Your Favorite Westerns?

[David Meek]

Hi all,

This thread isn't just about Westerns on DVDs! It's about your favorite Westerns - period. At the cinema. On TV. On tape. On laserdisc. Yes, on DVD. On. . . well, whatever. I'd started a thread like this back on the "old" HTG but it disappeared in the migration, so it's time to start a new one. Here are some of mine:

Big Jake
Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid
Dances With Wolves
El Dorado
High Noon
Jeremiah Johnson
Open Range
Quigley Down Under
Rio Bravo
Silverado
The Outlaw Josey Wales
The Stalking Moon - When will this come out on DVD?!?!?!?!?
The Unforgiven

[George Bellefontaine]

SHANE
HIGH NOON
THE WESTERNER
THE SEARCHERS
RED RIVER
TRUE GRIT
SHE WORE A YELLOW RIBBON
UNFORGIVEN
HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER
OUTLAW JOSEY WALES
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST
STALKING MOON
THE BIG COUNTRY
THE GUNFIGHTER
YELLOW SKY
LAST TRAIN FROM GUNHILL
MY DARLING CLEMENTINE
OXBOW INCIDENT
WYATT EARP
TOMBSTONE
SILVERADO
OPEN RANGE
BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID
HOMBRE

Phewww....

[David Meek]

George, I knew you'd be on this one in a hurry! Oh yeah, those are some more good ones.

[Danbry39]

Forgive me George. As I'm in a rush right now, but wanted to post on this, I just edited your list and added a couple of personal favorites to make a top 10.


HIGH NOON
THE SEARCHERS
RED RIVER
UNFORGIVEN
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST
OXBOW INCIDENT
OPEN RANGE
Rio Bravo
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Lonesome Dove (If I can add this great mini series.

[Glen B]

Gunsmoke series
Once Upon a Time in The West
100 Rifles
True Grit
Rio Bravo
Chisum
McLintock
Rooster Cogburn
The War Wagon
The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
Outlaw Josey Wales
A Fistful of Dollars
For a Few Dollars More
Hang Em' High
Joe Kidd
High Plains Drifter

[David Meek]

You guys are GOOD! :T

[George Bellefontaine]

That's okay, Keith, I'll steal from your list. I forgot THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE. Thing is, that list of mine is just a starter. Given a little though I'm sure I'd come up with more. One thing is interesting, though. Look at all those Eastwood and Duke Wayne titles that were mentioned.

[BradF]

The Westerner
Lonesome Dove
My Darling Clementine
Fort Apache
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon
Stagecoach
Ride The High Country
so many good ones in this genre...

[Burke Strickland]

David -

I assume you very purposefully listed "The Unforgiven", a somewhat offbeat, but still classic, "settlers versus the Indians" Western directed by John Huston in 1960 starring Burt Lancaster, Audrey Hepburn, Audie Murphy and even featuring Lilian Gish, as distinguished from the more recent (1992) "Unforgiven" (no "The" in its title), which, as everyone knows, was directed by its star, Clint Eastwood and included memorable performances by Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman and Richard Harris.

Burke

[Danbry39]

Glen,

You listed Gunsmoke, my all-time favorite TV Western, and, for us around in the '50's and '60's, we all know how many good ones there were back then.

[Adz]

I think you guys overlooked the funniest Western of all time (and its not really debateable).

Yes, that's right

BLAZING SADDLES

[Glen B]

Glen,

You listed Gunsmoke, my all-time favorite TV Western, and, for us around in the '50's and '60's, we all know how many good ones there were back then.

The show is in syndication on TV Land channel. Its on daily between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m. E.S.T. and also between 2:00 - 7:00 p.m. on Sundays. I try to catch episodes when I can on the weekends.

[David Meek]

I assume you very purposefully listed "The Unforgiven", a somewhat offbeat, but still classic, "settlers versus the Indians" Western directed by John Huston in 1960 starring Burt Lancaster, Audrey Hepburn, Audie Murphy and even featuring Lilian Gish, as distinguished from the more recent (1992) "Unforgiven" (no "The" in its title), which, as everyone knows, was directed by its star, Clint Eastwood and included memorable performances by Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman and Richard Harris.

Ooops. ops:

Nope, I was shooting for :B Unforgiven, with Clint, Gene, Richard and Morgan. I'd forgotten about The Unforgiven which IIRC is an almost eerie feeling movie dealing not only with the Cowboys vs. Indians, but also the true history of the young woman. Is that the one?

[George Bellefontaine]

Brad: STAGECOACH and RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY :T

Tex, I only saw The Unforgiven in the theater, which is some time ago, but I do believe it is the one you refer to. Man, I gotta get me this one on DVD if it is out there.

