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Poster for The Westerner

The Westerner

Seen it?

1940 | 100 min | Western

Friday Night Flickearly rating

Why it’s a Friday Night Flick

Critics loved it (100% on Rotten Tomatoes) and it won an Oscar. Make plans for this one.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for most people. If you loved High Noon, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Easygoing.
The pace
Moves along nicely, at 1 hr 40 min.
What might put you off
  • Made in 1940: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

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.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    100% on Rotten Tomatoes, 78 on Metacritic

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.1 out of 10

  • AwardsStrong

    Won 1 Oscar: Best Supporting Actor. Also nominated for 2 more Oscars.

  • Reach & staying powerBelow par

    Streaming release that reached a small audience so far; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactBelow par

    About 30K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by William Wyler

  • 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