functions as a solid scarefest but a razor-sharp satire.

I have watched many Westerns in my time: Great, Good, Mediocre and Poor. I must say that "The Westerner" is great, for me one of the best westerns of all time. Cooper and Brennan together were incredible!

Released in 1940 and directed by William Wyler, "The Westerner" stars Gary Cooper as a, well, Westerner who is wrongfully accused of horse theft in West Texas and sentenced to hang by the dubious "Judge" Roy Bean (Walter Brennan). The story focuses on cattlemen vs. homesteaders with the latter represented by Doris Davenport and Forrest Tucker (his debut). How do you review an old Western like this when you can't stand B&W or old-fashioned scores, not to mention the incongruent hokey elements? Basically you have to ignore all these factors and concentrate on the story and the actors. If you can do this, "The Westerner" is somewhat worth checking out, if you like the cast. Cooper was lean & mean at 38 (during shooting) and Brennan is amusing as the judge at 45. There are some genuinely comical moments, but parts of the story are too contrived and quaint, like the whole lock of hair element. Too much of the movie comes across as an old sitcom rather than an old realistic Western, like the excellent "Stagecoach" (1939). Thankfully, Doris Davenport is a spirited and winsome cutie here. The film runs 100 minutes and was shot in Arizona. The script (by no less than six people) was based on a story by Stuart N. Lake. GRADE: C

The Westerner is directed by William Wyler and written by Niven Busch, Jo Swerling and Stuart N. Lake. It stars Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan, Fred Stone and Doris Davenport. Music is by Dimitri Tiomkin and cinematography by Gregg Toland.Story is a fictionalised account about Judge Roy Bean (Brennan), who here rules Vingaroon Town by his own law and punishment. When suspected horse thief Cole Harden (Cooper) comes under his judicial system, they become odd friends due to Harden claiming to know personally Lily Langtree - the object of Bean's worship. Lots of uncredited work was involved in the making of The Westerner, while Cooper famously sulked about not having the main character role, so much so his part was expanded and he performed under contract but under protest! Fact is is that it is as everyone has said before, Brennan steals the film regardless, winning a Best Supporting Actor Oscar in the process. Cooper needn't have worried, he's very good here, turning in a number of various strains to Harden's character, bouncing off of Brennan to the pics eternal benefit.At the core of the plot is a good old fashioned thread involving Homesteaders versus Cattlemen, with Bean throwing his weight around and Harden forced to reevaluate his standing in the town when he falls for Jane Ellen Mathews (Davenport). The Lily Langtree (Lilian Bond) strand gives the pic an offbeat sensibility, making this a sort of dramatic comedy oater, but it works really well. Toland's photography is superb, sharp black and white sequences are given ethereal qualities, hinting at the fact this at times fun picture might be leading to a darker path?Davenport is weak and most of the supporting players struggle to make much of an impact, but come the attention grabbing finale you know you have been fed a wholesome western of substance. Propelled by two acting legends. 7/10

I always enjoy a good western, and this was a good one. It is different from most westerns in that it is not a big, sprawling epic with various groups trekking across Monument Valley, no Indians, no sense of the vastness of the American west. This is not "The Searchers", or "Stagecoach". It is a small epic, shot mostly indoors on sound stages and with more character development than is found in most westerns.And what character development. Walter Brennan gives what is certainly his best Hollywood performance as Judge Roy Bean. It is as nuanced a performance as you will find in a western picture as he acts circles around Gary Cooper, a screen hero with a wooden style who does not do nuance. The sure hand of director Wyler is evident throughout; not an action director per se, the picture contains a well-done, realistic fist fight between Cooper and Forrest Tucker and a must-see ranch fire towards the end of the picture.Whether or not you are a fan of western movies, this is one of Hollywood's best offerings. For another slant on "The Westerner", read the review by [email protected] on a previous review page. It is an excellent observation.P.S. Memo to screenwriters; Bean died in his sleep!