Watch The Westerner

In The Westerner, Gary Cooper plays Cole Hardin, a wanderer who finds himself in the midst of a range war between ranchers and homesteaders in the town of Liberal, Texas. Hardin is arrested for stealing a horse belonging to the powerful rancher Major Terrill (played by George Bancroft), but is eventually released thanks to the help of the local judge, Roy Bean (Walter Brennan).

Bean takes a liking to Hardin, and the two strike up an unlikely friendship. But as the range war heats up, with Terrill trying to drive the homesteaders off their land, Hardin finds himself caught in the middle. He tries to remain neutral, but his growing feelings for Terrill's daughter, Jane (Doris Davenport), complicate matters.

As tensions escalate, Hardin is forced to make some difficult choices. He must decide whether to side with Terrill or with the homesteaders, and whether to pursue his feelings for Jane or abandon them.

Cooper gives a nuanced performance as the morally ambiguous Hardin. He's not quite the hero of the story, but he's not quite the villain either. Brennan is equally compelling as the eccentric and sometimes cruel Judge Bean, a complex character who sees himself as both a defender of justice and a kind of outlaw hero. And while Davenport's role is relatively small, she brings depth and vulnerability to the character of Jane.

Director William Wyler (who would later direct Cooper in the classic films The Pride of the Yankees and Friendly Persuasion) brings a sense of grandeur and scope to the film, making the most of the stunning locations and sweeping landscapes of southern California. The result is a visually stunning and emotionally resonant drama, with themes that still resonate today.

The Westerner is a movie that explores themes of justice, morality, and the complicated relationship between the individual and society. It's a classic example of the Western genre, with gorgeous cinematography, memorable performances, and a timeless story.

The Westerner is a 1940 western with a runtime of 1 hour and 40 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.3 and a MetaScore of 78.