The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean *** (1972, Paul Newman, Ava Gardner, Victoria Principal, Anthony Perkins, Frank Soto, Ned Beatty, Jacqueline Bisset, Tab Hunter, Roddy McDowall) – Classic Movie Review 8724

Star Paul Newman and director John Huston are in easy-going mood in the likeable 1972 movie The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean, an amusing if unfocused Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid-type Western about the real-life self-styled judge Roy Bean, a former outlaw who appoints himself the judge for his Texas region and dispenses his own brand of justice with his pistols. It was nominated for an Oscar: Best Original Song for the song ‘Marmalade, Molasses & Honey’ by Maurice Jarre (music) and Alan Bergman and Marilyn Bergman (lyrics).

The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean is a bit too relaxed and farcical, and not terribly special, but it is pleasing none the less. Written by John Milius (original screenplay), it is what they called a ‘revisionist Western’ back then. Newman is particularly engaging as Judge Roy Bean and the guest star appearances for once are a real attraction (especially Stacy Keach as gunman Bad Bob). Huston once again casts his old chum Ava Gardner (as Lily Langtree) and she rewards him with a little magic.

Huston has a cameo as Grizzly Adams, a mountain man with a bear, played by Dan Haggerty in The Life and Times of Grizzly Adams (1976).

The film unites gay friends Anthony Perkins (as the Reverend LaSalle), Tab Hunter (as Sam Dodd) and Roddy McDowall (as Frank Gass).

Also in the cast are Victoria Principal, Anthony Perkins, Frank Soto, Ned Beatty, Jacqueline Bisset, Tab Hunter, Roddy McDowall, Anthony Zerbe, Jim Burk, Matt Clark, Steven Kanaly, Bill McKinney, Francesca Jarvis, Karen Carr, Dolores Clark, Roy Jenson and Richard Farnsworth.

The most famous movie Roy Bean is Walter Brennan in the 1940 The Westerner.

The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean is directed by John Huston, runs 123 minutes, 105 minutes (cut German version), is made by Coleytown Productions and First Artists, is released by National General Pictures (1972) (US) and Cinerama Releasing UK (1973) (UK), is written by John Milius, is shot in Technicolor by Richard Moore, is produced by John Foreman, is scored by Maurice Jarre and is designed by Tambi Larsen.

Huston recalled: ‘It was not exactly a failure, but you could hardly call it a roaring success. It didn’t take off. Still, there were some very good things in it.’

The UK cinema version was cut for an A rating. The cut German version runs 105 minutes.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8724

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Tab Hunter plays Sam Dodd in The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972).