The Man from Laramie (1955)

Director:

Anthony Mann

Writers:

Philip Yordan (screenplay) &
Frank Burt (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

31 August 1955 (USA)

Genre:

Mystery | Western

Tagline:

THE MAN You'll Never Forget!

Plot:

A stranger defies the local cattle baron and his sadistic son by working for one of his oldest rivals.

Plot Keywords:

Apache | Storekeeper | Rifle | Rancher | Massacre

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Jan. 1

1:15 PM

TCM

Cast

James Stewart	...	Will Lockhart
Arthur Kennedy	...	Vic Hansbro
Donald Crisp	...	Alec Waggoman
Cathy O'Donnell	...	Barbara Waggoman
Alex Nicol	...	Dave Waggoman
Aline MacMahon	...	Kate Canady
Wallace Ford	...	Charley O'Leary
Jack Elam	...	Chris Boldt
John War Eagle	...	Frank Darrah
James Millican	...	Tom Quigby
Gregg Barton	...	Fritz
Boyd Stockman	...	Spud Oxton
Frank DeKova	...	Padre
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jack Carry	...	Mule driver (uncredited)
Bill Catching	...	Mule driver (uncredited)
Frank Cordell	...	Mule driver (uncredited)
Frosty Royce	...	Mule driver (uncredited)
Eddy Waller	...	Dr. Selden (uncredited)

Directed by
Anthony Mann

Writing credits
Philip Yordan		(screenplay) &
Frank Burt		(screenplay)
Thomas T. Flynn		(Saturday Evening Post story)

Produced by
William Goetz	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
George Duning

Cinematography by
Charles Lang

Film Editing by
William A. Lyon		(as William Lyon)

Art Direction by
Cary Odell

Set Decoration by
James Crowe

Makeup Department
Clay Campbell	....	makeup artist
Helen Hunt	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
William Holland	....	assistant director

Sound Department
George Cooper	....	sound
John P. Livadary	....	recording supervisor (as John Livadary)

Stunts
Bill Catching	....	stunts (uncredited)
Frank Cordell	....	stunts (uncredited)
Harry Froboess	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ted Mapes	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Roberson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Boyd Stockman	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack N. Young	....	stunts (uncredited)

Music Department
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator
Morris Stoloff	....	conductor

Other crew
Henri Jaffa	....	technicolor color consultant

Production Companies

• William Goetz Productions
• Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents)

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1955) (USA) (theatrical)
• Columbia Film-Verleih (1955) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• Columbia Films (1955) (France) (theatrical)
• Columbia TriStar Home Video (USA) (DVD)
• Comet Video (????) (USA) (DVD)

Other Companies

• People of the State of New Mexico, The  we wish to express our appreciation for the co-operation of, where this picture was filmed (as the people of the State of New Mexico)

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (RCA Sound Recording)

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Hungary:14 | Norway:16 | West Germany:12 (nf) | Australia:PG | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | UK:U | USA:Approved (certificate #17217)

Filming Locations:

Bonanza Creek Ranch - 15 Bonanza Creek Lane, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

Company:

William Goetz Productions

Trivia:

The last of James Stewart's Western collaborations with Anthony Mann.

Goofs:

Factual errors: Two of Dave's men are holding Lockhart as Dave prepares to shoot Lockhart's hand. One of the two men is in the direct line of fire, and since Dave is shooting Lockhart's hand at point blank range, the bullet would have gone through his hand and struck Dave's henchman.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Will Lockhart: Whoa! Whoa! Whoa. We'll camp here for the night.
Charley O'Leary: We can go a coupla more miles 'fore sundown.
Will Lockhart: We'll camp here!
Charley O'Leary: You're the boss.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in La boum (1980)

Soundtrack:

The Man From Laramie

Great Western

In the western genre, this movie is a "9". A good tale of the old west (Westerns seem to be better if they are plotted strongly, but not over-plotted). Many a western has been ruined by too much plot. Not this one.

The cinematography of New Mexico is perfect, wide-screen and sweeping. It captures the bigness of the western landscape which is a plus in this film based on ranching. Other westerns (Eastwood's mining-based film "Pale Rider" for example) really don't need vast sweeping landscapes.

The acting, direction, production values are all very good. The musical score is dated and not great, but at least it has a western theme.

There is one oddity you might notice about the female characters. The contrast between how the Aline McMahon and the Cathy O'Donnell parts are developed is extreme. McMahon is fortunate to have a great role, but O'Donnell's role is under-developed and kind of empty. Not O'Donnell's fault but it's just how the role is written. I wonder how the same writer can create an interesting, well-written female role but leave the other one so bland?

Action-packed but also the psychological aspects keep you really interested in the story.