The read
A Balasaur Score of 79 out of 100, drawn from IMDb 7.3/10, Rotten Tomatoes 100%, Metacritic 78/100. Scores higher than 92% of the 101 1940s western movies in this catalog. Streaming on Prime and Tubi.
Synopsis
Drifter Cole Harden is accused of stealing a horse and faces hanging by self-appointed Judge Roy Bean, but Harden manages to talk his way out of it by claiming to be a friend of stage star Lillie Langtry, with whom the judge is obsessed, even though he has never met her. Tensions rise when Harden comes to the defense of a group of struggling homesteaders who Judge Bean is trying to drive away.
Ratings
IMDb7.3/10
Rotten Tomatoes100%
Metacritic78/100
138 audience votes
Key crew
- William WylerDirector
- Jo SwerlingScreenplay
- Niven BuschScreenplay
- Dimitri TiomkinOriginal Music Composer
Cast
- Gary CooperCole Harden
- Walter BrennanJudge Roy Bean
- Doris DavenportJane Ellen Mathews
- Fred StoneCaliphet Mathews
- Forrest TuckerWade Harper
- Paul HurstChickenfoot
- Chill WillsSoutheast
- Lilian BondLily Langtry
- Dana AndrewsHod Johnson
- Charles HaltonMort Borrow
- Trevor BardetteShad Wilkins
- Tom TylerKing Evans
Stills
Movies like The Westerner
Themes
horse thief