The Westerner is directed by William Wyler and written by Niven Busch, Jo Swerling and Stuart N. Lake. It stars Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan, Fred Stone and Doris Davenport. Music is by Dimitri Tiomkin and cinematography by Gregg Toland.

Story is a fictionalised account about Judge Roy Bean (Brennan),who here rules Vingaroon Town by his own law and punishment. When suspected horse thief Cole Harden (Cooper) comes under his judicial system, they become odd friends due to Harden claiming to know personally Lily Langtree - the object of Bean's worship.

Lots of uncredited work was involved in the making of The Westerner, while Cooper famously sulked about not having the main character role, so much so his part was expanded and he performed under contract but under protest! Fact is is that it is as everyone has said before, Brennan steals the film regardless, winning a Best Supporting Actor Oscar in the process. Cooper needn't have worried, he's very good here, turning in a number of various strains to Harden's character, bouncing off of Brennan to the pics eternal benefit.

At the core of the plot is a good old fashioned thread involving Homesteaders versus Cattlemen, with Bean throwing his weight around and Harden forced to reevaluate his standing in the town when he falls for Jane Ellen Mathews (Davenport). The Lily Langtree (Lilian Bond) strand gives the pic an offbeat sensibility, making this a sort of dramatic comedy oater, but it works really well. Toland's photography is superb, sharp black and white sequences are given ethereal qualities, hinting at the fact this at times fun picture might be leading to a darker path?

Davenport is weak and most of the supporting players struggle to make much of an impact, but come the attention grabbing finale you know you have been fed a wholesome western of substance. Propelled by two acting legends. 7/10

Samuel Goldwyn's The Westerner would be considered a good western about that old familiar topic in westerns, the cattlemen versus the homesteaders. Gary Cooper is his usual tall in the saddle hero whose presence brings about a general righting of wrongs.

Except that Mr. Goldwyn had the presence of mind to cast Walter Brennan as Judge Roy Bean, local head honcho of the area around Vinegarroon, Texas. With William Wyler directing Brennan etches an unforgettable film portrayal of a man who's both ruthless in enforcing his will on the territory and a likable sort of cuss once you get to know him.

Brennan has one weakness, as the legends have it in the west, he's crushing out big time of famed English actress Lily Langtry. When Gary Cooper is brought into Brennan's courtroom which in off hours is also a saloon, a little quick thinking on his part upon seeing Langtry's portrait over the bar saves his life.

Despite Cooper's friendship with the judge, he's also taken an interest in homesteader Fred Stone's daughter, Doris Davenport. It's inevitable that Cooper and Brennan come to a parting of the ways.

Wyler who is not a director of westerns per se has directed a couple of good ones and this is one of them. There are some good action scenes here, there are some scenes laced with humor when Brennan is around, and the romance is nicely handled.

Dana Andrews and Forrest Tucker got their first notice in The Westerner as well in small parts. But it's Brennan's show.

Walter Brennan won his third Best Supporting Actor Oscar with this film. This was the fifth year the Supporting Player categories were being awarded by the Academy and Brennan won numbers one and three previously.

Western fans will like The Westerner in any event and others will watch it to see a master craftsman in Walter Brennan at his job.

Have said more than once about highly appreciating Westerns, though when it comes to film genres it wouldn't be my first choice when it comes to picking a favourite, and there are many great films in the genre. Absolutely love William Wyler as a director, the number of classic films he did are countless. The story sounded interesting as did the character of Judge Roy Bean. Personally like Gary Cooper, and this is the sort of role he always played very well indeed. Walter Brennan always shone in support.

'The Westerner' didn't disappoint me. When it comes to Westerns, while it's not one of my very favourites it is one of the most fascinating and most accessible as well as well made and entertaining. One of those Westerns where even those that dislike the genre normally are likely to find a lot to love or at least appreciate, and those that do already love the genre will love it even more. 'The Westerner' represents everybody involved extremely well indeed and deserves the positivity it has always gotten.

Almost everything is done right, no brilliantly even. 'The Westerner' is a very audaciously photographed film with a lot of atmosphere, with some sweeping camera angles that prevent the film from looking static or stage bound. The setting looks handsome and is evocative. Dmitri Tiomkin's music score is typically luscious and atmospheric with clever, complex and beautifully balanced structuring of his mood-enhancing themes, his distinctive style (when reading up about it and people analysing it it was incredibly illuminating and made me appreciate him even more).

Wyler directs immaculately, directing with typically impeccable taste, intensity and class. Although he was a notorious perfectionist, 'The Westerner' never struck me as clinical or emotionally cold, and although Westerns is not a genre one normally associates Wyler with he doesn't seem uncomfortable in it. The script is clever and taut, especially towards the end and especially in the interactions between Harden and Bean. The story is always compelling, there is a light-heartedness in places but a not held back grit in others. Absolutely loved how the entertaining relationship between Harden and Bean was handled.

Some of my friends consider Cooper on the wooden side and dull generally, personally don't agree. Not every role suited him, especially early on, but this role does and perfectly. At his best his acting is appreciatively natural and restrained and also with personal touches, which was pretty much what his whole acting style was, and all of that can be seen here in 'The Westerner'. Other Western leads may have more intensity, but Cooper underplays beautifully here and is likeable. Doris Davenport brings a lot of heart and charm to the picture and her character is more than just a plot device, in no way does his role slow the plotting down or feel like padding. Best of all is Brennan in a ferocious performance that is both sinister and charming, how he managed to make an evil character likeable says a lot about how good an actor he was at his best. He did deserve the Oscar he got for his performance here, but would make a strong case of him actually being a co-lead rather than supporting.

My only issue, and actually this is minor, was that the ending could have done with more tension and not been as too neat.

Otherwise, a great film and well worth catching. 9/10