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The Westerner

  • 19401940
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 40m
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
5.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan, and Doris Davenport in The Westerner (1940)
  • Western
Judge Roy Bean, a self-appointed hanging judge in Vinegarroon, Texas, befriends saddle tramp Cole Harden, who opposes Bean's policy against homesteaders.Judge Roy Bean, a self-appointed hanging judge in Vinegarroon, Texas, befriends saddle tramp Cole Harden, who opposes Bean's policy against homesteaders.Judge Roy Bean, a self-appointed hanging judge in Vinegarroon, Texas, befriends saddle tramp Cole Harden, who opposes Bean's policy against homesteaders.
IMDb RATING
7.3/10
5.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • William Wyler
  • Writers
    • Jo Swerling(screenplay)
    • Niven Busch(screenplay)
    • Stuart N. Lake(from the story by)
  • Stars
    • Gary Cooper
    • Walter Brennan
    • Doris Davenport
Top credits
  • Director
    • William Wyler
  • Writers
    • Jo Swerling(screenplay)
    • Niven Busch(screenplay)
    • Stuart N. Lake(from the story by)
  • Stars
    • Gary Cooper
    • Walter Brennan
    • Doris Davenport
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 69User reviews
    • 22Critic reviews
    • 78Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 1 Oscar
      • 2 wins & 2 nominations total

    Photos73

    Gary Cooper in The Westerner (1940)
    Gary Cooper in The Westerner (1940)
    Gary Cooper in The Westerner (1940)
    Gary Cooper in The Westerner (1940)
    Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan, and Lilian Bond in The Westerner (1940)
    Gary Cooper in The Westerner (1940)
    Walter Brennan, Joe De La Cruz, Paul Hurst, Lupita Tovar, and Chill Wills in The Westerner (1940)
    Gary Cooper, Doris Davenport, Fred Stone, and Forrest Tucker in The Westerner (1940)
    Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan, Charles Halton, Paul Hurst, and Chill Wills in The Westerner (1940)
    Gary Cooper and Doris Davenport in The Westerner (1940)
    Walter Brennan in The Westerner (1940)
    Walter Brennan in The Westerner (1940)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Gary Cooper
    Gary Cooper
    • Cole Hardenas Cole Harden
    Walter Brennan
    Walter Brennan
    • Judge Roy Beanas Judge Roy Bean
    Doris Davenport
    Doris Davenport
    • Jane Ellen Mathewsas Jane Ellen Mathews
    Fred Stone
    Fred Stone
    • Caliphet Mathewsas Caliphet Mathews
    Forrest Tucker
    Forrest Tucker
    • Wade Harperas Wade Harper
    Paul Hurst
    Paul Hurst
    • Chickenfootas Chickenfoot
    Chill Wills
    Chill Wills
    • Southeastas Southeast
    Lilian Bond
    Lilian Bond
    • Lily Langtryas Lily Langtry
    Dana Andrews
    Dana Andrews
    • Hod Johnsonas Hod Johnson
    Charles Halton
    Charles Halton
    • Mort Borrowas Mort Borrow
    Trevor Bardette
    Trevor Bardette
    • Shad Wilkinsas Shad Wilkins
    Tom Tyler
    Tom Tyler
    • King Evansas King Evans
    Lucien Littlefield
    Lucien Littlefield
    • The Strangeras The Stranger
    C.E. Anderson
    C.E. Anderson
    • Hezekiah Willeveras Hezekiah Willever
    • (uncredited)
    Stanley Andrews
    Stanley Andrews
    • Sheriffas Sheriff
    • (uncredited)
    Arthur Aylesworth
    Arthur Aylesworth
    • Mr. Dixon - Homesteaderas Mr. Dixon - Homesteader
    • (uncredited)
    Bill Beauman
    • Man Getting Haircutas Man Getting Haircut
    • (uncredited)
    Hank Bell
    Hank Bell
    • Deputyas Deputy
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • William Wyler
    • Writers
      • Jo Swerling(screenplay)
      • Niven Busch(screenplay)
      • Stuart N. Lake(from the story by)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Gary Cooper never liked the film and said "You can't make a western without a gunfight" He walked off the film and refused to start work on it. It was only after long battles with Goldwyn that he started work on it but always said that he wished he'd never made it.
    • Goofs
      The town was named for George Langtry, an engineer and foreman who had supervised a Chinese work crew building the railroad, and not for the actress Lillie Langtry.
    • Quotes

      Cole Harden: [to Bean] When I was a kid, I had a pet rattlesnake. I was fond of it, but I wouldn't turn my back on it.

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits: "After the Civil War, America, in the throes of rebirth, set its face West where the land was free. First came the cattlemen and with them "Judge" Roy Bean, who took the law into his own hands, administering justice according to his lights. That he left his impress on the history of Texas is tribute to his greatness. Then into his stronghold moved another army, the homesteaders, who ploughed the soil, fenced in fields, to bring security to their wives and children. War was inevitable, a war out of which grew the Texas of today."
    • Connections
      Featured in Hollywood: The Great Stars (1963)

    User reviews69

    Review
    Top review
    7/10
    Law West of the Pecos.
    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
    helpful•7
    0
    • hitchcockthelegend
    • Jul 10, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 20, 1940 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Zakon divljeg zapada
    • Filming locations
      • Santa Rita Mountains, Arizona, USA
    • Production company
      • The Samuel Goldwyn Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $2,000,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      1 hour 40 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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