Coop fans will enjoy this gritty western,directed by Anthony Mann.The throw down between our hero and Jack Lord is not to be missed!Above average plot with strong support.

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Gary Cooper stars in MAN OF THE WEST(1958), directed by Anthony Mann who also directed such classic James Stewart westerns as WINCHESTER. 73., BEND OF THE RIVER and THE NAKED SPUR.

This was one of Cooper's last films and, frankly, he seems a bit old for the role, even though the movie itself is an excellent adult western with complex characters and some good action scenes, particularly the final shoot-out.

Former outlaw Cooper, now a family man and rancher, is riding on a train that is robbed by his old gang. He, along with fellow passengers Julie London and Arthur O'Connell, are taken hostage, their lives threatened by half-crazed gang leader Lee J. Cobb, who wants Cooper to return to his old ways.

The film benefits from a strong script by Reginald Rose. Jack Lord is effective as a gang member.

© Michael B. Druxman, author of ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD

United Artists presents "MAN OF THE WEST" (1 October 1958) (99 mins/Color) (Dolby digitally remastered) -- Our story line and plot, On his way to hire a schoolteacher, a homesteader (Gary Cooper) is left a hundred miles from anywhere when the train he is on is robbed --- With him are an attractive dancehall girl (Julie London) and an untrustworthy gambler (Arthur O'Connell) and he decides to get shelter nearby from outlaw relatives (Lee J. Cobb) 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 --- The rest of the gang is Robert J. Wilke, Royal Dano, Jack Lord, and John Dehner. Lee J. Cobb is Dock Tobin and though he's 10 years younger than Cooper, he plays his uncle. Along for the ride are fellow train passengers Julie London and Arthur O'Connell --- It's an admirable cast --- Jack Lord as a wild and rebellious killer, John Dehner as a cool but equally violent person, Lee J. Cobb as a filthy old man who was the leader of the gang and who surely was the example for the other gangmembers and Arthur O'Connell and Julie London as the innocent bystanders who Cooper must look out for --- Also thought that the content and violence was very well done to help people get the feeling of what people could be like --- All in all, "Man of the West" is not only one of Cooper's best but one of the best westerns ever --- Anthony Mann's final foray into the western genre is a disturbing examination of man's basic instincts, rising in intensity to the level of Shakespearean tragedy.

Under the production staff of:
Anthony Mann - Director
Walter Mirisch - Producer
Will C. Brown - Book Author
Reginald Rose - Screenwriter
Ernest Haller - Cinematographer
Leigh Harline - Composer (Music Score)
Victor Heerman - Editor
Richard V. Heermance - Editor
Hilyard M. Brown - Production Designer
Edward Boyle - Set Designer
Yvonne Wood - Costume Designer
Jack Solomon - Sound/Sound Designer
Emile LaVigne - Makeup
Richard Moder - First Assistant Director

SPECIAL FEATURES:
BIOS:
1. Gary Cooper (aka: Frank James Cooper)
Date of Birth: 7 May 1901 - Helena, Montana
Date of Death: 13 May 1961 - Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California

2. Anthony Mann (Director)
Date of Birth: 30 June 1906 - San Diego, California
Date of Death: 29 April 1967 - Berlin, Germany

the cast includes:
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)
Frank Ferguson ... Marshal of Crosscut
Tom London ... Tom, Henry's Friend

Hats off and thanks to Les Adams (collector/guideslines for character identification), Chuck Anderson (Webmaster: The Old Corral/B-Westerns.Com), Boyd Magers (Western Clippings), Bobby J. Copeland (author of "Trail Talk"), Rhonda Lemons (Empire Publishing Inc) and Bob Nareau (author of "The Real Bob Steele") as they have rekindled my interest once again for B-Westerns and Serials --- If you're into the memories of B-Westerns with high drama, this is the one you've been anxiously waiting for --- please stand up and take a bow Western Classics --- all my heroes have been cowboys!

Total Time: 99 mins on DVD ~ United Artists ~ (5/13/2008)

Not as good as I remember when I watched it as a teenager. I would put this movie in the middle of Gary's over all westerns. My favorite is Vera Cruz with him and Burt Lancaster.

I first saw this movie about 40 years ago. I thought it was great then and it is still great. Gary Cooper gives an outstanding performance. Jack Lord is excellent as a bank and train robber, this is pre Hawaii 5-0. Lee J. Cobb is great as the patriarchal head of an outlaw clan. One of the great western classics from before the advent of the spaghetti westerns.