Lawman is a 1971 American Western film starring Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan, Lee J. Cobb, and Robert Duvall.
The film is about the quest of a lone peace officer, Marshal Jered Maddox (played by Lancaster), to bring several men to justice. It was written by Gerry Wilson and directed by Michael Winner.
Its hero and the motives of the other characters are not as defined or clear-cut as in some westerns.[1] Cobb's character, Vincent Bronson, is not a typically evil cattle baron but is portrayed with a sense of humanity.[1] The marshal and the guilty men nevertheless come to a series of deadly confrontations. In the end, Maddox is an anti-hero who betrays his own code of honor. The plot generates questions regarding honor and under what circumstances murder becomes legal.[1]
Tagline
He gave the West justice right up to its neck … then rammed more down its throat.
Synopsis
The film starts with a scene common to many Westerns, cowboys in a drunken state shooting up a town and wreaking havoc.[2] The rowdies are from the town of Sabbath and are visiting the town of Bannock for a little recreation that gets out of hand.
The town's marshal, Jered Maddox, rides into Sabbath and is not alone. He brings along the body of Marc Corman, one of the unruly cowhands from the recent drunken spree in Bannock, carrying it on the back of a horse;[2] a crude but effective reminder to all that the law is finally coming for a payback visit. It turns out Corman along with five others were involved in the accidental killing of an old man and Maddox is looking for them. The remaining five are Vernon Adams, Choctaw Lee, Jack Dekker, Harvey Stenbaugh and Hurd Price, all hired hands at wealthy Vincent Bronson's ranch.[2]
Maddox follows protocol and calls on Sabbath's sheriff, Cotton Ryan (played by Robert Ryan). He demands that the five surrender to him within 24 hours.[2][3] Ryan is a lawman whose career had seen better days. He urges Maddox to avoid a confrontation with Bronson. Maddox won't back down, although he believes the suspects are likely to get light sentences due to the accidental nature of their crime and the fact that the justice system of Bannock can easily be influenced by bribes. Ryan goes to Bronson's ranch to inform him of Maddox's demands.[2]
Bronson, unaware of the killing in Bannock up to this point, tries to negotiate by offering compensation to the victim's family and even to Maddox. Ryan explains that Maddox will not agree to anything other than an unconditional surrender of all five men.[2] One of the suspects, Stenbaugh (Albert Salmi), who is Bronson's foreman, tries to persuade Bronson to have Maddox killed. Despite his violent past, Bronson is tired of death and violence and refuses Stenbaugh's suggestion, insisting on further negotiations.[2]
Laura Selby, played by Sheree North, a romantic interest from Maddox's past, tries to negotiate on behalf of Price (J.D. Cannon), one of the suspects, who is now her common-law husband.[2] Maddox is unmoved by Laura's pleas for mercy. Bronson gives up hope of reasoning with Maddox and asks his men if they wish to surrender.[2] Adams (played by Duvall) refuses, claiming that he would go bankrupt if in jail. Retired gunfighter Choctaw (William C. Watson) volunteers to join forces with Stenbaugh in killing Maddox.
Bronson offers to compensate his men for any financial losses while at the same time trying to persuade Maddox that some compromise must exist short of total surrender. Stenbaugh and young Crowe Wheelwright, played by Richard Jordan in his film debut, come to town. Despite being told by Bronson to avoid confrontation, Stenbaugh draws out Maddox for a showdown and is killed. Crowe (who is not wanted by the law) backs down from Maddox after a brief discussion.[2]
Burt Lancaster as Jered Maddox
Back at the ranch, Bronson grieves upon hearing of his close friend Stenbaugh's death. He is comforted by son Jason (John Beck). Maddox's breakfast is interrupted by local businessman Harris (Walter Brooke), leading a delegation of armed citizens concerned that the lawman is creating a lot of problems for them.[2] Not a man to be intimidated, Maddox stands up to the townspeople and they flee the hotel.
Maddox goes to find sheriff Ryan but is confronted again by Crowe. A shot is fired by a hidden gunman, Dekker, played by Ralph Waite. Ryan does place Dekker under arrest but advises Maddox to leave town as the violence seems to be spiraling out of control. Maddox reiterates his position that a lawman never compromises.[2]
Price tries to leave town. Crowe meets with Maddox to swear that he did not set him up for Dekker's ambush. Maddox reveals his disillusionment with his job and admits that lawmen are little more than professional killers.[2] Price, while fleeing, joins Adams on the ride to Bronson's ranch. On the way they spot Maddox. In the ensuing gunfight, Adams' horse is shot while Price escapes. The marshal captures Adams and takes him to Laura's home, where they tend to his gunshot wound.
During a romantic interlude, Maddox rekindles old feelings for Laura. He asks her to leave with him once his mission is done. She agrees under the condition that he resigns as marshal.[2]
Maddox turns over Adams to sheriff Ryan and announces his intent to leave town and start a new life.[2] Bronson and his remaining men come looking for Maddox without realizing he is a changed man. They don't act immediately.[2] When businessman Harris, who was waiting on the sidelines, opens fire at Maddox, the others follow suit. Choctaw draws on Maddox but gets killed.[2] Maddox insists that he seeks no further trouble. Bronson's son, Jason, is not satisfied and seeks revenge. He, too, is killed by the marshal.[2] Price panics. As he runs toward Laura, Maddox shoots him in the back, in violation of his code of honor.[2] Seeing his son dead, a grief-stricken Bronson kills himself in the street. Maddox can do nothing more but ride by himself out of town.[2]
Trivia
- According to a recent TCM airing, the original pre-title credit run so incensed Burt Lancaster after the filming that he threatened to sue to have it changed. Apparently, Lancaster had a contract stipulation that no more than four names preceded the title. Director Winner's name was originally included, bringing the total to five.
Cast
Release dates
Alternative titles
Citations and notes
- ^ a b c Apollo movie guide Quote: While Winner’s screenplay is certainly not the model of originality, the old west clichés are presented with a fresh slant, and Lawman proves to be an engrossing film despite the familiar trappings. and Maddux comes across an old flame tangled up with the wrong guy, a nemesis from the past who may or may not be on the right side of the law and a young cowboy eager to make a name for himself. also Lee J. Cobb plays the “evil cattle baron” role with a surprising degree of sense and humanity. and But thanks to some thought-provoking ideas on ‘legal murder’ and ‘honour amongst thieves,’ this is better than a straight shoot ‘em up.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t TCM on Lawman
- ^ imdb on Lawman Quote: Robert Ryan Sabbath marshal Cotton Ryan
External links
