#JulyRankingChallenge2026 for director #WilliamWyler
July 11: The Westerner (1940)
The Westerner stars Walter Brennan, Gary Cooper, Doris Davenport, Dana Andrews, Chill Wills, Fred Stone, and Forest Tucker.
Walter Brennan (very deservedly) won the Best Actor in a Supporting Role Oscar for his portrayal of a “hanging judge.” He’s brilliant. IMO, this is Walter Brennan’s film… in fact (no disrespect whatsoever to the wonderful Gary Cooper) but even without thinking, while listing the cast above, I named Walter Brennan first.
He and William Wyler created such a powerfully memorable character AND performance in this underrated Western.
All of the characters are compelling (and, as always, William Wyler brings out the best of each one of his stars). The film is masterfully directed with no detail overlooked or camera angle taken for granted.
Not a single one.
Yet again, we have a Wyler film accompanied by extraordinary cinematography (courtesy of Gregg Toland). Toland and Wyler collaborated on six movies together (The Westerner, Wuthering Heights, These Three, Come and Get It, Dead End, and The Little Foxes).
Yeah…. WOW.
Marilyn Monroe is stunning in the classic musical “There’s No Business Like Show Business” performing “Lazy” with Donald O’Connor & Mitzi Gaynor. (1954) ✨🌟