The Man from Laramie

Directed by Anthony Mann, The Man from Laramie follows Jimmy Stewart’s Will Lockhart as he rolls into a small Western town and immediately raises the ire of a local cattle baron. Filmmaker Mann, armed with a screenplay by Philip Yordan and Frank Burt, delivers an exceedingly (and often excessively) deliberate endeavor that never becomes quite as engrossing or enthralling as one might’ve anticipated (and hoped), and yet it’s equally clear that The Man from Laramie generally remains watchable enough thanks mostly to Stewart’s predictably commanding turn and a smattering of stirring sequences – with, in terms of the latter, Mann offering up several stylish digressions that effectively buoy one’s less-than-rapt interest and attention (eg a virtually blind man charges Stewart’s character). There’s little doubt, ultimately, that The Man from Laramie‘s overall impact is adversely affected by its recurring emphasis on far-from-captivating subplots (eg Will’s friendship with a local woman), which, when coupled with a somewhat underwhelming climax, confirms the picture’s place as a passable (but disappointing) endeavor that feels like it should be so much better.

**1/2 out of ****