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November 23rd 2007 00:05
John Doe's 21 Great Western Films you may not have seen
Johnny Guitar
Nicholas Ray Johnny Guitar
Instantly unusual because this is a western where the majority of the action in this cowgirls got the blues melodrama takes place indoors. Joan Crawford is a saloon owner who faces off against a bitter rich bitch Mercedes McCambridge while tough guy Sterling Hayden pretty much lets em go at it while injecting even more sub text.
See also – Forty Guns
Run of the Arrow foreign poster
Sam Fuller Run of the Arrow
Similar story to Dances with Wolves told with an honesty that didn’t seek to glamorize the cavalry or demonise the Indians. Writer/Director Sam Fuller never indulges in good guys and bad guys making sure his stories surprise.
On the set of Major Dundee
Sam Peckinpah Major Dundee
Often oversighted when discussing Peckinpah’s skill at creating a believable west, Chuck Heston stars as a single minded cavalry commander determined to hunt his enemy down at any cost. Sadly the original edit of this was a studio abducted cut n paste job that forced Sam P. to disown the film. Today the miracle of DVD’s sees the restored Directors Cut released that reinserts and recuts to mirror the original master vision.
A Fistful of Dynamite poster
Sergio Leone Fistful of Dynamite a.k.a. Duck you Sucka
Just like Peckinpah there are still ignored gems from this cinema lord who introduced the Man with No Name. Leaning a little bit more to the comedy but still delivering with forced perspectives and vast landscapes to a Morricone score. Elevating Rod Steiger as a farmer turned thief and James Cogburn as an explosives expert from Ireland to mythic status during the Mexican revolution.
The Professionals Poster
Richard Brooks The Professionals
Before the ferocious Wild Bunch there were the mercenary professionals of this Richard Brooks killer elite story. Headed up by Lee Marvin, Robert Ryan, Woody Strode and Burt Lancaster the four guns for hire are sent on a mission over the Mexican border to rescue a rich man’s wife (Claudia Cardinale) who has been abducted by the bandit Jack Palance.
Gary Cooper is the Man of the West
Anthony Mann’s Man of the West
Another classic Directors hidden gem! Man of the West is a complex character study of a reformed villain (Gary Cooper) who attempts to save innocent townsfolk by rejoining his ruthless old gang headed up by the calculating J Lee Cobb.
Nevada Smith Poster
Henry Hathaway Nevada Smith
Based on The Carpetbaggers, Steve McQueen stars as the teen who witnesses his parents slaughter at the hands of evil doers led by Karl Malden. Obsessed with revenge the young man begins a long journey into murder. Mentored by old gunslinger Brian Keith soon he is facing down his bane and using steel weapons for vengeance.
Ernest Borgnine in Jubal
Delmer Daves Jubal
Exploratory Director Delmer Daves reworks Shakespeare’s Othello into the wild west. Ernest Borgnine is the rancher who ends up manipulated into a jealous frenzy by the scheming Rod Steiger. The cast which also includes Glen Ford, Charles Bronson and Valerie French mine the source with intriguing results.
Henry Fonda in Warlock
Edward Dmytryk’s Warlock
Henry Fonda stars as an introspective sheriff with an enigmatic past. Hired to clean up a lawless town aided by a handicapped Anthony Quinn, the film co stars Richard Widmark and Dorothy Malone. Deeply involving, this psychological story probes the male ego and the ugliness of mob justice.
Charlie Bronson and Toshiro Mifune in Red Sun
Terence Young’s Red Sun
Terence Young the man behind the early Sean Connery James Bond’s hits the plains for this samurai (Toshiro Mifune) versus cowboy (Charles Bronson) curio. Conflicting cultures and life philosophies make this an entertaining action adventure boosted by co stars Ursula Andress and Alain Delon.
The Silverado gang
Lawrence Kasdan’s Silverado
An 80’s throwback to the traditional western that has exciting gunplay, a tongue in cheek humour and an on form cast consisting of Kevin Kline, John Cleese, Danny Glover, Scott Glen, Jeff Goldblum, Brian Keith, Rosanna Arquette and Brian Dennehy.
