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Since you include the new Last of the Mohicans, the list should have Drums Along the Mohawk (1939). Also, I would include She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.
She Wore A YellowRibbon is one of the best John Wayne movies ever!
I think the one missing that should be on is "The Cowboys". Watching those boys turn into men, then still driving the cattle on after John Wayne is killed, and riding proudly into town with the herd. I cry just thinking about it.
Absolutely, Kelly! For some reason, "The Cowboys" is almost always overlooked by critics and fans alike on these "100 Best" lists, but in my opinion, it's as good as anything John Wayne ever did. A rich cast, a thrilling score, and breathtaking cinematography combine to make it a real standout.
Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean
I agree with w ziegler. The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean is my favorites and strangely missing from this list. I am sure I have seen it 20 times or more. The Judge, Maria Ellena, the deputies and their 'wives' and lets not forget the watch bear. Great Hollywood story of a real historic figure. As the narrator says at the first of the movie, this may not be the way it was, but it is the way it should have been.
El Dorado!! John Wayne at his best. Although nothing more than a remake of Rio Lobo I have always thought it to much better than Rio Lobo. With Robert Mitchum, James Caan, It was a great cast that was entertaining and lively. I have watched probably 100 times in itself and have alway thought it was one of John Waynes best movies and ranks #1 to me.
3 films missing, the west was not always on the otherside of the Allegheny Mountains. Drums along the Mohawk (1939), Northwest Passage (1940) & Black robe (1992)
If you have Fort Apache on the list, you should also have the other two films in this John Ford trilogy – Rio Grande and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon. Also, Son of the Morning Star should also have been included.
Monte Walsh (with Lee Marvin & Jack Palance) showed the sad approaching demise of the cowboy way of life.
I don't know how you could have 100 top westerns without "Cheyenne Autumn" in it. Though "The Last of the Mohicans" is a great movie, I don't consider it a western.
1. Shane
2. Cheyenne Social Club
3. Sons of Katie Elder
4. McClintock
5. Shenandoah
6. The Rare Breed
7. The Big Country
These should not be westerns
1 Cheyenne Social Club: more about unruley malcontents with guns
2. Mc Clintock: Funny
3. Shenandoah: War of Northen Aggression
1. Cheyenne Social Club: A Western is a Western. The West was loaded with unruly malcontents with guns. That's why it was the Wild West. Include it.
2. McClintock: Why not? Funny can be great. That's why I would include it and Cat Ballou too.
3. Shenandoah: A Civil War drama and I agree, not really a Western, but Stewart and his family got what they deserved. I hope that just before the war ended, Union cavalry came by and burned their whole farm down, house and all. In real-life James Stewart was a hero and a patriot, not a fence-sitter who stupidly thought he could live his life like no war was on.
Where the hell is the greatest of all times…..Lonesome Dove????
Amen, Lonesome Dove should have been number one. What a phenomenally awesome movie.
Absolutely, Lonesome Dove is my favorite, tied with The Outlaw Josey Wales.
Big Jake
The Cowboys
McClintock
All three are classics of the Western genre.
LONESOME DOVE
Silverado!
And I do Agree
Yellow Ribbon and Rio Grande should be listed
I agree … Silverado is one of my all time favorites.
Silverado!
SWAYR!
The Missing!
Sabata… the man with gunsight eyes! The 1969 Italian Spaghetti Western directed by Gianfranco Parolini and starring Lee Van Cleef!
It may have been good but it is still a crappy spaghetti western made in Spain bubbed voices cheap flim
How could you forget SILVERADO
A second for "Silverado". 'Cat Balou" hasn't aged very well and 2004's "The Alamo"? Really?
*Pekinpah's The Wild Bunch
*and I unhesitatingly second an earlier choice of "the Lonesome Dove" which though , strictly speaking, IS TV should make an excellent 3 hours long movie.
Disagree about Lonesome Dove. Cramming it all into a 3-hour film would require gutting it. LD is one of the few productions I've ever seen that very nearly matched the book on which it was based for quality and detail; this could not be done in a three-hour movie format.
The Grey Fox
not a popular shoot em up movie, however the movie was period-correct for costumes, character mannerisms and firearms. The movie stayed pretty close to real story of Bill Miner (as well as Richard Farnsworth closely resembling him).
I really enjoyed this magazine and was happy to see most of my personal favorites included on the list. There are only a few of the movies I haven't seen, and I have to agree with Erlyne's sentiment that some of these movies haven't stood up well.
I agree that Monty Walsh (1970), Silverado, and The Cowboys deserve inclusion. I also like Clint Eastwoods' remake of Shane, Pale Rider.
