Streets of Laredo
A group called the Western Writers of America came up with a list of what they call the greatest western movies of all time. They list 100 – here are their top ten:
1. Shane
2. High Noon
3. The Searchers
4. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
5. Dances with Wolves
6. The Wild Bunch
7. Red River
8. Tombstone
9. The Magnificent Seven
10. Open Range
Naturally I disagree. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Tombstone, and Open Range are all solid, even superior, western films. But in a genre with such a wealth of choices, none of them is a valid top ten choice. Red River is also a fine movie – but again with westerns in general and the Duke in particular we’re talking wealth of choices. Not top ten in my opinion. And while I’ll admit Shane and High Noon are worthy choices, and important films, to be quite honest I’ve never much cared for either one. Dances With Wolves is two hours of nonsense tarted up as an epic. The film can’t even manage to be properly politically correct, containing not one, but two stereotypes of American Indians.
My own top ten would look like this:
1. The Wild Bunch
2. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
3. Rio Bravo
4. Unforgiven
5. The Magnificent Seven
6. The Searchers
7. Stagecoach
8. Hombre
9. A Fistful of Dollars
10. Ride The High Country
Yes! I like your list much better.
Although my personal preference is for Yojimbo over Fistful of Dollars.
Yeah, it’s interesting that my list has two films that are essentially remakes of Japanese flicks.
I always give props to How The West Was Won just for it’s cinematography alone (not full screen).
Your list is good. I like it. Includes some great flicks.
I do however like DWW but, agree – it has issues. Still a good flick.
I recently watched “Broken Trail” with Robert Duvall and for a TV movie – it gets 4 stars. Check it out sometime.
As you know, d, I also disagree with the list. BUT,though I applaud you adding of Leone ( how can any self respecting ” film” group list the top ten westerns without one Leone!?!) ( Over Tonbstone?!? Over Dances With BadActors!?!), I still Insist that Once upon a time in the west is the tops. Hell, for score alone…. God bless Ennio Morricone….
Personally, I am loathe to leave out the Shootist as well, though it is tough to call it a “western”, it certainly put the kaibosh on the whole thing…..
That is all…..
Cass – I did see Broken Trail – good call!
mono – I got lots of love for the Shootist, but it just didn’t make the cut.
How can Dances With Wolves be on their top 10 and not The Good, The Bad and The Ugly? I suppose it’s easy to overlook the most copied stand-off scenes of all time.
An unpopular opinion, but I hated The Searchers. I do have a soft spot for Shane. First video tape ever purchased for the families shiny new VCR back in the day.
A list without any Sergio Leone is a silly list.