A couple of other ones with Burt Lancaster I like:
GUNFIGHT AT THE OK CORRAL
VERA CRUZ
THE LAWMAN

Gee, I really love westerns.

[David Meek]

Gee, I really love westerns.

You and me both! :yesnod:

[Marcel54]

Unforgiven
The Good, The Bad and the Ugly
The Quick and the Dead (underrated in my opinion)
Silverado
Once upon a time in the West (my alltime favorite)
Dances with Wolves
High Noon
Wyatt Earp
Tombstone
Rawhide (it's a serie but still...)

Marcel

[David Meek]

Tombstone!!!! I forgot Tombstone!!!! 8O

Good one Marcel. :T

Also, The Quick & The Dead is a guilty pleasure of mine. Sharon Stone in that leather! Woof. :B Plus, I do have to admit I like Russell Crowe's character.

[Azeke]

Tombstone is definitely my favorite, Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday :T . Even my wife, (who has never seen the movie), quotes him, because I do it all the time. I'll provide one of my favorites just for kicks, talking to Ike Clayton, after Doc had won 13 hands of poker in a row Doc says, "Maybe poker is not your game, I know let's have a spelling contest.

I also enjoyed Open Range, with Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall, El Dorado, and someone mentioned Hombre, I had forgotten about that one. The Sons of Katie Elder, John Wayne, and of course, The Outlaw Josie Wales, Clint Eastwood.

Western Comedies:
1) Silverado
2) Trininty
3) Trinity is still my name

Regards,

Azeke

[Chris D]

I've never been big on Westerns, but the ones that have been mentioned that stick out in my mind are:

Man Without a Name series (Good, Bad, Ugly, etc)
Blazing Saddles
Butch Cassidy

[dave]

Heres a few more for your list,

The Rare Breed
Winchester 73
Far Country
The Commenchero's
The Bravado's
Against a Crooked Sky (B grade production, with a great plot)

[George Bellefontaine]

Dave, glad you mentioned those James Stewart films I overlooked. The Naked Spur is also a good one.

[H.Donald]

Other than some of the ones mentioned,I loved the old tv series....
Have Gun Will Travel....starring Richard Boone as Palidan,who was your hired gunslinger ,paid to go from town to town to kick butt.

[dave]

You may be able to help me on this question,
Joel McCrea had some great westerns, the only ones I can think of right now are,
"The Lone Hand" and "Black Horse Canyon"
can anyone remember some others? I think there are at least 3
here's some more for the list.

The Wild Bunch
Dallas, with Gary Cooper & Ruth Roman
5 Card Stud, Dean Martin & Roddy McDowell (B-Grade)

[Glen B]

Other than some of the ones mentioned,I loved the old tv series....
Have Gun Will Travel....starring Richard Boone as Palidan,who was your hired gunslinger ,paid to go from town to town to kick butt.

Good one. I forgot about Paladin, also the short-lived series Branded, starring the late Chuck Connors, and the funny F-Troop with Larry Storch. No one has mentioned Bonanza.

[Azeke]

I forgot about Palladin, also, I use to really enjoy that series.

Also, Bat Masterson with Gene Barry and the Rifleman, with Chuck Connors.

Azeke

[Glen B]

Two more old favorites just came back to mind -- Guns of Will Sonnett and High Chaparral, with Leif Erickson and Cameron Mitchell.

[H.Donald]

Pallidin was Mr.Smooth...a San Francisco gentleman,dressed to the nines...but then a telegram would arrive.Time to put on his all black outfit and get busy.
Also from my childhood Clint Eastwood as Rowdy Yates in Rawhide.

[David Meek]

You may be able to help me on this question,
Joel McCrea had some great westerns, the only ones I can think of right now are,
"The Lone Hand" and "Black Horse Canyon"
can anyone remember some others? I think there are at least 3

Dave, there are tons of Joel McCrea westerns out there! Here's a few I'm familiar with.

Border River - I really think John Wayn re-did this in The Undefeated
Four Faces West
The Virginian
Union Pacific

[David Meek]

Okay, IMDB is showing 28 films for him that I know are westerns. Wow. 8O

[dave]

David, 28 Films??? Wow is right!!!
I remember "Union Pacific" as for the rest? I've got to take a look, Thanks!!!

Heres another one,

"McKenna's Gold" Gregory Peck, Telly Savalas, Julie Numar, and alot more!

[George Bellefontaine]

Dave one really memorable Joel Mcrea film for me was STARS IN MY CROWN. It's a very well done adult western in which Mcrea plays a pastor who is as good with his gun as he is with his bible. I read somewhere that this was Joel's favorite role.

[dave]

Thanks Alot George!!! for the heads up! We are big western fans around here.

Heres some others.

