University of Virginia Library

Raw Power

Every moment he is on the
screen, one can sense the raw
power of the man, sense it not
merely because of what he
does, be it selling $25 beers to
rising from he dead to rescue
his abandoned daughter from
the evil gangster Frank Gass.

Giving credits for the
performances in Roy Bean
would take half a page. Every
single character, no matter how
short a time he remains on the
screen, is clearly and carefully
presented to the best comedic
effect. One can only mention
the few outstanding, and say
that those not mentioned are
not unworthy.

Antony Perkins plays the
Rev. LaSalle, who finds Roy
Bean after he has decided to
become a Judge, and shows
him the words of the righteous
while helping to bury the dead.
Stacy Keach is Bad Bob,
undoubtedly the toughest,
baddest, bad guy ever to
explode on the screen. Roddy
McDowall is Frank Gass, the
sneaky, insidious lawyer who
seeks to destroy the judge.

And there are the women.
His wife (Victoria Principal),
who is his angel of vengeance
and love. His daughter
(Jaquiline Bisset), who inherits
his character. And, of course,
Lilly Langtry (Eva Gardner),
who is Judge's one true love
and ideal.

And, of course, one cannot
forget Bruno, whose
performance of the Watch
Bear, the Judge's pet black
bear, is among the most
remarkable in the film. The
scene where the Judge and the
Bear stand at the bar, both
drinking beer, and discussing
Greek history, stands out as
the one that most truly
expresses the Judge's power
and personality.