Lawman (1971)

[The Limey]

Along with Chato's Land, Lawman is one of director Michael Winner's finest films. Burt Lancaster plays Jered Maddox, a tough, no nonsense US Marshall hunting down down a group of cowboys who drunkenly shot up his town, and in doing so accidentally kill an elderly man...
These guys work for wealthy land owner - Vincent Bronson ( Lee J. Cobb) who was also present at the shoot up. Following them back to their home town, Maddox has a simple message and that is return to face justice or die, with no grey areas whatsoever in between. Slowly it dawns on Bronson and his men that they are facing a lawman who cannot be bought off and is a killing machine in a gun fight.
Robert Ryan is superb as the town's ageing Marshall who despite being in Bronson's pocket, manages to find his self respect again through his interaction with Maddox.



The supporting cast are equally impressive - Robert Duvall stands out as a small homesteader also on Maddox's list who fails dismally in an attempt to first flee and then kill Maddox... Ralph Waite, John Beck, Joseph Wiseman, Richard Johnson, and JD Cannon also provide sterling support in their various roles.

Basically the film tells the story of an iron hard, straight down the line Lawman who is unwilling to compromise in a changing world which is morphing from the black and white view point that he holds. This iron attitude sets in train a series of events which see the film play out to its grim conclusion. The film does not hold back on the brutality and the depiction of death is both gory and ugly.
The dvd release of this was only so so and hopefully a release will draw on a good source to give this film the showcase that it deserves.