The Westerner (1940)
Don’t brush this movie off because of its generic title. It’s one of the best westerns to come out of the silver screen, and it wrapped up nominations at the Rag Awards for Best Picture, Director, and Dramatic Screenplay, as well as a win for Walter Brennan in Supporting Actor. Normally, we roll our eyes and give our best Walter Brennan impression, but he’s different in this movie. He had stiff competition that year, and if he won out over all the other fantastic performances, you know he was great.
In this William Wyler-helmed drama, timing is everything. The entire story hinges on a promise of a lock of a woman’s hair. How can that be riveting? It’s incredibly riveting. Gary Cooper has been arrested for horse thieving, but he distracts the Judge Roy Bean from hanging him when he notices the poster of a famous actress on the wall of his saloon. Gary tells the judge (Brennan) that he’s not only met the actress but got so close to her she bestowed a lock of her hair. Brennan agrees to exchange an innocent verdict for the lock of hair, and Gary constantly stalls for time.
You’d think Gary Cooper’s normal hesitancy would ruin the movie, but it works. He’s supposed to be pausing and waiting for time, as if the screenwriter and director purposely created the role to adjust for his acting style. Of course, I would have preferred Randolph Scott in the role, who would have been more charming and full of subtleties, but Gary is as good as he can be.
Walter Brennan steals the show, though. He’s constantly at the edge of his seat, and he’s so believable as living out in the Wild West, you can practically smell him. He’s both manipulative and manipulated, and the contrast is extremely clever. Check this fantastic movie out and find yourself amazed.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Gary Cooper movies here!
In this William Wyler-helmed drama, timing is everything. The entire story hinges on a promise of a lock of a woman’s hair. How can that be riveting? It’s incredibly riveting. Gary Cooper has been arrested for horse thieving, but he distracts the Judge Roy Bean from hanging him when he notices the poster of a famous actress on the wall of his saloon. Gary tells the judge (Brennan) that he’s not only met the actress but got so close to her she bestowed a lock of her hair. Brennan agrees to exchange an innocent verdict for the lock of hair, and Gary constantly stalls for time.
You’d think Gary Cooper’s normal hesitancy would ruin the movie, but it works. He’s supposed to be pausing and waiting for time, as if the screenwriter and director purposely created the role to adjust for his acting style. Of course, I would have preferred Randolph Scott in the role, who would have been more charming and full of subtleties, but Gary is as good as he can be.
Walter Brennan steals the show, though. He’s constantly at the edge of his seat, and he’s so believable as living out in the Wild West, you can practically smell him. He’s both manipulative and manipulated, and the contrast is extremely clever. Check this fantastic movie out and find yourself amazed.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Gary Cooper movies here!
Hot Toasty Rag Awards:
Best Screenplay of 1940: Walter Brennan
Hot Toasty Rag Nominations:
Best Director: William Wyler
Best Dramatic Screenplay