Lawman (1971)

Plot: A Deputy Marshal goes after the cowboys who accidentally killed an old man
Stars: Burt Lancaster,  Lee J. Cobb, Robert Ryan

Inspired by the the success of  Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and The Wild Bunch,  Hollywood made a large of number of mediocre Westerns in the 1970-1972 time-frame.  Showing graphic violence and revisionist attitudes, they all bombed at the box office, and more or less killed off the Western. Exhibit One, is Lawman - which doesn't have one ounce of originality or authenticity. Lancaster gives one of his worst performances as a cold, sullen, Marshal who upholds the law, no matter what the cost.

The Laughable Ending
Its one of the most ridiculous shoot outs ever. Lawman Lancaster, rides out of town, and when a baddie tries to shoot him in the back, he jumps off his horse, rolls in the dust, and nails the bad guy with one shot.  (Try that at home!) He then faces three baddies and Lee J. Cobb in a High Noon showdown. One draws, and is dispatched. Scared, another drops his gun and runs in circles for 30 seconds -literally - until Burt drills him in the back.  This leaves Cobb's son, who's generously waited until his 3 buddies are dead to challenge Burt to a draw.  Bam, down he goes. At which point L.J. Cobb takes the gun...and... commits suicide!  Of course, Burt has fired off about 12 shots from his six-gun without reloading, but hey who's counting? Certainly not the director.

Summary: A bunch of tired old men - with a sour, tired old story. It bored the hell out of me. The "Graphic" 1970's violence looks fake, the actors are on autopilot, and everything looks like a episode of "Gunsmoke".  Rating *