Man of the West on Arte: Gary Cooper caught up with his outlaw past

A man who has come to hire a schoolteacher comes face to face with the outlaws he left behind. Man of the West, directed by Anthony Mann in 1958, airs on Arte on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 8:55 p.m. Gary Cooper plays the former outlaw who has rebuilt his life, only to be drawn back into his past by a train robbery.

After the wagon train departs, Link Jones is left alone with Billie Ellis, played by Julie London, and gambler Sam Beasley, played by Arthur O’Connell. The shelter he knows leads them to Dock Tobin, the gang leader who raised him. Lee J. Cobb portrays the man whose crimes Link once shared: the danger thus comes from an old connection as much as from an encounter with armed strangers.

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Written by Reginald Rose, based on a novel by Will C. Brown, this western puts breaking with a life of crime at the heart of its premise. Arte continues the evening at 10:35 p.m. with Irresistible Gary Cooper, a documentary about the actor’s career.

For more, check out our selection of films, series and shows to watch on TV this week, our guide to new releases across all platforms, and today’s picks in What to watch streaming today.

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