Synopsis
While passing through the town of Bannock, a bunch of drunken cattlemen go overboard with their celebrating and accidentally kill an old man with a stray shot. They return home to Sabbath unaware of his death. Bannock lawman Jered Maddox later arrives there to arrest everyone involved on a charge of murder. Sabbath is run by land baron Vince Bronson, a benevolent despot, who, upon hearing of the death, offers restitution for the incident.
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Cast
- Burt LancasterBannock Marshal Jared Maddox
- Robert RyanSabbath Marshal Cotton Ryan
- Lee J. CobbVincent Bronson
- Robert DuvallVernon Adams
- Sheree NorthLaura Shelby
- Albert SalmiHarvey Stenbaugh
- Richard JordanCrowe Wheelwright
- John McGiverSabbath Mayor Sam Bolden
- Ralph WaiteJack Dekker
- John BeckJason Bronson
Recommendations
- 70
The Telegraph
While the film has a deadly end, Lawman exchanges the typical good vs. evil narrative of Western films for one of moral ambiguity and humanity, and ultimately presents the question of whether murder can ever be justified. - 70
Variety
Lancaster, as usual, is a highly convincing marshal, tough and taciturn. Ryan is also excellent as the faded, weak marshal with only memories. But it’s Cobb who quietly steals the film as the local boss who, however, unlike in many such films, is no ruthless villain. - 70
The Telegraph
While the film has a deadly end, Lawman exchanges the typical good vs. evil narrative of Western films for one of moral ambiguity and humanity, and ultimately presents the question of whether murder can ever be justified. - 70
Variety
Lancaster, as usual, is a highly convincing marshal, tough and taciturn. Ryan is also excellent as the faded, weak marshal with only memories. But it’s Cobb who quietly steals the film as the local boss who, however, unlike in many such films, is no ruthless villain. - 60
TV Guide Magazine
A humorless Greek-tragedy western with little going for it save its inexorable momentum toward the obvious end. - 60
TV Guide Magazine
A humorless Greek-tragedy western with little going for it save its inexorable momentum toward the obvious end. - 50
Chicago Sun-Times
Winner should have told us a lot more about his lawman, or a lot less. - 50
The New York Times
A potent but curiously exasperating Western.
