I was reading comments about movies on the Internet Movie Database the other day and although the movie being commented on was by no way, shape, or form a western, somehow people started naming their five favorite westerns. There were a small handful mentioned that I hadn’t seen. A few I totally disagreed with, and some I thought, “Yeah, that was a great one!” Some that I do agree with as great westerns are, “High Noon,” “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance,” “Shane,” and “The Big Country.” Some that were mentioned several times were “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” that was listed as #1 the most often and I think I have to agree with it. My brother and I went to see that movie every day that it was in town. We were mesmerized. The first time through at the end we just stared at each other with our mouths open. I don’t know, maybe part of the reason we went back so many times is in hopes that it would end differently somehow. Maybe we just wanted to memorize the one-liners; but I would probably list that as #1, no doubt about it. Another one that was listed mostly in the 2nd or 3rd place was, “Silverado.” I absolutely loved that movie so I guess that would go in my top five also. After that it gets tough. There are many more titles in numbers 3, 4, and 5. Some that come to mind are, “The Searchers,” “3:10 to Yuma,” (also right up there in my opinion), “Blazing Saddles,” (okay funny, but great? I don’t think so). Clint Eastwood’s spaghetti westerns (I liked these also but great? In my top 5? No). “Dances With Wolves” was also high ranking.
“Rio Bravo” was mentioned several times. There’s nothing quite like a good old John Wayne western is there? He was in many and most all of them were noteworthy. His passing was the end of an era. Several of his were in people’s top five.
“The Wild Bunch” was one mentioned often also. I agree, it was a great movie. It really makes one think. I usually like a bit of comedy in a western just to diffuse some of the intensity, but there was no humor in that movie, for sure. Not mentioned were James Garner in his “Gunfighter” movies. I probably wouldn’t put those in my top five, but I did enjoy them.
I’m sure there are others that aren’t coming to mind right now. I remember a couple I wouldn’t even classify as westerns, but oh well. Also not mentioned was “The Frisco Kid.” I thought that was great fun also. Gene Wilder and Harrison Ford together–very entertaining. “Once Upon a Time in the West” was also a popular one, but not in my top five.
I love comedies, not stupid ones, but that is each to his own preference. I like Sci Fi (good Sci Fi), human interest movies, (yes) romance, mostly all kinds except a lot of killing and graphic violence going on. I avoid those.
Westerns were very popular in the 1950s and I saw a lot of them as they were my first choice of movies when I was a child. Some of them were very good. “The Way West,” was very good, so was “Hurry Sundown.” Both had Kirk Douglas, “TWW” also had Robert Mitchum and Richard Widmark. “HS” also had Joseph Cotten, Dorothy Malone, Carol Lynley, and Rock Hudson.
All in all, I don’t think I can pick a #3, 4, or 5. Just too many to choose from. I hold firm on my top two.
Every once in awhile you just have to see a good western. At least I do.
