The Westerner
The Westerner stars Gary Cooper and Walter Brennan. When Cooper learned Brennan was cast as Judge Roy Bean, he tried to beg out of the film, thinking his role would be totally upstaged by the talented Brennan. Samuel Goldwyn held Cooper to his contract.
Historically accurate in some respects, the film is set in 1882 Vinegaroon, Texas, a town run by the self-appointed ‘Only law west of the Pecos’, ‘Hanging Judge’ Roy Bean (Brennan). Bean has a good gig going between fines and land seizures all run out of a kangaroo-like court held in his Jersey Lilly Saloon. ‘Jersey Lilly’ is named for the actress Lilly Langtry, with whom the judge was deeply infatuated. So much so, Vinegaroon would be mercifully renamed Langtry. We probably have the writing of Stuart Lake to thank for that bit of historical accuracy; but that’s about as far as the accuracy goes.
Cole Harden (Cooper) is a drifter charged with horse theft. He is a prime candidate for one of Bean’s “Suspended sentences” at the end of a rope. Knowing Bean’s affection for Langtry, the clever Harden convinces the judge he knows the actress well and has a lock of her hair among his possessions in El Paso. He promises the lock to the judge if he suspends sentence long enough for it to arrive. Bean takes a liking to Harden and plays along, though the relationship becomes stained when Harden sides with the beautiful romantic interest who leads a group of homesteaders in opposition to Bean and his cattle-ranching constituents.
Bean learns that none other than Lilly Langtry herself is scheduled to appear in a nearby town. Bean buys out all the tickets for her performance and along with an entourage of his pals takes himself off to the show. There he finds newly deputized sheriff, Harden waiting to arrest him. The obligatory show down gunfight breaks out and Bean is mortally wounded. In a final act of friendship, Harden carries the judge backstage where he meets the love of his life in death.
In a postscript to Cooper’s apprehension about appearing with Brennan, the two worked so well together they went on to make five more films together.
Next Week: They Died With Their Boots On
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Ride easy,
Paul
Historically accurate in some respects, the film is set in 1882 Vinegaroon, Texas, a town run by the self-appointed ‘Only law west of the Pecos’, ‘Hanging Judge’ Roy Bean (Brennan). Bean has a good gig going between fines and land seizures all run out of a kangaroo-like court held in his Jersey Lilly Saloon. ‘Jersey Lilly’ is named for the actress Lilly Langtry, with whom the judge was deeply infatuated. So much so, Vinegaroon would be mercifully renamed Langtry. We probably have the writing of Stuart Lake to thank for that bit of historical accuracy; but that’s about as far as the accuracy goes.
Cole Harden (Cooper) is a drifter charged with horse theft. He is a prime candidate for one of Bean’s “Suspended sentences” at the end of a rope. Knowing Bean’s affection for Langtry, the clever Harden convinces the judge he knows the actress well and has a lock of her hair among his possessions in El Paso. He promises the lock to the judge if he suspends sentence long enough for it to arrive. Bean takes a liking to Harden and plays along, though the relationship becomes stained when Harden sides with the beautiful romantic interest who leads a group of homesteaders in opposition to Bean and his cattle-ranching constituents.
Bean learns that none other than Lilly Langtry herself is scheduled to appear in a nearby town. Bean buys out all the tickets for her performance and along with an entourage of his pals takes himself off to the show. There he finds newly deputized sheriff, Harden waiting to arrest him. The obligatory show down gunfight breaks out and Bean is mortally wounded. In a final act of friendship, Harden carries the judge backstage where he meets the love of his life in death.
In a postscript to Cooper’s apprehension about appearing with Brennan, the two worked so well together they went on to make five more films together.
Next Week: They Died With Their Boots On
Return to Facebook to comment
Ride easy,
Paul
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