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The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean

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6.4/10 • 156

1972-12-182h 0m

WesternComedy

If this story ain't true... it shoulda been!

Outlaw and self-appointed lawmaker Judge Roy Bean rules over an empty stretch of the West that gradually grows, under his iron fist, into a thriving town, while dispensing his his own quirky brand of frontier justice upon strangers passing by.

Directors
John Huston
Writters
John Milius
Editors
John Milius, Hugh S. Fowler

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Paul Newman

    Paul Newman

    Judge Roy Bean

  2. Victoria Principal

    Victoria Principal

    Maria Elena

  3. Ned Beatty

    Ned Beatty

    Tector Crites

  4. Matt Clark

    Matt Clark

    Nick the Grub

  5. Roddy McDowall

    Roddy McDowall

    Frank Gass

  6. Jacqueline Bisset

    Jacqueline Bisset

    Rose Bean

  7. Bill McKinney

    Bill McKinney

    Fermel Parlee

  8. Anthony Perkins

    Anthony Perkins

    Reverend LaSalle

  9. Tab Hunter

    Tab Hunter

    Sam Dodd

Reviews1

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John Chard Avatar

John Chard

Aug 30, 2019

5/10

Beanisms! The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean is directed by John Huston and written by John Milius. It stars Paul Newman, Jacqueline Bisset, Anthony Perkins, Ned Beatty, Roddy McDowall, Tab Hunter, Victoria Principal and Ava Gardner. Music is by Maurice Jarre and cinematography by Richard Moore. In Vinegaroon, Texas, former outlaw Roy Bean becomes the self appointed judge for the region and dispenses his brand of justice as he sees fit. There were a handful of Quirky Revisionist Westerns that surfaced in the 1970s, usually directed by a big name and starring another, one such film is this effort, and much like the others of its ilk it is met with understandable division. The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean can not be recommended in confidence since it is far too rambling and episodic for its own good, something which writer Milius was at pains to say himself. Going so far to say that it’s not the film he wrote and that Huston just did his own thing and steered the pic in another direction – for better or worse depending on your own filmic proclivities. The intention on the page was to have a man clearly with delusions of grandeur, a self appointed judge, jury and executioner, and as an egostical berk into the bargain as well, this side of things comes through. Yet the pic never settles down into a coherent rhythm, as a number of characters played by guest stars wander into each episode, the pic stalls and resorts to bawdy frothery or pretentious surrealism to hopefully hook you into staying with the piece. Unfortunately come the hour mark this becomes tedious and it’s a slog to get through. Some folk do love it, and maybe it’s one to revisit on occasion to catch any nuances missed previously, maybe even grasp the point Huston was trying to make? But for me it’s a mess, an overblown mess that not even the great Paul Newman could save. 5/10

Media

  • The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean poster
  • The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean poster
  • The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean poster
  • The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean poster
  • The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean poster
  • The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean poster
  • The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean poster
  • The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean poster
  • The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
judgeoutlawlawyer