TheWesterngenre is well known for being a critical part of Hollywood and American cinema. Unsurprisingly, many greatWesterns have been nominated at the Oscars, often earning a nod for Best Picture.While there are plenty of Western movies that have won the top prize, some have lost out to other iconic works, fromGone With The WindtoCasablanca. However, these films have remained significant parts of the cultural conversation and have been highly influential within the genre because they hold up so well today.
It’s likely that many of these projects would win at the Oscars today since their themes and subjects are deeply in conversation with contemporary subjects and interests. These are some of thebest Western movies to watch for the first timeas an introduction. Many of the tropes and formulas of the Western were established in these fantastic movies and later subverted by them as well. Long-standing aspects of the Western genre include the concept of the outlaw, the gunslinger, and general rugged individualism. These elements are either celebrated or deconstructed by these films with care and attention to detail.
Red Riveris a greatJohn Wayne movie for Western beginnerswho are looking for a foothold in the genre.Wayne is joined by Montgomery Clift inRed River,which follows an early cattle drive and the problems it posed for the ranchers involved. Wayne’s character, Thomas Dunson, gets caught up in a conflict surrounding the politics and external issues the drive faces. However, his dynamic with Clift, who plays Dunson’s surrogate son, Matt, is one of the most compelling emotional pieces of the film.
Red Rivergives Wayne some of his best material within the genre and pushes his traditional archetype of the rugged hero.
The depiction of Indigenous Americans inRed Riveris a prominent part of the project that hasn’t aged well and is the most glaring flaw withRed River. When revisiting the film today, grappling with these issues is important, as it allows the audience to understand the cultural context, as well as the prevalence of the myths of the American West.Red Rivergives Wayne some of his best material within the genre and pushes his traditional archetype of the rugged hero.
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The Ox-Bow Incidentis a dark, gritty addition to the Western genre, with Henry Fonda leading the cast as Gil Carter. It’s impossible to look away from Fonda every moment he’s onscreen, not only because of his stellar performance but because the story is so shocking and stressful. Touching upon mob mentality and the terror of discrimination, which ultimately leads to the wrongful death of three men,The Ox-Bow Incidentchronicles the dark side of the concept of the outlaw.
The Ox-Bow Incidentis difficult to watch and not at all an uplifting addition to the genre. However, because of its important and relevant political themes, it’s well worth watchingThe Ox-Bow Incident. It’s not surprising that some audiences were turned off by the grim tone of the film, which led the movie only to be nominated in no other categories but Best Picture at the Oscars. Today,the well-paced and harsh story would connect with audiences interested in dissecting the Western genre.
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Grace Kelly and Gary Cooper leadHigh Noonas a husband and wife who face pressure to leave town since Cooper’s Will Kane is an unwelcome Marshal. When an outlaw and his gang begin targeting Kane and his wife Amy (Kelly), the result is a tension-filled standoff as the couple wait for the men to arrive since Amy feels they should leave town immediately and Kane can’t back down from a fight. Much of the story is defined by the ideologically opposing viewpoints that Amy and Kane bring to the narrative.
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Amy is an unusual character for Kelly, but the actress holds her own next to Cooper, and her position as his savior, not just a damsel in distress, was well ahead of its time. The fact thatHigh Noonargued against violence made a case for friendship and teamwork rather than the rugged individualismthat was so prevalent inHigh Noon. Throughout the story,High Noongrapples with the parts of Western movies that have come under fire today and explore a more humanist take on the genre.
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Alan Ladd had an amazing career as a Western gunslinger,and no movie better embodies this thanShane. Immediately hailed for its gorgeous cinematography and setting,Shanequestions the breadth of what the mythic Western outlaw was allowed to do with his gun and his land. Touching upon conflicts between early settlers and cattle ranchers who tried to buy up land and exploit other people on the frontier,Shanefollows its titular character as he rides in and out of one small town in the midst of one of these battles.
Shaneis told through the singular lens of white settlers and grapples with the romanticism of the idea that leaving for the Western frontier will spark prosperity and a fresh new life.Ladd also had an illustrious career within the noir genre,which lent itself to his ability to bring the enigmatic Shane to life.Shanedoesn’t hold back from looking at the casual cruelty of everyday people looking to make their fortune off the land.
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Few pairs of Hollywood actors are as iconic as Robert Redford and Paul Newman, who elevated every second ofButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kidthanks to their chemistry.Newman is Butch, while Redford portrays Sundance,and though it’s clear from the start that this odd couple is doomed to fall by their own sword, it’s endlessly entertaining seeing them get to their destination. Though there’s plenty of violence and crime inButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, as well as tragedy, the film is remembered for its humor more than anything.
