The Westerner (1940)

In 1940, THE WESTERNER was underrated--regarded simply as an amusing diversion from director William Wyler. Time has passed and it emerges in the 2000s looking like one of the great Westerns. It begins with a hanging in Vinegarroon, where the self-styled "Judge" Roy Bean (Walter Brennan) holds sway. Cole Harden (Gary Cooper) rides into town on, what proves to be, a stolen horse. Entering Bean's saloon, which doubles as a courtroom, Cole is soon on trial--with his horse as a witness. The case is summarily concluded, the jury convenes in the poker room with a bottle of whiskey, and while they drink, Cole has a little time to think of how to save his neck. The judge seems to like him, and maybe likes English actress Lily Langtry even more. Maybe if Cole has seen, or even met, the legendary Lily....

As THE WESTERNER moves from its laconic opening to its climactic opera house showdown, it crosses its buddy-rivalry story, with a homesteaders-versus-cattlemen subplot and the story of Bean's fascination with Lily Langtry. It does all this with economy, wonderful deep-focus photography by Gregg Toland, deft direction by Wyler, and beautiful understated acting by Cooper and Brennan.