[Demdike@Cult Labs]

Man of the West (1958)

Anthony Mann's story of redemption sees Gary Cooper inadvertently linking up with the gang he used to ride with led by father figure Dock Tobin (A very shouty Lee J Cobb). Having to regain their trust in order to keep them from killing him he agrees to work one last bank job with them.

Quite violent for it's time, Man of the West features one hell of a fist fight between Cooper and Hawaii Five-0's Jack Lord which was as exhausting to watch as it must have been to film and is a highlight of what is a riveting western.

Perhaps this was just me but Dock's gang living out in the backwoods with the gruff old patriarch, Lord's sadistic younger sibling and also a pistol packing mute among their unholy clan made me think of seventies horror movies as much as classic Hollywood westerns especially when for half the film they are seemingly only moments away from raping Julie London's singer caught up in the whole affair.

A far more cruel movie than you might imagine and a more memorable performance from the excellent Gary Cooper than High Noon.