Although Blood Simple is one of my favorite films, I don't see it as a Western. I also think including Bad Day at Black Rock and El Mariachi as westerns seems to be reaching for "almost fits" in order to round out the list.
River of No Return made around 1954 with Robert Mitchum and Marilyn Monroe should definitely be included.
The John Ford Cavalry trilogy is a must on such a list.
Well, any of Wayne's westerns should be on the list.
Here's one for you!
TIM HOLT!
His westerns are excellent. They may be considered B Westerns but they were done in A Western style. Very well made. His westerns should be on the list.
I also enjoy Audie Murphy's westerns. A real American hero playing a hero of the West? Can't go wrong there. I'd put his westerns on the list.
Tim Holt never smiled
Audie Murphy ?
In no particular order
They Call Me Trinity
My Name is Nobody
Big Jake
The Sons of Katie Elder
For A Few Dollars More
The Long Riders
how can a movie in Australia be about the old west. Cat Balou?
Westerns left off the list, Lonesome Dove, Wyatt Erap, Silverrado, The Sacketts, Tom Horn
There are three westerns that should be included in your 100 greatest.
First is "Warlock", of 1958 or 1959, Henry Fonda, Anthony Quinn, Richard Widmark. This is a paraphrase of Wyatt Earp, Tombstone, with Anthony Quinn playing a Doc Holliday kind of role that is maybe darker than Dock himself. Great story, one of the best of tne '50's. Next is Joe Kidd, with Clint Eastwood and Robert Duvall, telling the story of the land title troubles in New Mexico in the 19th century. And last but not least is "The Long Riders", the James Brothers, The Youngers and the Fords, with brothers Keach, Carradine, Quaid playin the principal roles. These are three fine westerns that are easily included in your list. Thank YOU
I was glad to see that others felt that "Monte Walsh"should have been included.I also thought about Steve McQueen in "Tom Horn". But I'm still surprised that nobody but me has brought up "The Missouri Breaks" being absent from your list.
Okay, I see some that I missed, such as McClintock, The Rare Breed, The Cowboys, and The Long Riders. What happed to the original Marlon Brando The Appaloosa and the more recent Hidalgo???
The Long Riders
The Cowboys
Bite The Bullet
The Missouri Breaks
Tom Horn
Monte Walsh
Silverado would easily get my vote for #1 only if you had a category for the worst westerns ever produced…
Shenandoah is a War Between the States movie and totally set in Virginia–however, if you can stretch the definition of "western" to include The Last of the Mohicans, as you did, I suppose Shenandoah belongs in there also…
I didn't disagree with everything: totally agree with The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance at #3, also really appreciate that you included The Professionals–one of my all time favorite westerns.
The man who shoot Liberty Valance was good John Wayne, B.G. James "Jimmey" Stewart, Lee Marvin, Woody Strode were great.
Big Jake and Silverado
Big jake, The cowboys, for a few dollars more, the long riders, she wore a yellow ribbon!!! Blatant misses if you ask me. And last of the mohicans is not a western!
Monte Walsh is an excellent story about day-to-day life of the cowboy. Both the theatrical and television versions were excellent.
The Ride Back (1957) stars William Conrad as a sheriff sent to Mexico to bring back murder suspect Anthony Quinn.
Hell's Hinges (1916) How could a list of "Best" Westerns not include William S. Hart?
Tumbleweeds (1925) William S. Hart's final film features the Oklahoma Land Rush.
Cowboy (1958) Tenderfoot Jack Lemmon signs up for a traol drive led by Glenn Ford. Based on a true story.
The Last Command (1955) Jim Bowie at the Alamo. Not as "accurate" as the 2004 Alamo but better storytelling.
I would have said William S. Hart if I know we were going back that far. Of course I never saw a William S. Hart movie.
The Stalking Moon
Valdez Is Coming
The Fastest Gun Alive
I agree with Jerry regarding The Stalking Moon. Gregory Peck at his best in a Western.
The following clasic films should have been listed on your 100 Greatest WESTERNS list: Dodge City, The Plainsman, Pursued, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon, Rio Grande, Angel and the Bad Man and The Mark of Zorro (1940 – Remake). Some titles I don't think belong on this list: The Great Silence, Blood Simple, Heartland, Deadman, and Lone Star. This is one reason I don't like lists, never will. Classic Westerns that should be on the list are not, and titles one would never consider to be in the Western genre are. I'm happy that Ulzana's Raid, Quigley Down Under, Geronimo: An American Legend, Hombre, and Yellow Sky are on your list; they have never been on anybody's list, ever!!!
