The Westerner (1940)

7.3Approved100 minDirector: William Wyler

1940 film by William Wyler

The Westerner is a 1940 American Western film directed by William Wyler and starring Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan and Doris Davenport. Written by Niven Busch and Jo Swerling (from a story by Stuart N. Lake), the film concerns a self-appointed hanging judge in Vinegaroon, Texas, who befriends a saddle tramp who opposes the judge's policy against homesteaders. The film is remembered for Walter Brennan's performance as Judge Roy Bean, for which he won his record-setting third Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. James Basevi and Stuart N. Lake also received Academy Award nominations for Best Art Direction, Black and White and Best Story, respectively. The supporting cast features Dana Andrews, Chill Wills and Forrest Tucker.

Plot summary adapted from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

FAQ

What is The Westerner about?
The Westerner (1940) — Cole Harden just doesn't look like a horse thief, Jane-Ellen Matthews tells Judge Roy Bean as she steps up to the bar. Cole says he can't take it with him as he empties all of his coins on the bar to buy drinks for the jury. He notices two big pictures of Lily Langtry behind the
Is The Westerner based on a true story?
See the production background and source material details on the official Wikipedia article.
Is The Westerner scary?
Content rating: Approved. See the reviews tab for parental guidance and tone notes.
What is The Westerner (1940) about? Plot, synopsis and ending explained — Screencodex