The Man From Laramie

1955

The Man From Laramie

Critics Consensus

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100%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 9

78%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 3,404
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Movie Info

Anthony Mann directed this brilliant psychological Western reminiscent of Shakespeare's +King Lear. James Stewart plays Will Lockhart, who is obsessed with finding the man who sold automatic rifles to the Apaches, resulting in the death of his brother. Will enters the town of Coronado, NM, ruled by the blind and aging patriarch Alec Waggoman (Donald Crisp). Unaware that he is trespassing on Waggoman's land, he finds himself accosted by Alec's sociopathic son, Dave (Alex Nicol), who brutally beats Will and is ready to kill him. But Will is rescued at the last minute by Waggoman's adopted son, Vic Hansbro (Arthur Kennedy). Will finds that Waggoman has become increasingly concerned over who will inherit his vast empire.

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Cast

James Stewart
as Will Lockhart
Arthur Kennedy
as Vic Hansbro
Donald Crisp
as Alec Waggoman
Alex Nicol
as Dave Waggoman
Cathy O'Donnell
as Barbara Waggoman
Aline MacMahon
as Kate Canaday
Wallace Ford
as Charley O'Leary
Jack Elam
as Chris Boldt
John War Eagle
as Frank Darrah
James Millican
as Tom Quigby
Gregg Barton
as Fritz
Boyd Stockman
as Spud Oxton
Frank de Kova
as Padre
Frank Cordell
as Mule Driver
Bill Catching
as Mule Driver
Jack Carry
as Mule Driver
William Catching
as Mule Driver
Frosty Royce
as Mule Driver
Eddy Waller
as Dr. Selden
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Critic Reviews for The Man From Laramie

All Critics (9) | Fresh (9)

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Audience Reviews for The Man From Laramie

  • Feb 19, 2016
    Beautifully filmed and chock full of the wide ranging Western vistas the genre demands, the stranger (Jimmy Stewart) comes to town to find revenge for the death of his brother. The acting is okay here but it has trouble when up against a script like outta of some juvenile detention facility, as clunky as Lincoln Logs.
    Kevin M. W Super Reviewer
  • Sep 05, 2010
    An okay movie for a western, Stewart is a great actor, and he brings the movie to life.
    Aj V Super Reviewer
  • May 30, 2010
    Like the Sons of Katie Elder, The Man from Laramie deals heavily with father/son relationships in the old west, and how the weak son fails the empire-carving father. The son Dave (Alex Nicol) isn't just weak and ignorant, he's also mean-spirited. Vic (Arthur Kennedy) is put in charge of "keeping" Dave, but Dave travels across the ranch like an oafish baby, and Vic can only keep him in line so well. But Vic has other reasons for disliking Dave, especially the fact that when the old man (Donald Crisp) dies, Dave will inherit (and likely fritter away) all the hard work he's put into the ranch. Lockhart (James Stewart) has come to to town supposedly to deliver a shipment to the general store, but his real agenda is to discover who sold the repeating rifles to the apaches who killed his brother. There are no stereotypical villains in this movie, no one is strictly speaking "evil" (except perhaps dave, who just wants to be the man his father was), they're more misguided. When the old man came out west, he had to be tough, as there wasn't any law to protect him and his property. Times have changed, and he wants his son to learn how to do the bookkeeping, but all Dave wants to do is play cowboy and spends every opportunity looking for a fight. Lockhart is shrewd and cool as a cucumber as he works towards finding his revenge, and it's a vengeance that won't be denied. The psychology of the characters is well fleshed out and puts the Man from Laramie a step above the stereotypical black-and-white westerns.
    Devon B Super Reviewer
  • Nov 26, 2008
    I've always heard good things about Anthony Mann's westerns and after watching the Tin Star and this film I will defiantly watch more. The stories are good but the characterizations and acting is top notch. Jimmy plays a mystery man from Laramie who roles into town and gets caught up with a cattle Baron and his out of control son. They piss off Jimmy and they are connected to his real reason for coming to their town and its all revenge from there on out. The movie starts out real strong and gets a little formulaic towards the end, but it is quite enjoyable and I love me some Jimmy.
    cody f Super Reviewer
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