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Lawman [1970]
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A rare winner from Winner
Review date: 2007-03-12 Rating: 8 out of 10
If nothing else, Lawman proves that there is such a thing as a script so good that not even Michael Winner could screw it up, although having an excellent cast doesn't hurt. Burt Lancaster is the lawman of the title, determined to bring in several cattlemen (Robert Duvall among them) only to find that the local boss Lee J. Cobb owns the town and its once famous, now cowardly world-weary sheriff Robert Ryan, who all but steals the film. Curiously, Ryan far preferred this film to The Wild Bunch, though that may be down to Winner's deference to his stars compared with the thoroughly miserable time he had working with Peckinpah (there's another Peckinpah connection in composer Jerry Fielding, who contributes a good, brooding score). Joseph Wiseman, Richard Jordan, Albert Salmi and Sheree North are also thrown into the mix, and surprisingly all of them have well defined characters in what becomes an increasingly complex morality play about the void between what's legal and what's practical as Lancaster begins to realize that his strict adherence to the letter of the law has left him with nothing else in his life.
At times Gerald Wilson's script is perhaps a tad overwritten - everyone gets their big scene explaining their worldview, with no-one truly bad, merely weak - but it's a forgivable weakness. Winner's not quite as overly reliant on crash zooms as usual, though his characteristic laziness does manifest itself in one scene that has characters ride up to Cobb's house in darkness and come into the room in daylight, but for someone like Winner that's almost verging on the competent by his standards. Be warned that the UK DVD release is slightly cut to remove an offending illegal horse fall.
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Reviews
OK
Review date: 2005-11-27 Rating: 6 out of 10
This movie seemed to be between the old style westerns and the late 60s, early 70s films.
man of principle-too late to change with time.
Review date: 2005-07-04 Rating: 10 out of 10
Lawman was seen in early 70's when i was too young but i tell you Burt Lancaster left a lasting impression on me which i remember it till today whenever i think of this movie-so you can imagine 35 yrs is a long time but not enough if the movie is too good, specially with the very outstanding cast -such as robert ryan and lee j cobb abd robert duvall. it is a must see movie for the lovers of western movies.i am glad it came on dvd .
Lawman, Burt Lancaster
Review date: 2005-05-29 Rating: 10 out of 10
An uncompromising Lawman sets out to bring to trial a bunch of cowhands who shot up his town and killed an old man while he was away.
Lancaster plays 'Maddox' the Lawman set on bringing the men to trial. 'Cotten Ryan' played by Robert Ryan is excellent as the 'bought' town Sheriff, himself a Lawman of some reput who has had enough 'gun play' and opted for the quite life.
In this film you have a range of cowboy types, the young kid, the rough and ready hired hands, the ranch owner and his hard headed brother 'Harv'.
The gun play at the end of this film is the most intense confrontion ever filmed, you feel each characters emotions as if they were your own.
This is a film which deserves more acclaim.
JJ
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Robert Duvall
Lee J. Cobb
Robert Ryan
Burt Lancaster
Sheree North
Creators:
Burt Lancaster (Primary Contributor)
Robert Ryan (Primary Contributor)
Director(s):
Recording label: MGM Entertainment
Manufacturer: MGM Entertainment
EAN: 5050070021455
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2004-07-05
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 94 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1970
Language: English (Original Language)