Howdy, Partner! Do You Know These 10 Iconic Westerns?

We’ll begin with what many critics believe to be the best Western ever made. Not only that: this 1956 movie is considered among the 100 best American films of all time, and it was selected for preservation in its National Film Registry in 1989. John Ford’s masterpiece truly marked a turning point in the history of the genre and influenced an entire generation of American filmmakers.

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The archetypical example of the subgenre known as "Spaghetti Western", this 1966 Sergio Leone film tells the story of three gunslingers competing to find a hidden treasure amid the chaos of the Civil War. The three characters’ personalities are more than the traits described in the film’s title: "The Good", Clint Eastwood’s character, is definitively more of an antihero than a regular protagonist.

Considered by many to be Leone’s masterpiece, "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" is a tension-filled, thrilling experience, and credited with launching an American icon like Eastwood to stardom.

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Few Westerns feature female gunslingers, so let’s take a second to showcase an excellent example. The 1995 movie "The Quick and the Dead" tells the story of "The Lady", an unnamed gunfighter who enters a deadly tournament to face off against an outlaw-turned-mayor named Gerrod, played by the iconic Gene Hackman.

Sharon Stone plays an extremely compelling protagonist, driven only by the desire to avenge the death of her father. The film features a star-filled cast, including Russel Crowe, Keith David, and then-newcomer Leonardo Di Caprio.

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Sharon Stone’s "The Lady" is not the only strong female lead on this list. Granted, the character of Mattie Ross in the 1969 classic "True Grit" is only a young girl, but don’t be fooled by her age: Mattie is a strong and determined character, hell-bent on apprehending the man responsible for her family’s death.

"True Grit" is also responsible for bringing us one of the most amazing cowboys ever portrayed on film. John Wayne’s legendary depiction of U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn earned him a well-deserved Oscar.

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Considering our entry on "The Searchers", it probably won’t surprise you to learn that John Ford’s contributions to Westerns are incommensurable. In that sense, considering his 1939 film "Stagecoach" as anything other than groundbreaking would be a massive disservice to the entire genre.

This movie’s revolutionary shots and character development helped the film industry take a huge leap forward. Not only that, this movie stars John Wayne in his breakthrough role.

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Legendary actor Humphrey Bogart is not particularly remembered as a Western actor: In fact, he only starred in two movies of the genre. However, the 1948 film "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre", which stars Bogart as drifter Fred C. Dobbs, is considered an absolute Western treasure (no pun intended) and was selected for preservation by the Library of Congress.

The film focuses on Dobbs and fellow drifter Bob Curtin, played by Tim Holt who, along with an old prospector, try to make a living searching for gold in Mexico.

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The 1962 film "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" begins with the funeral of a seemingly unimportant cowboy named Tom Doniphon which is attended by a powerful and influential U.S. senator. What follows is the retelling of an unusual friendship between two men, and their unyielding fight for justice.

This film holds the honor of being the very first film that starred both John Wayne and James Stewart. Under the direction of John Ford, these two acting juggernauts truly gave an unforgettable performance.

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Nowadays, the subgenre of a buddy film seems almost exclusively reserved for cop movies: Think about movies like "Lethal Weapon" or "Bad Boys". However, the 1969 Western "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" is an outstanding addition to the buddy film subgenre, since it focuses on the adventures of this iconic gunslinging duo.

The movie describes the adventures of these two train robbers, wonderfully portrayed by Robert Redford and Paul Newman, who are trying to escape the law and flee to South America. It was awarded for Oscars, including "Best Story" and "Best Cinematography".

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Besides avenging a loved one or escaping a corrupt sheriff, another powerful staple of the Western genre is the repentant outlaw trying to make amends with his past. In that sense, Clint Eastwood’s 1992 film "Unforgiven" combines both classic elements of the genre, while still providing a refreshing and innovative perspective.

The movie tells the tale of William Munny, an aging and retired outlaw who decides to take on one last job. Portrayed by Eastwood, Munny’s adventures take him on a violent path, seeking a cruel and dangerous cowboy named "Quick Mike".

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We’ll finish this list with one of the most innovative and daring entries to the Western genre. John Sturges’ "The Magnificent Seven" is an Old West remake of a Japanese movie, Kurosawa’s "Seven Samurai". Featuring an ensemble of legendary leads like Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen (The "King of Cool" himself!), this iconic film is to this day considered one of the very best Western films of all time.

The story centers around the titular "Magnificent Seven", a group of gunfighters hired to protect a small Mexican village from a group of bandits led by Eri Wallach, another heavy-hitter of the Western genre. It received an Academy Award for Best Score, and it was included in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

Image: Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