Tombstone, The Grey Fox and Jesse james (Brad Pitt version)

are the three closest movies that depict the west as it REALLY was- ie clothing,l firearms, character mannerisms.

In Tombstone, when Morgan Earp is talking about life after death issues and seeing a “bright white light” was a period correct subject. From the 1880’s thorugh the early 20th century, life after death, spiritualism and being able to contact the dead were very popular topics for discussion in the US.

By Joe on Dec 10, 2008 at 3:49 pm

“Red River”- unquestionably states the essence of the early cattledrive and the West.
A close second is a tie between “Broken Arrow” and “Ulzana’s Raid”. The first is historically accurate story of Jim Jeffords (the first Indian agent for the Chiricahua Apaches ) and Ulzana is a no b. s. , no romance portrayal of the Arizona indian war.

By Dow Heard on Dec 10, 2008 at 6:01 pm

With the fighting between whites and Indians, Fort Apache and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon shows the hostilities on both sides.

By DennisB on Dec 11, 2008 at 9:02 am

Will Penny, The Searchers, Culpepper Cattle Co., A Thunder of Drums, Rio Bravo, The Professionals, The Wild Bunch, Ride the High Country, Red River, Man in the Wilderness.

By John on Dec 11, 2008 at 5:58 pm

Any movie that is based on Louie Lamore is going to be very accurate. Hondo, Searchers, Lonesome Dove, Stage Coach, Shane,Red River,

By Mark Slaughter on Dec 11, 2008 at 9:51 pm

Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid Seems to me to belong in this group as it tells the life of American Outlaws very close to how their life played out !

By deathwind1 on Dec 12, 2008 at 3:45 am

None of them, for the most part they are all entertaining but each is influenced and tailored to and by the era in which it was made. While a movie made today may appear more accurate through clothing, style etc. than a movie made in 1955, it is still at least a century removed from the real way people spoke, acted and lived. This doesn’t make the movies bad, it just solidifies what they are, fictional entertainment.

By Duke on Dec 12, 2008 at 11:00 pm

Tumbleweeds (1925)
Cowboy (1958)
The Ride Back (1957)
The Virginian (1929)
John Ford’s Cavalry Trilogy, Fort Apache, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon (John Wayne’s best performance) and Rio Grande
The Tall T (1957)
The Searchers (1956) This deals with some very complex issues
Ulzana’s Raid
Monte Walsh (1970 and 2003)
Four Faces West (1948) A Western without a single gunshot.

By Eric Jamborsky on Dec 15, 2008 at 3:23 pm

The most recent western movies seem to be the most realistic for reasons previously stated here. Three movies that I enjoyed for accuracy were:

Wyatt Earp (Kevin Costner)

Jesse James (Brad Pitt)

Dances With Wolves (Kevin Costner)

By Jack on Dec 26, 2008 at 11:42 pm

The Searchers
Broken Arrow
Possibly the Shootist. but definitely if you include twentieth century stories, then include the masterpiece North to Alaska, one of the greatest comedies and authentic to its time.
Maybe we need a category of “Northerns”. Losts of good arctic tales on film.
And though the “Wild Bunch” was great, it is not a Western it is a Mexican.

By El Cutachero on Dec 30, 2008 at 3:54 pm

My vote for most accurate, best etc. goes to “Lonesome Dove”.
Tommy Lee Jones and Robert Duval are magnificent.

By ethom01 on Jan 6, 2009 at 1:02 am

i think get smart and spongebob the lost city (the movie) was the best ever. also bruce almighty was a great western movie

By Steven X on Feb 24, 2009 at 2:44 pm

Personally i enjoyed the western films that had John Wayne and Clint Eastwood. They made it very entertaining to watch. Also i think that Blazing Saddles was a swell movie, not only was it hilarious but it was funny. Brokeback mountail however was not a good western because of the homosexuality. Please Hollywood never have a gay western film again. Ok?? Thanky you.

By Bo Jangles on Feb 24, 2009 at 2:47 pm

Tombstone (1993) is pretty accurate. Although it does have it’s minor historical goofs, it captures the whole picture quite well. Plus, very entertaining to watch.

By tazer93 on Feb 26, 2009 at 10:08 am

Wild Bill (Jeff Bridges, 2000), Culpepper Cattle Co., Monte Walsh (2003), The Cowboys, Lonesome Dove, The Assasination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Deadwood Series, Conagher (even though most of Louis L’amour’s westerns made great movies, most of the characters were way too idealized to be realistic. However Con Conagher was not), Geronimo (1995 I think), Appaloosa (2007, Ed harris and Viggo Mortenson). These are the most realistic Western Movies ever made in my opinion. I am a graduate student in Museum Studies and Cultural Resource Management and have devoted most of studies to this particular period.

By Matt Stephenson on Apr 8, 2009 at 1:52 am

Although not a movie but a mini series Lomsemoe Dove gets my vote and
Red River

By Dickie Swindle on May 25, 2009 at 5:38 pm

Lonesome Dove,,,Culpepper Cattle Co.,,,Tombstone,,,,Hondo,,,,Hombre,,,,Stagecoach(with John Wayne),,,One-Eyed Jacks,,,Left-hand Gun,,,Outlaw Josey Wales,,,,Unforgiven,,,,Will Penny,,,,Shane,,,Monte Walsh,,,Mountain Men,,,Assasination of Jesse James,,,Good Ole Boys,,,

By Jack Beebe on Aug 7, 2009 at 8:53 pm