Customer Reviews
Class Act Cooper ! - By: DoDo Fan, 15 Sep 2007 
The first Western I saw as a youngster starred Gary Cooper, (The Plainsman - 1936- Cecil B. Demille) I've enjoyed the work of this actor ever since & now many decades after that initial encounter that pleasure remains.
This film is typical of a Cooper Western. Here he plays a former bad guy trying to be a good guy but unfortunately runs into some villainous former compatriots. (Some interesting appearances from his co-stars here, a terrific, crazy role for Lee J.Cobb & a good show from a young Jack (Hawaii Five-O) Lord among others.)
Cooper's loping, laconic, easy-going style is in many ways like that of John Wayne. Both actors appear to just play themselves whatever role they are taking in a movie, & I have no complaint on that score.
Gary Cooper played a variety of roles in his movie career but he will of course always be remembered for his part in 'High Noon', the film (with also perhaps Alan Ladd's 'Shane')that sums up the golden age of the Western movie.
Technicallly, 'Man of the West' has transferred well to DVD
with excellent colour saturation, sharpness & - surprisingly - a good soundtrack, although it is 2-track mono.
I'm happy to give this movie 5 stars because, at least for me, it achieves alll I ask for in a film. Good acting, a good story & an hour or so of entertainment. This was almost Cooper's last film (he was ill during its production) & he managed to complete only a few more following a career total of over a hundred movie performances.
Cooper at his best - By: Mark Pearce, 19 Sep 2006 
Anthony Mann made a string of superb westerns in the 1950's - Winchester 73, The Man From Laramie, The Naked Spur (my Favourite).Here he teams up with Gary Cooper who plays a reformed outlaw forced by circumstance to "re-join" his old gang led by Dock Tobin (Lee J Cobb in a crazed performance) to protect innocents he is travelling with. Cooper in keeping with his whole career gives a suitably noble & restrained performance (he was very ill at the time) with the passing of time etched through his every gesture.Watch out for an incredible fistfight with Jack Lord full of alll manner of symbolism & mania. An excellent western.
