Lawman (1971)

A lawman from Bannock arrives in Sabbath to arrest all the cattlemen whose wild celebration the year before resulted in the accidental death of an old man.

Director:

Michael Winner

Writer:

Gerald Wilson

Stars:

Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan, Lee J. Cobb

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Burt Lancaster	...	Bannock Marshal Jared Maddox
Robert Ryan	...	Sabbath Marshal Cotton Ryan Cotten
Lee J. Cobb	...	Vincent Bronson
Robert Duvall	...	Vernon Adams
Sheree North	...	Laura Shelby
Albert Salmi	...	Harvey Stenbaugh
Richard Jordan	...	Crowe Wheelwright
John McGiver	...	Sabbath Mayor Sam Bolden
Ralph Waite	...	Jack Dekker
John Beck	...	Jason Bronson
William Watson	...	Choctaw Lee (as William C. Watson)
Walter Brooke	...	Luther Harris
Robert Emhardt	...	Hersham
Charles Tyner	...	Minister
J.D. Cannon	...	Hurd Price

Storyline

While passing through the town of Bannock, a bunch of drunken, trail-weary cattlemen go overboard with their celebrating and accidentally kill an old man with a stray shot. They return home to Sabbath unaware of his death. Bannock lawman Jered Maddox later arrives there to arrest everyone involved on a charge of murder. Sabbath is run by land baron Vince Bronson, a benevolent despot, who, upon hearing of the death, offers restitution for the incident. Maddox, however, will not compromise even though small ranchers like Vern Adams are not in a position to desert their responsibilities for a long and protracted trial. Sabbath's marshal, Cotton Ryan, is an aging lawman whose tough reputation rests on a single incident that occurred years before. Ryan admits to being only a shadow of what he once was and incapable of stopping Maddox. Maddox confides to Ryan that Bannock's judicial system is weak and corrupt, and while he's doubtful that anyone he brings back will suffer more than the ...

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Plot Keywords:

lawman | land baron | murder | rancher | reputation | 

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Genres:

Western

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for violent content

Details

Official Sites:

MGM

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 August 1971 (USA)

Also Known As:

O Homem da Lei

Filming Locations:

Mexico

Box Office

Gross:

SEK 530,187 (Sweden)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Scimitar Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

99 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

In 1971, United Artists distributed this film on a double bill with The Organization starring Sidney Poitier.

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Goofs

During the opening scene when Bronson's rowdies tear up the town of Bannock, in two views of the local hotel, the town's name is spelled Bannock. Later, when Sheriff Maddox checks into the hotel in Sabbath, he signs in as a resident of Bannach.

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Quotes

Bannock Marshal Jared Maddox: I don't call the numbers, Ryan. I never drew first on a man in my life. That's the only way to stay clean - you play it by the rules. Without the rules, you're nothing!

User Reviews

A nightmare becomes reality.

The character of Lancaster (Maddox) as a lawman, implacable and unbeatable is a nightmare becoming reality.It makes you think of a strict justice that puts you on the electric chair for slightly going over the speed limit. The cowboys are to blame for going on a wild celebration on a small town, where an old man ends up getting killed . But in no way they deserve what is coming to them when Lancaster arrives. Maddox is so infallible in everything he does that there is something supernatural to him. The same type showed up more elaborate in Clint Eastwood' s `Pale Rider', but whereas Clint could be looked on as a hero, Lancaster is a cold blooded killer. As the film goes along we tend to dislike him more, and feel sorry for Lee. J. Cobb, Robert Duvall and some other cowboys. Sheree North is the woman who was once beautiful, but now looks worn out by age and hard life. Robert Ryan, always a great presence, is the man who is tired of having to prove his courage in gunfights and thinks he deserves a quiet, more stable life. When `Lawman' came out, it was considered an imitation of the spaghetti westerns, but seeing it today you realize there is much more to it.