In west Texas, the cattle ranchers and the homesteaders clash. During the clash, a homesteader returns fire at some attacking ranchers but kills a cow. Soon, he is brought before Judge Roy Bean (Walter Brennan) who sentences him to hang. Soon after, Cole Harden (Gary Cooper) is brought before Judge Bean as an accused horse thief. His prospects look dim but he notes the many posters of Lily Langtry about the bar and, while the jury deliberates, he tells Judge Bean that he knows Miss Langtry. Judge Bean soon views Cole as a friend and, when the verdict comes back guilty, he passes a suspended sentence, much to the surprise of the jurors and the mortician. Cole claimed to have a lock of Miss Langtry's hair and Judge Bean means to have it.
Cole just wants to get out of the area - he has vague plans of riding to California - and save his neck. However, he stops for the night at the Matthews' homestead. Jane Ellen (Doris Davenport) lays on the charm to get him to stay on and work the farm. Thanks to the rancher attacks, it has been difficult to retain workers. Seeing the state of the homesteaders and having already gauged the ranchers, Cole attempts to play peacemaker through his 'friendship' with Judge Bean. There's plenty of land for everyone.
The only historical figures in the movie are Judge Bean and Lily Langtry (Lilian Bond). There is a lot to commended regarding the portrayal of Bean. He did have trouble with his neck on account of having been hanged. He was known to fine people based on the amount of money they had in their pockets. Any fines he levied, he kept. His saloon doubled as a courtroom. He did indeed fight in the Civil War as a Confederate. Brennan is terrific in the role, making Bean amiable, ruthless, and lovestruck. On the other hand, the climax sees Bean getting killed in a gunfight in Fort Davis. In fact, Roy Bean died in his bed in 1903 at the age of 77. As for Lily Langtry, she and Bean never met; his pining for her was unrequited.
Good popcorn fun!
