‘Day of the Outlaw’: A Wintry Western With Moral Frostbite

The Wyoming town of Bitters is the scene of wintry revenge and anger.

Blaise Starrett (Robert Ryan), in “Day of the Outlaw.” (United Artists).

NR | 1h 32m | Drama, Western | 1959

The “mysterious stranger” trope has been used to jumpstart many a western tale. The story focuses on a stranger who may seem sketchy at first, but then turns out to be a relatively benevolent figure, such as in “The Gunfighter” (1950), or any number of the “man with no name” films starring Clint Eastwood.