The Life & Times of Judge Roy Bean [VHS]
A remarkable blend of otherwise disparate philosophies about legendary  men, this 1972  film was inspired in part by the epic dimensions of a John Milius (The Wind and the  Lion) script, which was toned down by Paul Newman's charmingly eccentric  approach to the title character, who in turn was deepened by director John Huston's  sensitivity to the subject of fleeting dreams. The story concerns the famous outlaw-turned-lawmaker who rules over an empty stretch of the West that gradually  grows, under his iron fist, into a thriving town. The film follows the quirky Bean's  episodic adventures as the years pass and a variety of colorful characters come and go,  including the muse who captivated his soul, the actress Lily Langtry (Ava Gardner).  Huston's textured approach has an almost Altmanesque feel to it, though he demands more  (and rewardingly so) obvious performances from the cast, particularly a hilarious cameo by  Stacy Keach as the one tough-as-nails SOB who makes Bean a tad nervous. Highly  entertaining.--Tom Keogh