The Man From Laramie (1955)

Director: Anthony Mann
Starring: James Stewart  Arthur Kennedy  Donald Crisp  Cathy O'Donnell  Alex Nicol
Year of release: 1955
Running time: 98
Age restriction: PG V
Category: Western  

Anthony Mann directed this brilliant psychological western based upon Shakespeare’s King Lear. James Stewart plays Will Lockhart, who is obsessed with finding the man who sold automatic rifles to the Apaches, resulting in the death of his brother. Will enters the town of Coronado, New Mexico, ruled by the blind and aging patriarch Alec Waggoman (Donald Crisp). Unaware that he is trespassing on Waggoman’s land, he finds himself accosted by Alec’s psychotic son Dave (Alex Nicol), who brutally beats Will and is ready to kill him. But Will is rescued at the last minute by Waggoman’s adopted son Vic Hansbro (Arthur Kennedy). Will finds that Waggoman has become increasingly concerned over who will inherit his vast empire.