Review of The Man from Laramie (1955) by Jarett B — 04 Oct 2010

I don't know if it is just me or not, but when James Stewart and Anthony Mann get rolling together, they made the best Westerns of the 50s (not Ford, nor Hawks, and The Duke is nowhere to be seen).

Laramie is one super complex character study in an age of 'hero rides into town and fixes all wrongs and evils, while also banging - or about to bang - the prissy chick that falls for whoever is in charge'.

You could make a good case that Jimmy Stewart is not the good guy of this film and is actually a shit disturber (poking his nose in another man's salt is bad for your health!). Alex Waggoman (Donald Crisp) and his son Dave (Alex Nicol) begin to appear that they will be the villains of this piece and that their ranch-hand Vic (Arthur Kennedy) is their only voice of reason.

Well. To say anymore on this would not be giving proper respect to this near perfect effort from Mann. There is something so 'adult' about Mann's West, especially compared to Hawks (although enjoyable) and Ford (equally enjoyable).

For example, in a Mann western, it is fair game to maim a man for a simple act, for petty vengeance. Married women ARE NOT off the market, although they appear to be, and, you get the feeling that at points throughout the film you could just imagine Stewart screaming "F@#K YOU!" in response to his enemies.

The film kind of leaves you with a sickening feeling in the end, knowing that nobody was truly good or bad... just human. It's a beautiful thing. Oh ya! And Jack Elam has a small role. Respect the Jack!