MAN OF THE WEST 1958 (MGM)

A great western that was ignored when first released in 1958.

Gary Cooper stars as Link Jones, a man with a sordid past who has changed his life and now lives on the right side of the law.

During a train ride he and two others are left behind after a daring train robbery that leaves Link, Billie Ellis (Julie London) a beautiful saloon singer and Sam Beasley (Arthur O' Connell) looking for a place to stay for the night.

The happen upon a place Link used to live and it's soon discovered that the very people who robbed the train are living there now. Dock Tobin (Lee J. Cobb) and his gang are hiding out there and they welcome Link and the others.

It seems that Link was Tobin's protege at one time and Tobin wants it that way again. Link does everything in his power to protect Billie from the gang members, especially Coaley (Jack Lord), who wants Billie in the worst way.

Tobin plans a huge robbery, but nothing seems to go right as everything has changed in the West but Tobin. The climactic shootout is a cinematic delight.

Directed by Anthony Mann, this film was largely ignored in 1958 as times were also changing for movie goers tastes. This was and still is a very bleak and hard hitting western, which at the time people didn't want. The rest of the cast includes John Dehner, Royal Dano and Robert J. Wilke.

Now hailed as a western classic, I cannot recommend this enough. Cooper and London are superb and the film never misses a beat. The violent fight between Link and Coaley is a true highlight.