Brennans' performance is magnificent, and earned him a supporting actor Oscar. His rapport with Cooper is magical and at its greatest in the scene where a supposed lock of Lillys' hair changes hands.

Cole tries to reform the Judge but to no avail. The Judge favors the cattlemen and is bent on driving farmers off the range (similar to Brennans role as the leader of the Clanton's in My Darling Clementine). After a farm is burned to the ground, Cole asks the Judge if he was involved. The Judge vehemently denies any knowledge of the crime. He even states that; "if there was a Bible in town, I'd swear on that". But when asked to swear on the Lock of Lilly's' hair, the Judge comes clean.

Of the several Westerns that William Wyler directed, The Westerner is clearly his finest. He captures the essence of a remote Western town where law and lawlessness are arbitrary. The movie also features the dustiest street brawl ever filmed.  Definitely a Classic.                                                                 

Screenwriter: Niven Busch & Jo Swerling from Stuart Lake's story

Cast: Gary Cooper      ---     Cole Hardin 
Walter Brennan ---      Judge Roy W. Bean 
Doris Davenport --      Jane Ellen Mathews 
Fred Stone         ---      Caliphet Mathews 
Forrest Tucker ---      Wade Harper 
Paul Hurst         ---       Chickenfoot 
Chill Wills       ---        Southeast Wyatt 
Lilian Bond      ----       Lily Langtry 
Dana Andrews ---       Hod Johnson 
Charles Halton --       Mort Borrow 
Trevor Bardette --     Shad Wilkins 
Tom Tyler        ---      King Evans