Lawman

Directed by Michael Winner

Lawman (1971). While passing through the town of Bannock, a bunch of drunken, trail-weary cattlemen go overboard with their celebrating and accidentally kill an old man with a stray shot. They return home to Sabbath unaware of his death. Bannock lawman Jered Maddox later arrives there to arrest everyone involved on a charge of murder. Sabbath is run by land baron Vince Bronson, a benevolent despot, who, upon hearing of the death, offers restitution for the incident. Maddox, however, will not compromise even though small ranchers like Vern Adams are not in a position to desert their responsibilities for a long and protracted trial. Sabbath's marshal, Cotton Ryan, is an aging lawman whose tough reputation rests on a single incident that occurred years before. Ryan admits to being only a shadow of what he once was and no threat to stop Maddox. Maddox confides to Ryan that Bannock's judicial system is weak and corrupt, and while he's doubtful that anyone he brings back will suffer more than the price of a bribe, he will not be deterred in his unrelenting pursuit of his duty. Initially Bronson appears willing to make concessions, but when his oldest friend Harvey Stenbaugh is killed after deliberately picking a fight with Maddox, Bronson digs in his heels with the rest of the town to resist the relentless lawman.

Director

Michael Winner

Writer

Gerald Wilson (written by)

Cast

Burt Lancaster-... -Bannock Marshal Jered Maddox

Robert Ryan-... -Sabbath Marshal Cotton Ryan

Lee J. Cobb-... -Vincent Bronson

Robert Duvall-... -Vernon Adams

Sheree North-... -Laura Shelby

Joseph Wiseman-... -Lucas

J.D. Cannon-... -Hurd Price

Albert Salmi-... -Harvey Stenbaugh

Richard Jordan-... -Crowe Wheelwright

John McGiver-... -Sabbath Mayor Sam Bolden

Ralph Waite-... -Jack Dekker

John Beck-... -Jason Bronson

William Watson-... -Choctaw Lee (as William C. Watson)

Walter Brooke-... -Luther Harris

Robert Emhardt-... -Hersham

Trivia

• Debut of Richard Jordan