The Westerner (1940) UK Region 2 compatible ALL REGION DVD starring Gary Cooper

i still enjoyed a very old western still gives me pleasure/

This film charts the fight between cattle herders and homesteaders in late C19th Texas. In particular, we focus on self-appointed judge Walter Brennan (Judge Bean) and his town of murderous cowboys who are very much on the cattle side of the land dispute. The town’s courtroom is the saloon bar. Drifter Gary Cooper is brought to Brennan for sentencing – the crime being horse theft, which, like all crimes under Brennan, carries a sentence of hanging. How will Coop escape? And who will win the land battle?The film is slow at times and the outcome of the land battle is obvious. What makes the film interesting is the relationship between Brennan and Cooper. It’s almost a buddy-buddy film, but you know that Brennan can turn and is capable of stabbing Coop in the back at any moment. An amusing scene has Cooper stealing Brennan’s gun and riding off as Brennan goes for his gun to shoot him. It demonstrates that Brennan is not your friend. His rulings are one-sided affairs although he actually comes up with a good one that should be applied today, namely, that anyone found sober after 7pm will be arrested and charged with disorderly conduct. Brennan’s weakness is English actress Lily Langtry who is also at the heart of this tale. His fascination for a lady showbiz type along with his obsession with Cooper’s friendship suggests a homosexual element to his character.So, which side would you be on in the dispute between the homesteaders and the cattlemen. What do you prefer, beef or corn? And what of the awful combination that is corned beef? Disgusting.