The Man From Laramie is the last collaboration between James Stewart and Anthony Mann. It is a western, as much as it is a soap opera. It is one of James Stewart’s best westerns. He is helped by a very good cast. This includes Donald Crisp. He gives a quite a performance as Alec Waggoman. He is a rancher, who owns a lot of land in New Mexico. His success is hampered by a spoiled, vindictive and cowardly son, Dave, (Alex Nicol). Crisp’s performance is as good as his Oscar winning role as Mr. Morgan, in How Green was My Valley. Anthony Mann has managed to get the best a director can out of his actors.
James Stewart plays Will Lockhart. He has come from Laramie, Wy, seeking the man responsible for his brother’s death. Lockhart’s brother, was a cavalry soldier, killed in a massacre by Apache’s. He’s found out that the Apache’s were sold rifles, and the person who sold them, indirectly killed his brother. He is gathering salt, with Charlie O’Leary, (Wallace Ford), when he is attacked by Dave Waggoman, and his ranch hands. He accuses Lockhart of trespassing. Will Lockhart later comes across Alec Waggoman. He tells Waggoman about his losses. Stewart’s character is having a conversation on foot, with a mounted Waggoman. It is a good way of Mann showing the importance and status of Alec Waggoman. When Lockhart goes to the ranch to be compensated, there is another conversation. This time both men are positioned differently. Lockhart is shown looking up when speaking. Alec Waggoman’s status is shown, when speaking. He is looking down at Lockhart. It is the way Mann gives and takes societal roles, with the camera, that helps this film.
It is only when Will Lockhart, has a brawl with Dave Waggoman, that his status changes. Lockhart is beating him, and a ranch hand, wants to shoot him. Into the scene comes, Kate Canaday, (Aline MacMahon). She points a shotgun at the man, forcing him out. Kate is a rancher who owns land, and is hated by Dave. She is also the former fiancé of Alec Waggoman. She needs protection from Dave and his gang of thugs. She hires Will as ranch hand/strong arm.
This is upsetting to Dave Waggoman. He decides to recruit Apaches to be his enforcers. This doesn’t sit well with Vic Hansbro, (Arthur Kennedy). He is the surrogate son of Alec Waggoman, and heads up the ranch. He is engaged to shopkeeper, Barbara Waggoman, (Cathy ODonnel). He is also the person who is selling the rifles to the Apaches. He doesn’t want his role exposed, and kills Dave. He manages to put the blame on Will. The sheriff, knowing that Alec will be out for revenge, tries to tell Lockhart to leave for his safety. Lockhart, being on a mission refuses.
The enraged Alec Waggoman, comes gunning for Lockhart. He goes to Kate’s ranch, firing several shots at Will Lockhart. He misses, because he’s going blind. The two men patch up their differences. Waggoman also says that Vic Hansbro, is the man selling rifles to the Apaches. Lockhart finds Hansbro and makes a persuasive argument with a shotgun, to get rid of the wagonload of rifles. Together, the two men, in a dramatic scene, use all their strength, to push the wagon over a cliff. Lockhart, knowing that he’s found his brother’s killer, lets him live. He tells him to get out of his sight, and leaves him to the Apaches.
This western has well defined characters. The female character of Kate Canady is not typical of westerns made during this time frame. She can give and take, when it comes to her land. She helps Will Lockhart, when nobody else will, and can’t abide cowards or cowardly behavior. Aline MacMahon, the accomplished actress has brought to the screen, a fine three dimensional character of the western frontier. Cathy O’Donnell is ok as Barbara Waggoman, the niece of Alec. She is courteous to James Stewart’s character, and falls for him. Her character just isnt as high spirited as Kate Canady. James Stewart, has with Will Lockhart, solidified his status as a true western hero and movie star.
There is also a violent scene in the film. Will Lockhart gets the better of DaveWaggoman, in a gunfight. Lockhart injures Waggoman’s shooting hand. Waggoman believes in an eye for an eye. In this case, a hand for a hand. He gets his gang of bad men to hold Lockhart. He then shoots his gun hand. Stewart’s character after this says “you scum.” It is one of the many scenes, that show Alec Nicol, giving his all portraying Dave Waggoman, as a despicable human being. Lockhart is cared for by Kate. After he recovers, he carries a shotgun, to compensate for his injured hand.
The Man From Laramie is a very gritty and people centric movie. It has a good script written by Philip Yordan and Frank Burt. It has the beautiful locations of New Mexico, adding to the story. It is too bad that this was the last teaming of James Stewart and Anthony Mann. Stewart teamed with John Ford, several years later. They made The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, with Stewart’s good friend, John Wayne. It was the films with Anthony Mann, that carved out James Stewart’s legacy as an actor.