The Man from Laramie

This tense western sees James Stewart as a man adamant to find the killer of his brother, and if it means to take on the family of an influential and ruthless cattle baron!

Mainly set in the isolated town of Coronado (it sounds like a tasty beer!) in the San Diego district, this restored Blu-ray version brings out the full beauty of the rugged Southwest landscape. Stewart plays Will Lockhart, the ‘man from Laramie’ delivering supplies to Coronado. It’s not just the delivery that brought him into this strange place… in fact it’s his mission to find the killer of his brother. Rumour has it that someone from town is secretly selling rifles to the neighbouring Apache Indians and that’s precisely how his brother was killed. From the go Will encounters hostility, especially from the mighty Waggoman clan lead by cattle baron Alec Waggoman (Donald Crisp) and his loose cannon of a son, Dave (Alex Nicol). Only Barbara (Cathy O’ Donnell) who happens to be Alec’s pretty niece shows some concern for the stranger but nonetheless warns him that he’d be better of leaving town. Which is precisely what Will refuses to do!

When Barbara gives Will the green light to pick up salt for free and use it free of charge for fright, troublemaker Dave won’t have any of it and promptly accuses Will of theft though it doesn’t end there: Dave also kills six of Will’s mules and burns three of his wagons. In an act of repercussion Will starts a fight with Dave and ranch foreman Hansbro (Arthur Kennedy) while Alec Waggoman, who got wind of what happened, offers Will some recompense. Alas, the damage is done and as the situation goes from bad to worse it becomes apparent that Dave is involved in the illegal rifle trading concerning the Apaches – something we suspected all along. In a surprise twist Dave and foreman Vic get into an argument and the latter kills the former in self-defence. Knowing full well that old Alec Waggoman would never forgive him, no matter whose fault, Vic blames Dave’s death on Will who, in the meantime, joined forces with rival rancher Kate Canady (Aline MacMahon). The stage is set for a scorching finale and the revelation as to the true identity of of who, or rather what, Will Lockhart really is. Many a good western ends with the hero riding out of town and into the horizon and it’s no different here as Will returns to Laramie.

The Man from Laramie is based on a serial of the same name by Thomas T. Flynn, first published in 1954 (which is one year before the film was made). The performances are good all round and James Stewart gives a bravura performance as the lonesome cowboy ready to face the enemy. Great emphasis is paid on details too, for example when a group of Indian squaws are standing around the town square their costumes are very much as the traditional costumes of Southwest Indian women would have looked like. Charles Lang is responsible for the impressive cinematography and of course director Anthony Mann managed to get the very best from his cast.
The Blu-ray furthermore features some bonus material.