"Bend of the River" James Stewart, Julia Adams, Rock Hudson
"The Man From Laramie" James Stewart, Arther Kennedy
"Legend of the Lost" John Wayne, Sophia Loren, Rossano Brazzi"
"The Over the Hill Gang" & Over The Hill Gang Rides Again" Walter Brennon, Chill Wills,
Andy Devine. (Comedy)
One Eyed Jacks" Marlon Brando, Karl Malden
and don't forget, "How The West Was Won" All star cast.

[Burke Strickland]

For a change of pace from the really good stuff that has been listed so far, here are three to stay away from (and I'm not kidding --these are TERRIBLE):

"Four for Texas" -- Even with the fabulous Texas scenery (provided by Anita Eckberg and Ursella Undress, er, Andress), :>) wise-cracking Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra were simply out of place in this limp excuse for a Western. Even tough guy Charles Bronson couldn't make it believable (he was in it to make a buck, but probably wished he had been presented the script later in his career when he could have told his agent to take a flying leap). :>)

"Cockeyed Cowboys of Calico County" -- Dan Blocker used up ALL the points he got from being in "Bonanza" with this leaden clunker. When the most clever thing about a movie is its alliterative title, it's already in trouble, but when mugging with exaggerated facial expressions substitutes for acting, the cast might as well have phoned in sick and let them shoot the film with cute animals instead.

"Bandolero" -- "There have been other Westerns.... but THIS is Bandalero" intones the announcer during the trailer as the major characters in the cast run up to a precipice and all look over together. When we see the flick, we realize there is nothing down there for them to see, and nothing worthwhile on the screen for us to see; they all should have jumped. That would have been a lot more interesting than anything that happens in the movie. Can't blame this loser entirely on Dean Martin, though, because it also had George Kennedy, James Stewart, Andrew Prine, Will Geer, Denver Pyle... and even Raquel Welch in a low-cut costume, but she wasn't on screen long enough to keep me from actually falling asleep in a commerical theater where I had paid to see this one. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

In fact, I saw all three of these in commercial theaters, and wish I hadn't wasted my time and hard earned money. While they have popped up on TV now and then over the years, I have no idea whether they have ever been on VHS, laser disc or DVD. But if they have been, I hope, for your sakes, that they are now out-of-print. :>)

Burke

[avpower]

Great list by the way.

When someone says favorites i tend to think epics - though I understand the secret indulgence of Sharon Stone in leather... Giddyup!!

Here's a few more no particular order:

The Wild Bunch - incredible video remastering - and that scene of the bridge exploding with the horses and cowboys has just incredible sound.
Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid
The Good the Bad and the Ugly
The Outlaw Josey Wales
Once Upon a Time in the West
The Magnificent Seven (and Rides Again)
High Plains Drifter
Unforgiven
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Silverado
Dances with Wolves
Jeremiah Johnson
Centennial (TV series with lots of drama but great history of transformation of the west)
and cuz I still can't get this movie out of my head - Dead Man

[Nick M]

I love the Kevin Costner westerns.

Dances with Wolves
Open Range

I've always hated the Duke, so that kinda limits my options.... :B

[George Bellefontaine]

I love the Kevin Costner westerns.

Dances with Wolves
Open Range

:B

What about SILVERADO , Nick ? As for OPEN RANGE, yeah, I love it and play it often. That gunfight has to be the best I have seen in any western.

[Nick M]

Oh! Another Costner western! I've heard of it but never knew KC was in it.
Is it similar to Open Range/Dances w/Wolves or is it like Tombstone? I didn't like Tombstone very much. I'll definetly have to look for this one at the rental shop.

Open Range is awesome. The final gunfight and the opening scene with the thunderstorm/rain are fantastic surround/sub showoffs, but the feel and story are simply fantastic. I like the rainstorm in this better than the THX trailer rain/thunder! ;x(

[Patt]

Thanks for bringing back this thread Open Range and Dances with Wolves just went on my DVD checkout list.

[saurabh]

mine too, will definitely rent out OPENRANGE as Nick has mentioned it has good sound for HTS.

[George Bellefontaine]

Nick

Silverado is unlike Open Range and Dances With Wolves in that the storyline is about two brothers and a couple of friends who go up against a corrupt lawman. Costner plays one of the brothers. He is not the main character. This was an early film and he is quite young here, but he and his character stole the film IMHO. He plays sort of a showoff, a topnotch horseman and a deadly gunman. I think you'd like the film, Nick.

You mentioned you didn't like Tombstone. Did you mean Costner's take on WYATT EARP in the same film of that name ? Tombstone was another movie about Wyatt Earp starring Kurt Russell as Wyatt.

[Sarahbee]

I'm not a big Western fan but liked Dances With Wolves a lot. I also liked City Slickers as a silly western comedy :unsure: