Western Fans - TOP 10 All Time

jsaliga · « **on:** 14 Mar 2010, 08:02 pm »

I think it is fair to say that I can really enjoy any well made-movie with a well-told story, regardless of genre. But I am especially fond of sci-fi and westerns. Lately I have been spending a lot of time with the latter. What are your favorite Westerns.

Please post only ten picks. Some will no doubt see that request as their prompt to post their first 10, second 10, etc.

1. Unforgiven
2. Lonesome Dove (TV miniseries)
3. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
4. Once Upon A Time In The West
5. High Noon
6. The Wild Bunch
7. The Shootist
8. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
9. High Plains Drifter
10. Tombstone

Obviously there are a lot a great Westerns that don't appear on this list. This doesn't mean that I enjoy them any less. But if I had to pick 10 that I could keep and would never be able to see any of the others again...these are the 10 that I would choose.

--Jerome

Mike B. · « **Reply #1 on:** 14 Mar 2010, 08:36 pm »

A few I think are classics.
Red River
The Searchers
Unforgiven
High noon
Dances with Wolves

S Clark · « **Reply #2 on:** 14 Mar 2010, 08:54 pm »

The Searchers
Shane
Cat Ballou- just for Lee Marvin's hilarious role
Open Range- the thunder and gunshots will have you ducking under your chair
McCabe and Mrs. Miller
High Noon
The Magnificent Seven-great soundtrack
Lonesome Dove series
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence
The Grey Fox

Bigfish · « **Reply #3 on:** 14 Mar 2010, 09:04 pm »

Lonesome Dove - The First Series with Tommy Lee Jones
Unforgiven
Open Range
Dances with Wolves
Tombstone
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Hang em High
The Good Bad and Ugly

jackman · « **Reply #4 on:** 14 Mar 2010, 09:14 pm »

Great Thread! I may change my answers if I give this too much thought. I may also change my order because I have a couple that might go higher on the list if I give it a second thought! No TV shows in my bunch.

1. The Searchers - the Duke at his best.
2. Shane - I loved the book as a kid and the movie. Alan Ladd was a bad dude in this one.
3. Unforgiven - Clint's masterpiece
4. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly - Clint in his prime. A Classic that might be #1.
5. Butch Cassedy and the Sundance Kid - Redford and Newman, American Classics
6. Dances with Wolves - Costner's masterpiece
7. High Noon - Gary Cooper's best. Might be rated higher if I give it more thought!
8. Tombstone - I love this movie.
9. The Magnificent Seven -
10. The Wild Bunch

Honorable mention:
3:10 to Yuma - the recent version (who knew Russel Crow and the Dark Knight could produce a great western!)
Blazing Saddles (technically a western!)
Heck, all of the classic Clint movies, High Plains Drifter, Outlaw Josie Wales, Fistfull of Dollars, Few Dollars More, Pale Rider, I love them all.

Revised, removed "The" from Unforgiven!

jsaliga · « **Reply #5 on:** 14 Mar 2010, 10:21 pm »

Quote from: jackman on 14 Mar 2010, 09:14 pm

Blazing Saddles (technically a western!)

I think of Blazing Saddles as a comedy. But if I were to throw western comedies into the mix then I would put They Call Me Trinity and My Name Is Nobody at or near the top of that list.

--Jerome

Charles Calkins · « **Reply #6 on:** 14 Mar 2010, 11:07 pm »

Can't really say which are the best but any western directed by John Ford are very,very good movies.

Cheers
Charlie

ted_b · « **Reply #7 on:** 14 Mar 2010, 11:41 pm »

Lonesome Dove (orig minseries/movie)
Tombstone
The Grey Fox
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Unforgiven
The Missouri Breaks
Open Range
Silverado
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
The Wild, Wild West (tv show...cheating, but it's too good to pass up)

thunderbrick · « **Reply #8 on:** 15 Mar 2010, 12:22 am »

Quote from: jsaliga on 14 Mar 2010, 10:21 pm

I think of Blazing Saddles as a comedy. But if I were to throw western comedies into the mix then I would put They Call Me Trinity and My Name Is Nobody at or near the top of that list.

