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What is a "good" Western?

John%20Wayne.jpg

A friend whose family recently got a huge flat screen HDTV tells me his father-in-law would like to watch a good Western on it.

My first thought..."What's a 'good' Western?"

Maybe more than most genres, the Western invites argument about what is "good" simply because there are so many awful, garbage Westerns.

I shot my friend this list of what I think are the only 10 Westerns you need. I'd be willing to believe there are as many as a dozen, but off the top of my head I think you're safe with these...

1) The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

2) The Magnificent Seven

3) High Noon

4) Shane

5) The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (best Spaghetti western, only one on the list)

6) Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

7) The Searchers

8) Silverado Unforgiven

9) Fort Apache

10) Dances With Wolves

Note:

Yes, three of those are John Wayne movies. The man was the Michael Jordan of Westerns.

I disqualify "Lonesome Dove" because it was a TV movie mini-series and not a theatrical film. I'd be willing to consider a separate list for very good comedy westerns like "Support Your Local Sheriff" "Blazing Saddles" and "Maverick" that spoof the conventions of the Western form but are probably too meta to be included on an actual list of great Westerns. Any such list would, of course, add another John Wayne flick -- "True Grit."

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Comments (14)

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Mark Binker said:

Loved "Shane."

I liked "For a Few Dollars More" better than the Good, the Bad and the Ugly.

Was "Unforgiven" too new to make the list?

You're kidding with "Dances," right? Costner makes me itch.

I would like to place in nomination: The Treasure Of The Sierra Madre.

Joe Killian said:

Oh, man -- I think I meant to put "Unforgiven" and put "Silverado."

Sorry about that. Good catch.

I thought about The Treasure of the Sierra Madre and then I thought...is that an actual Western? I guess it is -- they have horses and guns and they're prospectors. That's a good addition.

Mark Binker said:

I think Sierra Madre qualifies...not exactly an "open range" kind of scenario, but still...it had Bogie!

Joe Killian said:

Yeah - it happens in Mexico, but I'd say it has all of the essential elements of a good Western.

I disqualified "The Proposition" for being an Australian Western - but Mexico figures large in the history of both the American West and the American Western.

R. Melton said:

Open Range and Wyatt Earp are good choices too.

Kitty said:

It doesn't belong on your list because it's a TV series rather than a movie, but don't forget "The Adventures of Brisco County Jr." as a comedy western. Bruce Campbell? How can it not be good?

Oh, and "Wild Wild West" should get an honorable mention for Best Ridiculous Comedy Western Featuring an Awesome Robotic Death Spider.

Joe Killian said:

I love Bruce Campbell and Brisco County, Jr.

While I sort of generally think "Wild, Wild West" is kind of crap, I do appreciate its willful ridiculousness.

The Western is so good for comedy -- probably because it's a genre that generally takes itself and its conventions so seriously.

Joe Scott said:

Most old school Western fans like my dad consider Eastwood's Unforgiven to be too post modern and anti-heroic to be counted as a good western. However, they would be more than cool with Silverado. Another omission that several Western fans will find regretable is Toumbstone. The movie was dumped by its studio when it was released, only to be turned into a cult classic because of the brilliant turn by Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday. Many feel it is the greatest performance to never get nominated for an Oscar. I would agree.

And personally, as far as 'sketty Westerns go, I'd bet A Fist Full of Dollars on Leone's Once Upon a Time in the West.

Joe Killian said:

I hear a lot of people say they prefer some "Once Upon a Time" or "A Fistfull of Dollars" to "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly"...and I wonder if I just prefer the latter because it was the first one I saw.

I also think "The Last Crusade" is the best Indiana Jones movie. Could be the same reason.

I have to agree with Joe Scott. Tombstone should be on the list.

Wyatt Earp, while more historically accurate, was so dull I wished he'd just shot me and got it over with.

Also, I really like The Quick and the Dead. Is that going to get me lynched?

Mark Binker said:

Chirs:

Quick and the Dead: There's nothing wrong with staring at Sharon Stone for a couple hours...and Gene Hackman is okay too. Still, yeah, get a rope!

Re: Tombstone: "I'm your huckleberry."

Joe Scott said:

Another great western - though not a top ten-er by any means - is The Cowboys. It's sort of John Wayne's swan song wherein the Duke teaches a gaggle of young boys how to be a gang of spittin', drinkin', fightin', and swearin' gang of cattle hands, ready to put outlaws in their graves should the time call for it. It's no longer politically correct by any means, but it's a great film.

Joe Killian said:

I don't dislike Tombstone -- and it's certainly easier to sit through than the longer, overblown but more historically accurate "Wyatt Earp" -- but Kilmer's really the only reason to see it more than once.

Back To The Future Part III count? :)

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