The Westerner (1940)

Directed by William Wyler. Starring Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan, Doris Davenport, Forrest Tucker, Fred Stone, Paul Hurst, Trevor Bardette.

Fictional account of the, ahem, life and times of Judge Roy Bean (“the only law west o’ the Pecos”), particularly his conflicted friendship-with/antagonism-toward Cooper’s saddle-bum. Brennan is fine in another Oscar-winning role (verifying his popularity with voting movie extras more than his acting acumen), but sharing the screen with the ever-sure-steady-and-stiff Cooper must’ve helped his case. Since the story has no center, the film moseys around the range—a lumpy pace partially redeemed by Gregg Toland’s evocative photography. Some entertaining vignettes offset by run-on scenes and too much misty-eyed adulation of Bean’s beloved Lily Langtry. Tucker’s film debut; Dana Andrews has a minor role.

62/100