The Westerner
“THE RAW UNTAMED ADVENTUROUS WEST...LIVES AGAIN!”
Synopsis
Drifter Cole Harden is accused of stealing a horse and faces hanging by self-appointed Judge Roy Bean, but Harden manages to talk his way out of it by claiming to be a friend of stage star Lillie Langtry, with whom the judge is obsessed, even though he has never met her. Tensions rise when Harden comes to the defense of a group of struggling homesteaders who Judge Bean is trying to drive away.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
The Westerner (1940) trailer
Type: Trailer • Published 2017-11-14
Top Cast
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Gary Cooper
Cole Harden
Walter Brennan
Judge Roy Bean
Doris Davenport
Jane Ellen Mathews
Fred Stone
Caliphet Mathews
Forrest Tucker
Wade Harper
Paul Hurst
Chickenfoot
Chill Wills
Southeast
Lilian Bond
Lily Langtry
Dana Andrews
Hod Johnson
Charles Halton
Mort Borrow
Trevor Bardette
Shad Wilkins
Tom Tyler
King Evans
Lucien Littlefield
The Stranger
C.E. Anderson
Hezekiah Willever (uncredited)
Stanley Andrews
Sheriff (uncredited)
Arthur Aylesworth
Mr. Dixon - Homesteader (uncredited)
Bill Beauman
Man Getting Haircut (uncredited)
Hank Bell
Deputy (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
September 18, 1940
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- William Wyler
- Screenplay & Story
- Niven Busch, Jo Swerling
- Original Score
- Dimitri Tiomkin, Alfred Newman
- Original Title
- The Westerner
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 40m
- Production Studios
- Samuel Goldwyn Productions
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
William Wyler
Niven Busch, Jo Swerling, Stuart N. Lake
Dimitri Tiomkin, Alfred Newman
Gregg Toland
Daniel Mandell
Samuel Goldwyn
Department Leadership Roster
Niven Busch
Screenplay
William Wyler
Director
Jo Swerling
Screenplay
Daniel Mandell
Editor
Samuel Goldwyn
Producer
Irene Saltern
Costume Design
Gregg Toland
Director of Photography
Dimitri Tiomkin
Original Music Composer
Alfred Newman
Original Music Composer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The Westerner.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The Westerner.
Prime Video - Western Movies
Curated list of Western on Prime Video (US). Updated frequently. Last updated October 14, 2026.
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Movies - Live Action
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Classic Movies Collection
Copy of TMDB public list 8294149 - Classic Movies Collection
IMDb Archive
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Westerner
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The Westerner about?
Drifter Cole Harden is accused of stealing a horse and faces hanging by self-appointed Judge Roy Bean, but Harden manages to talk his way out of it by claiming to be a friend of stage star Lillie Langtry, with whom the judge is obsessed, even though he has never met her. Tensions rise when Harden comes to the defense of a group of struggling homesteaders who Judge Bean is trying to drive away.
Who directed The Westerner?
The Westerner was directed by William Wyler.
Who stars in The Westerner?
The principal cast of The Westerner includes Gary Cooper, Walter Brennan, Doris Davenport, Fred Stone, Forrest Tucker.
When was The Westerner released and how long is it?
The Westerner was released in 1940 with a total runtime of 1h 40m.
Who composed the musical score for The Westerner?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The Westerner was composed by Dimitri Tiomkin, Alfred Newman.
What is the age rating and content advisory for The Westerner?
The Westerner holds official age classifications: US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).