The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean

Name: The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance, Western
Released: December 17, 1972
Duration: 120 min
Rating: 57
Cast: Bennie E. Dobbins, Fred Brookfield, Fred Krone, Gary Combs, Leroy Johnson

1972

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Mixed or average reviews based on 8 Critic Reviews

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The Life And Times Of Judge Roy Bean

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Movie Details & Credits

National General Pictures | Release Date: December 17, 1972 | PG

Starring: Bennie E. Dobbins, Fred Brookfield, Fred Krone, Gary Combs, Leroy Johnson, Paul Newman, Richard Farnsworth, Roy Jenson, Terry Leonard

Summary: In Vinegaroon, Texas, former outlaw Roy Bean appoints himself the judge for the region and dispenses his brand of justice as he sees fit.

Director: John Huston

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy, Romance, Western

Rating: PG

Runtime: 120 min

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Critic Reviews

Vincent Canby

It leaves itself wide open to charges of pretentiousness. Yet "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean" is so entertaining and so vigorously performed, especially by Newman in the title role, that its pretensions become part of its robust, knock-about style. Read full review

Kevin Thomas

Paul Newman has lots of fun playing the legendary hanging judge, and Ava Gardner is a ravishing Lily Langtry, the object of Bean's unrequited love. [18 Aug 1991, p.6]

Gary Susman

With a two-fisted script by John Milius (who later wrote Apocalypse Now and Red Dawn), Huston and Newman created a raucous, Rabelaisian, revisionist western of the sort popular at the time. Read full review

TV Guide Magazine Staff (Not Credited)

A rambling revisionist western whose episodic nature was only marginally successful and which didn't come close to BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID on any level. Read full review

Don Druker

Newman does a remarkable John Huston impression, and screenwriter John Milius demonstrates once again that he went to film school. Read full review

Staff (Not Credited)

The overkill and the underdone do it in. Read full review

Steve Dale

Despite the direction of John Huston, this story of a self-appointed Western judge (Paul Newman) isn't one of anyone's best. [06 Apr 1990, p.71]

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User Reviews

codyz

Sep 2, 2023

A mostly successful comic Western, that takes the life of Judge Bean and goes crazy with it. Paul Newman is clearly having good time. I like the wacky, colorful characters, the film's goofy charm, and dark humor. And at times, the movie is quite poignant. I also like the epic feel ofA mostly successful comic Western, that takes the life of Judge Bean and goes crazy with it. Paul Newman is clearly having good time. I like the wacky, colorful characters, the film's goofy charm, and dark humor. And at times, the movie is quite poignant. I also like the epic feel of movie, as we watch Bean's wealth and influence grow, as his small skanky desert brothel, becomes a boomtown. Lots of famous faces in supporting roles, with some of them narrating the story, sometimes speaking directly to the camera. Best and funniest slapstick sequences, involve a beer drinking bear. Directed by John Huston, written by John Millius, and Andy Williams sings theme song !!!!… Expand

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Broyax

Jun 19, 2023

Eh bé, qu’est-ce qu’on a là, mon petit pote ?!… un western de merde ? encore un western de merde ?! avec le Newman qui vient parader comme à la parade et qui ne se sent plus pisser en juge improvisé de mes deux… qu’il est mauvais, oui, qu’est-ce qu’il joue mal, ce Newman : tout dans laEh bé, qu’est-ce qu’on a là, mon petit pote ?!… un western de merde ? encore un western de merde ?! avec le Newman qui vient parader comme à la parade et qui ne se sent plus pisser en juge improvisé de mes deux… qu’il est mauvais, oui, qu’est-ce qu’il joue mal, ce Newman : tout dans la gueule, rien dans le sac.

Bien sûr, il faut rappeler et souligner qu’il s’agit d’une daube poussive et abrutissante du blaireau John Huston, le réalisateur specialiste en la matière : toute sa vie, il n’a tourné que des daubes, le gars ! il ne pouvait pas faire autrement, c’était un don. Le don de la daube. Et en daubes, il pourvoira.. quoi qu’il arrive !

En plus d’être barbant et très rébarbatif, ce film de merde est aussi ridiculement bouffon et souvent, étonnamment imbécile et en même temps d’une désuétude totale avec un zeste de gnangnan en prime. Il croit aussi avoir trouvé l’humour sans faire exprès… sauf qu’il a surtout trouvé la daube, la daube et c’est tout ! Or, daube tu resteras et hors la daube, point d’échappatoire : le verdict est sans appel !… Expand

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