Plot: What’s it about?
There is really only one place to look to find Western films on Blu-ray on a reliable basis. Twilight Time has found a real niche market by releasing a steady stream of oft-forgotten classic Westerns. My favorite Western that they have released so far is the beautiful The Man From Laramie, but their catalogue has many to choose from. I am thankful that they are providing this service because this genre has all but disappeared in the last twenty years. Aside from films with Western motifs (No Country For Old Men, Hell or High Water) there has been far less attention paid to traditional Westerns. It’s a shame because the genre is so rich for storytelling. The other night I sat down to watch the Burt Lancaster vehicle from 1971, Lawman, which Twilight Time released recently.
As the film begins a gang of drunken cowboys led by Vincent Bronson (Lee J. Cobb) and Vernon, Adams (Robert Duval) shoot up a town and leave at least a man dead in the crossfire. Lawman Maddox (Burt Lancaster) rides into town with two horses dressed in black. He visits Sabbath Marshal Cotton Ryan (Robert Ryan) and let’s him know that he intends to bring in the ten men for the death of the old man or to shoot them down within the next twenty four hours. Maddox follows the law regardless of what others try to do to stop him. Cotton warns Bronson and his men that Maddox aims to bring them to justice. Bronson tries to figure out the best way to keep his boys from getting killed or hung. Some of his men decide that they will face off against Maddox and take the risk rather than flee or turn themselves in. Meanwhile, Maddox gets a visit from a former lover, Laura Shelby (Sheree North) who tries to keep him from carrying out the arrests. In the years since Maddox she married one of the men that works for Bronson. Maddox rebuffs her and lets her know that he has every intention of taking these men to meet their justice. As Maddox carries out his plan to capture or kill those who refuse to turn themselves in, the body count rises and the townsfolk try to dissuade Maddox from destroying ten men over the one innocent life lost.
Lawman is a good Western that is not quite a great Western. If you look at the actors on the cast, there is no shortage of raw talent in the film. Burt Lancaster is one of my favorite actors (watch Sweet Smell of Success right now if you have not seen it) and it is always great to watch him onscreen. This is a film where the age of Lancaster works for and against him. It is a little bit strange to see him lying shirtless on his lady at the tender age of 57, but whenever the romance is not onscreen his age benefits the characterization of a tired lawman that is weary from years of violence. Jack Ryan is great in supporting roles and is convincing here. A young Robert Duval almost steals the movie from the other veteran actors. Lee J. Cobb is also good as the concerned patriarch, but much more interesting is the great Richard Jordan as his frightened son.
The one thing that keeps this film from being truly great is that most of these actors listed above are not given much material to work with. The dialogue is somewhat cold and uninteresting. The plot itself is pretty enjoyable, but it feels a little hard to care about these characters because they are silent for most of the film. That said, the final showdown at the end of the film is really enjoyable and makes the film. That coldhearted finale won my respect at the end.
Video: How’s it look?
Twilight Time present the MPEG-4 AVC encoded image in 1.85:1 aspect ratio. This presentation is probably the best that will be given to the film, but there is some noticeable specking throughout the presentation. This Western is not as sprawling and pretty as many Westerns, so it does not show off in high definition like many Westerns do. The imagery of the film serves to give the film a bit grimier dustier feeling with a fine level of grain on the picture.
Audio: How’s it sound?
Twilight Time have provided a DTS-HD MA 2.0 track. It has excellent fidelity to the original elements. One of the best aspects of the film is an excellent score by Jerry Fielding that elevates every scene. This track is center based like all mono tracks, but the music sounds great and the dialogue is clear.
Supplements: What are the extras?
- Theatrical Trailer
- Isolated Score
The Bottom Line
Lawman has a lot of good things going for it. Great actors and a good plot. The dialogue in the film could have used a little bit more energy, but the finale made up for any lulls in the film. Twilight Time have provided a good transfer of the film. Fans will be happy to see this in high definition. Recommended.
