The words directed by Michael Winner and good movie don't usually go together but this 1971 western is an exception. And is a rather fine oater starring Burt Lancaster at his brutal best and a top knotch supporting cast that includes Robert Ryan, as a timid sheriff, and Lee J. Cobb as a town boss determined to stop Lancaster's lawman from arresting his men for shooting up a town and killing an old man.
The plot is pretty standard - Lancaster, the titular Lawman, rides into town in order to arrest several men who were responsible for shooting up his own town and killing an old man. When Lancaster first arrives in town he is already carrying one of the men he seeks, dead over his horse and soon he guns down another when the man tries to make a fight of it. It seems all High Noon with the lone sheriff standing firm, the town folk refusing to help him, but it soon becomes much more ambiguous than that. And Lancaster's character, at first seeming heroic and just, is revealed as a man pursuing a ludicrous and deadly version of justice. He knows the cowboys will not surrender because of their code of honour and so one by one he guns them down.
Top performances all round - Robert Ryan is excellent as a cowardly sheriff and Lee J. Cobb excels in his role as
the town boss who just wants to restore peace. And by the end of the movie the viewer is left with doubts as to who was actually right and who was wrong. Lancaster was born to play this kind of role and director, Winner delivers a first rate movie that almost wipes away the bad taste left in the mouth by the Death Wish series.An excellent western.
9 comments:
I agree. I saw this one in the theater back in 1971 and really liked it.
I agree also, wonderful film and Lancaster at his best.
Excellent movie.
I've always rated this film too. BTW how many images in that film did you spot that were used on the Hawk series?
Steve - now you've put that in my head I'll have to rewatch it. Thought it reminded me of something.
I suppose you've heard the famous anecdote on how Lancaster and Winner had a slight (!) contretemps on which weapon Lancaster had just used in the movie?
...Anyway if you watch it carefully, Lancaster pulls out a gun, then puts away a rifle....
Still, a superb movie. What the hell happened to the Michael Winner that could make movies as fine as this??
I never understood the scorn heaped on Michael Winner's movies. Yes, he's had a few clunkers, but I believe the hatred the Brits have for him is due to the man's general snobbish personality. It's a cliched half truth to state that Michael Winner is a hack director...it just ain't so.
I love LAWMAN, CHATO'S LAND, and especially THE MECHANIC--plus the music scores by frequent Winner collaborator, Jerry Fielding.
Another I haven't seen but should.
CK - I know what your saying but the Death Wish movies are pretty bad.
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