Man of the West (1958)

A reformed outlaw becomes stranded after an aborted train robbery with two other passengers and is forced to rejoin his old outlaw band.

Director:

Anthony Mann

Writers:

Will C. Brown (novel), Reginald Rose (screenplay)

Stars:

Gary Cooper, Julie London, Lee J. Cobb

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Gary Cooper	...	Link Jones
Julie London	...	Billie Ellis
Lee J. Cobb	...	Dock Tobin
Arthur O'Connell	...	Sam Beasley
Jack Lord	...	Coaley
John Dehner	...	Claude
Royal Dano	...	Trout
Robert J. Wilke	...	Ponch (as Robert Wilke)

Storyline

On his way to hire a schoolteacher, a homesteader is left a hundred miles from anywhere when the train he is on is robbed. With him are an attractive dancehall girl and an untrustworthy gambler and he decides to get shelter nearby from outlaw relatives he used to run with. They don't trust him and he loathes them but they decide he can help them with one last bank job.

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Plot Keywords:

two gun holster | gun holster | gun | holster | double gun holster | 

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Taglines:

Hear JULIE LONDON sing "Man of the West"!

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Genres:

Drama | Romance | Western

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 November 1958 (Japan)

Also Known As:

Der Mann aus dem Westen

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Ashton Productions,Walter Mirisch Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

100 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Color by Deluxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Later when Lee J. Cobb decided to leave The Virginian, John Dehner was his temporary replacement to run the Shiloh Ranch. Stewart Granger, who was considered for the part played by Lee J. Cobb in Man of the West, later became the last owner of the Shiloh Ranch.

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Goofs

Gary Cooper's stunt double is very obvious in the fight with Jack Lord.

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Quotes

Willie: Well, I guess you'll be leaving now?
Billie Ellis: You're a good guesser. Goodbye, Willie. And thank you for being the only man at the Longhorn Palace that never made an indecent proposal.
Willie: Well, if I'd had my strength, I might have. Ha-ha-ha.
Billie Ellis: Tell her to sing loud and watch out for the manager's hands.
Willie: Good luck, there, Billie.

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Alternate Versions

To receive an 'A' certificate for UK cinema cuts were made to edit some scenes of violence. These included the fight between Link and Coaley, the scene where Billie is forced to strip at gunpoint, and shots of Trout staggering and screaming after being shot by Link. DVD releases are 12 rated and fully uncut.

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Connections

Referenced in Guns for Hire: The Making of 'The Magnificent Seven' (2000)

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Soundtracks

Man of the West
By Bobby Troup

User Reviews

A superior western by the under-rated director Anthony Mann

"Man of the West" is one of the best westerns ever made--some would say THE best western ever made. It is far superior to the vastly over-rated "The Searchers," which came out during the same time period. Anthony Mann, who directed noir films of the 40's did even better with the western genre.

"Man of the West" is just as timely today as when it first appeared and has aged well like good wine. Psychological insight is provided on gang mentality and morality. This insight works as well with the outlaw gangs of the old west as it would if applied to the street gangs of today. What makes the Crips and the Bloods families of violence and disorder with their own brand of morality also tied the members of the western gangs together. In "Man of the West" the gang is actually made up of genetic family members.

The acting is superior by all concerned. I would like to mention one actor that usually does not get his just desserts. Royal Dano does what was probably his best acting in this film as the mute Trout, who doesn't utter a sound until he runs dying down the streets of the ghost town. Then he utters a blood-curdling cry somewhere between a yelp and a scream. What I have written only skims the surface of a multi-leveled study of human behavior and interacting during the waning days of the old west. This is one of those movies that can be seen again and again with many new and fresh interpretations and ideas.