Casting Disaster

Bolesroor

Anthony Mann's "Man Of The West" is a standard Western ruined by terrible casting- Gary Cooper is completely wrong for the role of Link.

Every actor has a Prime, and Cooper's was in the 30's & 40's, playing earnest everymen ("Meet John Doe") or courageous cowboys ("High Noon.") In "Man Of The West" Gary Cooper was 57 years old, 3 years away from death, and entirely unbelievable as a reformed gangster captured by his old gang. Cooper's screen charm was as a world-weary soul with a heart of gold. It's impossible to believe he was once a ruthless cowboy who killed, raped, and robbed. Even Jimmy Stewart looked out of place in Westerns... Jimmy belonged in a suit.

Anyway, if you didn't know that casting is half of the performance you do now. Move along.

GRADE: C

score /10

Bolesroor 28 October 2009

Reprint: https://www.imdb.com/review/rw2148749/