The Long Rider brothers headed by Jesse James
Walter Hill’s The Long Riders
The story of the James, Ford and Miller brothers is a tough actioner from Walter Hill (the Warriors, Extreme Prejudice, Southern Comfort, 48 Hrs). Starring the real life sibling Quaid’s (Dennis and Randy), Carradine’s (David and Keith and Robert) and Guest’s (Christopher and Nicholas) as the historic outlaws.
Robert Altman’s McCabe and Mrs Miller
Branded with Director Robert Altman’s mark, Mccabe and Mrs Miller is an alternative western that goes against genre conventions with a deliberately unsentimental look at the time and those that lived it. Read John Doe’s full length review of this Warren Beatty film HERE.
Robert Alderich’s Vera Cruz
Again, like with the Dirty Dozen Director Robert Alderich uses the shell of an adventure yarn to actually deal with more harsh universal truths. This time its the gunfighter as an anti hero that catches his attention. Two outlaws played by Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster end up as key figures in an 1860’s Mexican Revolution. Enjoyable and entertaining on the surface but beneath are interesting subversions of the genre and a cold fact of life.
Sergio Corbucci Django
After the mighty Leone spaghetti westerns this is the one to see. Inspiring dozens of films with the same character this Franco Nero original sees a lethal killer dragging a coffin across a harsh landscape of desert and mountains with intent to kill. – Also see They Call me Nobody
One of the original US Trailers for Django
Arthur Penn Little Big Man
The Director of Bonnie and Clyde and the Left Handed Gun brings his own foibles to bare in this intelligent historical parody of Custer’s Last Stand. Insightfully told from the Native American POV and sending up stereotype, The Little Big Man is Dustin Hoffman as the orphaned man born into tribal ways.
Here is a scene from Little Big Man
Don Siegel’s The Shootist
Made after Dirty Harry and Invasion of the Body Snatchers the multi talented Don Siegel took the Duke through his final leading role on the big screen. Sombre in tone with appropriately ungraceful violence this poignant and all too real feeling film features John Wayne’s most sincere performance.
Theatrical Trailer for The Shootist
Marlon Brando’s One Eyed Jacks
Hiring Stanley Kubrick for several months then firing him to take over the reigns Brando’s one foray into the Director’s chair is admittedly over long but also an ambiguous epic. Richly drawn characters populate the barren landscape with thoughtful performances from all the cast which includes Karl Malden, Ben Johnson and Slim Pickens.
A scene between Brando and Karl Malden in One Eyed Jacks
Jim Jaramusch’s Dead Man
Dead Man is an existential and surreal western landmark that has Robert Mitchum in his last cinema appearance. Shot in black and white with a thick atmosphere from Neil Young’s heavy riff score and eccentric characters. This is Jim Jaramusch’s own singular vision of the west with twisted comedy, abrupt gun play and a mysteriously haunting essence.
A clip of Dead Man set to Neil Young’s Music
William Wyler’s The Big Country
Pioneering Director William Wyler made quality films in most genres because he always made sure that the drama between characters was layered and reflected a human core. Here the sprawling “Big Country” ain’t big enough for two feuding families whose ranches share a water supply. Into this foray steps Gregory Peck as the navy man, fish-out-of-water who wants to marry one of the daughters who must quickly adapt to the harsher environment and the inhospitable inhabitants.
A Trailer for The Big Country backed by that memorable theme music.
David Miller Lonely Are the Brave
Technology has all but replaced the old western ways but renegade cowboy Kirk Douglas refuses to move with the times. After a daring prison break the fugitive mounts his trusty steed and is hunted by the law (Walter Matthau) using two way radio’s and automobiles. The thought provoking character study screenplay is written by Dalton Trumbo and the film is old dimples favourite performance.
Watch the first part of an interview Kirk Douglas did talking about his passion for Lonely are the Brave
Also check out these worth while modern entries
John Sayles Lone Star
Ang Lee's Ride with the Devil
Kevin Costner's Open Range
Dead Birds
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