The Westerner
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Movie Reviews of The Westerner
Movie Review: A strange friendship
Summary: 5 Stars
Loosely based on the half-legendary Judge Roy Bean (Walter Brennan), "the Law West of the Pecos," this is the story of an uneasy friendship and how it grows. Cole Harden (Gary Cooper), a drifting cowboy, is haled into Bean's barroom court and accused of horse theft (the roan he's riding is recognized by Bean's crony Chickenfoot (Paul Hurst) as having been stolen from him), a capital crime in the Old West. But Bean is obsessed with the British actress Lilly Langtry--the wall behind his bar is plastered with pictures of her--and Cole shrewdly exploits this fact, pretending to be a friend of Lilly's and eventually not only clearing himself of all charges but gaining Bean's liking and respect. But Bean, besides being a saloonkeeper, self-appointed jurist, and founder of the settlement of Vinegarroon (which he later rechristens Langtry in Lilly's honor), is also a considerable cattleman and a leader of the ranchers' opposition to the homesteaders, and Cole has seen too many range wars to want any part of another one. When he can't persuade Bean and the farmers to make peace, he gets himself appointed a marshal and maneuvers the Judge into a trap--using Lilly as bait.
Anyone who's familiar with Texas history will spot the one glaring inconsistency that voids the whole story: Texas, when she entered the Union, retained ownership of her public lands, and the Federal Homestead Act had no legitimacy within her borders. Still, if you can ignore that fact, it's a great classic Western and a wonderful story about two strong men and the uneasy relationship that grows between them. Walter Brennan deservedly won the Best Supporting Oscar for his role, and his Bean ("And that's m'rulin'!") is one of the most delightful characters in movies, while Cooper's Harden is a definitive example of his "strong, silent, and shrewd" Westerner. This is a movie every Western fan should know.
Movie Review: "CUT THE BOB-WAR!"
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a great Classic Western that surely almost everyone of a certain age in America has seen. The conflict takes up a chapter in our school history books, The Homesteaders vs The Cattledrivers. We cannot keep but liking Judge Roy Bean, even at his diabolical best as played by Walter Brennan, and this reviewer is "in love" with Gary Cooper, in all of his radient splendor, so he can do no wrong as he plays our hero, Cole Harden. In this movie he is a ramblin' man who has the soul of a peacemaker. He almost gets hanged, gets into several fist fights, as he tries to keep the cattle drivers from destroying the homesteaders, whom he has befriended.
He has even developed a friendship with Judge Roy Bean, the hangin' judge who thinks he has an inside connection with his obsession, Lily Langtry. Acting inside of Acting--no one does this better than Gary Cooper, and I watched in rapt attention at his eyes, facial expressions, and little smiles as he plays Judge Roy Bean like a violyn. He studies the old judge to craft his storylines--knowing just how far he can push it to fenagle Judge Roy in whatever direction he wants him to go in at the time. I was disappointed when he borrowed the lock of hair from the girl (Doris Davenport). I thought it cheap, but it was for a good cause and probably saved many lives, including his own. There are a couple of surprise treats in this film. There is a handsome young homesteader in this film who looks vaguely familiar. It is Forrest Tucker as a young whippersnapper. Likewise, there is a young and vile cattleman that is not too hard on the eyes either. It is Chill Wills. Neither had been shaving for very long. This is a great movie and if you have ever lived in Texas for long, you understand for yourself, the Law West of the Pecos.
Movie Review: Classic Cooper/Brennan Western
Summary: 5 Stars
Take a real life Western character (the notorious Western judge Judge Roy Bean), add one of the genre's sturdiest heroes (Gary Cooper), and you have the makings of a Western movie classic.
"The Westerner," starring Cooper and his good friend and frequent co-star Walter Brennan as Judge Bean, does what Hollywood does so well - take a pinch of truth, a heap for fiction, and mixes them for a pleasing theatrical stew. Cooper plays a wandering cowpoke who runs afoul of Bean's kangaroo court, and gets accused of horsestealing (a hanging offense in most courts, but definitely in Judge Bean's horse thieves). The cowpoke gets off by convincing the judge he knows famous actress and Lilly Langtry, who the judge desperately wants to meet. Cooper strings Bean along to keep himself out of trouble, but gets back into trouble when he sees that Bean and the townspeople are trying to run a group of homesteaders out of the country. Cooper decides to help the homesteaders, putting himself on a collision course with Bean.
Brennan won one of three Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor for this film, and it's no mystery why he won. Both charming and contemptible, his Judge Roy Bean is quaintly naive and corruptibly sinster. His interaction with Cooper throughout the film is masterful in its complexity and psychology. Cooper is his usually solid, quiet hero who says a lot with few words. Backed by solid Western supporting stars like Chill Wills and Forrest Tucker, "The Westerner" is a wonderful Western, and great to see it rereleased on DVD.
Movie Review: Redemption of Judge Roy Bean
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the best and most sensitive of the stories about Judge Roy Bean--The Law West of the Pecos. He was known as a hanging judge and, early in the film, he determines, in his court room-saloon to execute Cole [Gary Cooper] as a horse thief because he can't produce legal ownership papers.
Before the hanging, however, there is the mandatory round of drinks. Cole notices that the saloon is hanging with numerous pictures and mementoes of the actress Lily Langtree. Over a final drink, he tells Bean that he has a hidden locket of Lily's hair. The execution is immediately postponed until the acquisitive Bean can get the locket.
Both Cooper and Brennan are terrific as they develp a complex and dangerous "friendship." Cooper, who has no locket, gets one from a local girl. After much "horse-trading" Bean gets the locket and is transported with joy.
Langtree shows up El Paso or San Antonio and nothing will keep Bean from going. Resplendant in his old Confederate army uniform he goes to the music hall. Cole and Bean shoot it out and Bean is fatally hit. Before he dies, however, he gets to visit the angelic Langtry. The dangerous Roy Bean is redeemed by his love for Lily. We look through his eyes as the image of Lily fades out--forever. A truly great film.
Ron Braithwaite author of Mexican Conquest novels, "Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God"
Movie Review: ...a westerner, not a cowboy
Summary: 5 Stars
It's good to have titled this film "The Westerner", because neither of the two main stars are cowboys. They aren't gunslingers, or bounty hunters, or farmers, or ranchers...they just lived in the west during a time when all that romantic stuff was going on. Now that doesn't mean neither of them could handle a gun, when necessary. Nor that they wouldn't shoot a man dead, if they thought that was the thing to do.
Walter Brennan spent most of his career playing sidekicks or secondary roles in movies that "could" have been made with somebody else in his role. And maybe the part would have suffered - maybe not - but as long as the lead roles were well cast, the movie probably would have been as successful.
But in this film Walter Brennan is in a primary role. He plays Judge Roy Bean and he is at turns a wonderful whimsical drinking buddy and the next a ruthless, heartless taker of lives. He is as sweet and naive as a young girl one minute and in a flash you see the fangs of a rattler emerge with a glimpse of cunning wiles and lethal results.
And all that is in addition to seeing the great, larger than life Gary Cooper in one of his most endearing and thrilling roles. And all, mostly, in crisp black and white photography.