The final shootout ofButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kidis worthy of the myths and legends that follow the two outlaws.
The final shootout ofButch Cassidy and the Sundance Kidis worthy of the myths and legends that follow the two outlaws. There’s a cognitive dissonance that’s prevalent in the movie, which is what has kept it relevant and allows the story to maintain a hold on the cultural conversation. Holding together the idea that these men can be goofballs, as well as tributes to the idea of the classic Western outlaw, set the film apart from other projects that were strictly comedies or tragedies.
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969)
Giantlooks at the Western genre through a unique lens,following a family of Texas ranchers and oil barons beginning in the 1920s and expanding into the mid-20th century. Rock Hudson plays the patriarch of this family, with Elizabeth Taylor appearing as his more progressive wife and James Dean as the troubled ranch hand who becomes intertwined with the family. Though the film is initially about the dynamic between this trio, it eventually expands to include their children, who see the world in new ways.
The thesis ofGiantis in conversation with the way the American West changed during this pivotal era and how each generation plays a critical role in helping shape a more accepting future. ThoughGiantis far from perfect in its representation of the treatment of Mexican people living and working in Texas during this period, it made some strides in more tolerant representation onscreen and isn’t as problematic as many films within the genre.WatchingGiantis a long and winding journey,but seeing the film through is satisfying.
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Humphrey Bogart didn’t lead many Western movies, but it’s a gift that he was part ofThe Treasure of the Sierra Madre. The director,John Huston, had previously worked with Bogart on the noir filmThe Maltese Falconand would again in the early ’50s on theadventure romance movieThe African Queen. However, both Bogart and Huston were up to the challenge inThe Treasure of the Sierra Madre, as there are mystery and adventure elements prevalent throughout the film.
The complexities and nebulous storytelling of the film would be just as well received today as it was in the 1940s.
Unlike the traditional Westerns that were being made during this period,The Treasure of the Sierra Madrestood out because of its morally ambiguous or explicitly violent themes. The film touches upon issues like greed and the cyclical nature of violence. Overall,The Treasure of the Sierra Madreis defined by its darkly ironic tone, as well as Bogart’s performance. The complexities and nebulous storytelling of the film would be just as well received today as it was in the 1940s.
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John Wayne is one of the names that first come to mind when discussing the Western genre, and his frequent collaborator, the director John Ford, is a large part of why. Wayne’s place as a Western hero was cemented by his performance inStagecoach.The film might be from the late 1930s, but its story is as gripping in the contemporary eraas it was then. Today, watchingStagecoachsparks controversy due to its portrayal of Indigenous Americans, but criticisms like this help audiences engage with these problematic themes that are so prevalent in the genre.
Stagecoachis the best collaboration between John Wayne and John Ford, which is saying something considering the actor and director worked with each other on fourteen movies. Unfortunately,the competition at the 1940 Academy Awards was fierce, withGone With The Windbeating outStagecoachfor Best Picture. Though there are elements ofStagecoachthat would have to be altered, it’s consistently ranked as one of the greatest Westerns of all time.
The all-star cast ofHow The West Was Wonis reason enough to revisit this classic addition to the Western genre. Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Gregory Peck, and Debbie Reynolds are only a few of the huge names that appear inHow The West Was Won, which was nominated for Best Picture at the 1965 Academy Awards.How The West Was Wonearns the title of epic as much as it does Western,as the sweeping story has something for everyone.
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Though there are certain outdated concepts and themes inHow The West Was Won, as it’s a tribute to the idea of the West, it weaves together these iconic myths in an unforgettable package.Every element ofHow The West Was Wonlends itself to carving a place for the movie in cinematic historyand eventually inspired a TV show of the same name. Audiences today would likely respond well to the large-scale historical tone ofHow The West Was Wonand appreciate its dedication to the craft of filmmaking.
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Clint Eastwood’s magnum opus,Unforgiven, is remembered as one of the best Western movies of all time, subverting expectations and transforming how people think about the genre.Eastwood has a long history and connection to the genre,as he began his career as a gunslinging hero, then an anti-hero, and eventually went behind the camera to direct his own projects. Directed by and starring Eastwood,Unforgivendemonstrates a depth of understanding of the Western rarely seen onscreen.
His character, the protagonist Will Munny, is a metaphor for theWesterngenre itself, as an aging, morally ambiguous figure unsure of his place in the world. When Munny is convinced to go on one last ride to seek vengeance on the terrifying Little Bill Daggett (Gene Hackman), it sparks a conflict full of tension and poetic resonance.Unforgivenenjoyed many victories at the Oscars, including Best Picture, and it’s undeniable that it would perform just as well today.
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