--Jerome

If you want a low-budget western comedy/parody, try Lust in the Dust. Tab Hunter, Divine, a couple of midgets. Tasteless, but funny.

martyo · « **Reply #9 on:** 15 Mar 2010, 12:41 am »

Magnificent Seven
Rio Bravo
Open Range
One-Eyed Jacks
High Noon
Hombre
The Far Country
The Ox-Bow Incident
Treasure of the Sierra Madre
Maverick

jazzcourier · « **Reply #10 on:** 15 Mar 2010, 05:13 am »

I would say one of the best is "The Westener" William Wyler's masterful telling of the High Noon/Judge Roy Bean saga with Gary Cooper and Walter Brennan.This is just a great,entertaining movie that has got everything and balances drama with comedy and a fabulous feel that puts you in the throws of the quickly changing american west.History meets legend.All the John Ford films are exceptional,the two that bear repeated scrutiny are "The man who shot liberty Valance" and "Wagon master",neither as well known,but every bit as good as "Red River" and 'The Searchers". Here is a great sleeper- "Day of the outlaw" directed by Andre DeToth,who did several very dark westerns,but is better known for his film Noir's.My persoanal favorites are the Budd Boeticher directed films-starring an older Randolph Scott-he was the model for Clint Eastwood as the perfect actor and you can see it in these films...."Commanche Station" "Ride Lonesome" "The Tall T" and 'Seven men from now" these are all excellent and feature amazing horse and cowboy symmetry,reminding us that this was the other side of the cowboy's brain and it had four legs and usually drew more affection than the women.He really connected this and this makes the movies live and breathe like you are inside them.
"Hour of the Gun"-the original with Glenn Ford is very tense.Lots of interior shots in that movie,you got to get these guys outside on horses-riding,shooting,fighting! If you are going to include "Treasure of the Sierra Madre",really not a western,but a great adventure story i will include "Track of the cat" with Robert Mitchum and his son,one of the weirdest films that skirts the genre.One said that there are only a two things can be called "American" and truly original in it's place of origin,and could not be created anywhere else- the Western and Jazz.I'm sure others will add to that list.Watch those films!

eclein · « **Reply #11 on:** 15 Mar 2010, 08:54 am »

Great idea...

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
The Cowboys (John Wayne dies in this one)
Silverado
McCabe and Mrs. Miller
The Shootist
Unforgiven
Red River
Magnificent Seven
Serenity (Scifi Western)

jermmd · « **Reply #12 on:** 15 Mar 2010, 01:07 pm »

I think I have every movie mentioned in this thread.
Would "Old Yeller" be considered a Western? Probably not.
How about "My Name is Nobody" with Henry Fonda?

EthanH · « **Reply #13 on:** 15 Mar 2010, 01:26 pm »

Some good ones in no particular order:

Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid
McCabe and Mrs. Miller
Wild Bunch
Ride the High Country
Unforgiven

jsaliga · « **Reply #14 on:** 16 Mar 2010, 08:24 pm »

This thread has been good because it reminded me of some gaps in my movie library. So these just came in today. The John Wayne set is not all Westerns, but they are all movies that I like.

--Jerome

GerryD · « **Reply #15 on:** 16 Mar 2010, 09:08 pm »

Lots of good picks, but one that hasn't been mentioned that I've always liked is "The Professionals".

bunnyma357 · « **Reply #16 on:** 16 Mar 2010, 09:30 pm »

No particular order:

Once Upon a Time in the West
Rio Bravo
The Searchers
Red River
My Darling Clementine
High Plains Drifter
High Noon
The Cowboys
Yojimbo
Sanjuro

The last 2 may be a stretch, and I could always substitute the Leone/Eastwood "Dollars" versions, but prefer the original "Far-Eastern Westerns".

Jim C

gerald porzio · « **Reply #17 on:** 16 Mar 2010, 11:02 pm »

Lyndon · « **Reply #18 on:** 16 Mar 2010, 11:22 pm »

Jerome,
Don't forget Western novels as well. Elmore Leonard started as a Western writer in the '50's. Some of his best work is there, as well as Larry McMurtry's work.
I don't think 'Once Upon A Time in the West' has been released in blu-ray yet, no?
Just love John Wayne's 'The Searchers' in high def! Monument Valley is simply stunning!
Lyndon

etcarroll · « **Reply #19 on:** 16 Mar 2010, 11:42 pm »

Glad to see so many fans have 'The Searchers' rated well.

But no love for 'She Wore a Yellow Ribbon'?