MAN OF THE WEST (C+): One of those Westerns that love to spend most of its time in talking scenes once it has unveiled the stakes of the plot. Gary Cooper plays a reformed outlaw who, along with two innocent souls on the train with him, winds up accidentally with his old outlaw gang headed by scene chewing Lee Cobb. He has to then trick them that he is into returning to the old life in order to protect the lives and honor of his innocent companions. The key theme here is whether or not Cooper can trick them and get away without re-igniting the old evil self in him. It's a nice concept, but I found the film a bit too plain and obvious. The train robbery and an extended fight sequence are interesting, but Cooper here is kind of boring and while the film engages, it's hard to buy Lee Cobb believing that Cooper is interested in returning and putting up with the chaos it causes his crew. Decent stuff here, not a bad watch, but not something that struck me as must see.
Review of Man of the West