Quigley down ubder is an Australian movie not a U.S. western . Good movie I have seen it 2 or 3 times
dave
Another for "Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean" and how about "Paint Your Wagon"?
If you are going to stretch the list to include "moderns" why not-"No country for old men" classic western themes set in the 20th century. As an Oklahoman I also have to nominate "Far and Away" The land run scene is done well. For fun lets throw in "A river runs through it" flyrods instead of winchesters-even a big showdown,with a trout towards the end!
Loved the list -good job- looks like a follow up "second 100" coming?
Sergeant Rutledge
Woody Stroode at his best.
Duel at Diablo
Violent and intense, with numerous cross-currents underlying the basic story. A gem.
Once upon a time in the west.
Still my fav.
Also They Call Me Trinity
My Name is Nobody
How about these "westerns "
Yojimbo , Japan c. late1800s (1961). Toshiro Mifune
A fist full of Dollars, Spain- Itialy c. late 1800s (1961). Clint Eastwood
The Warrior And The Sorceress; Scifi; world with 2 Suns, David Carradine
Last Man Standing.,c.U.S. Mex border 1920 – 1933 (1996)
all three are the same movie different areas. Yojimbo = body guard Japan Toshiro Mifune . A Fist Full Of Dollars Amer. SW ??? Clint Eastwood
I have not seen the Carradine movie but I have seen the others
dave
Correction on Last Man Standing is a remake of the Eastwood movie of the man with no name that is a remake of the Japanse movie Yojimbo.
Last Man Standing was in Probition times along the U.S. – Mexican bodor staring Bruce Willis
I would include 'Hour of the Gun'
The best:
Silverado
The Plainsman
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
Tom Horn
Angel and the Bad Man
Shenandoah
McClintock
Northwest Passage
The Wild Bunch
The Long Riders
I CAN'T BELIEVE I FORGOT RED RIVER
How could you leave off the Carrol O'connor, James Coburn, and Bruce Dern classic "Water Hole # 3". It has the best one on one show down gunfight in the street scene and two of the best lines in any western,
"Thats the way I am" and "Men take Gold to serious, We dont take it serious enough."
To name a few:
Last Train From Gun Hill
The Tin Star
The Desperadoes
Alvarez Kelly
The Horse Soldiers
Big Jake
Nevada Smith
The War Wagon
North To Alaska
One that was missed was "Whispering Smith" with Alan Ladd.
I haven't seen anyone say anything for "Paint your Wagon." A musical set in the mining fields of California circa 1849, it's worth it to see Lee Marvin and Clint Eastwood sing. Both not so great, but creditable.
Paint your Wagon was a great movie, I think they missed High Plains Drifter
Missing:
1. – Firecreek
2. – Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean
3. – The Long Riders
4. – When Legends Die
5. – J.W. Coop
6. – Culpepper Cattle Company
7. – The Last Hard Men
8.- Monte Walsh (70's version)
Thanks for the recognition (Long Overdue) of the Scott-Boetticher-Kennedy collaberation.
Is Elmore Leonard and myself the only two people in the country that believe that The Searchers is the most overrated movie evermade? Great Scenery and horrible acting. A plot that does not make sense and a movie that cannot decide whether it is suppose to be dark or funny. I believe it ranks as the 8th best Western – THAT JOHN FORD MADE.
"Now I don't want to kill you and you don't want to be dead." one of the best lines from any western. How could Silverado not make the list? And what about McLintock!
Soldier Blue
Red Sun
Valdez Is Coming
Culpepper Cattle Company
Bite The Bullet
Big Jake
Lonesome Dove
The Cowboys
The Stalking Moon
This is an old film and not mentioned on anyone's list. This film probably did a lot to shape my personality (i.e., outdoor activities, hunting, camping and, love of Western History). The film features Clark Gable and is "Across the Wide Missouri". It's fanciful at times, but the costumes are pretty authentic and, most of all, it's a great story. Some of it was filmed near Monttrose, Colorado.
It's my favorite (can't find a DVD of it, though), followed by: "Dances with Wolves", "The Wild Bunch", "Rio Grande" (plus the other Ford trilogy cavalry films), "The Westerner" (also not mentioned), and "Jeremiah Johnson". "Ride with the Devil" is a favorite also.
A few movies I thought should be on the list. Nevada Smith-Viva Zapata-Western Union-Ride the High Country-Vera Cruz- The Gunfighter-My Darling Clementine 46-The Lone Ranger-Union Pacific-Cimarron-Duel In The Sun-The Outlaw-Buffalo Bill
Two westerns:
1) Duel at Diablo (1966)
2) Valdez Is Coming (1971)
The following movies make my favorite list that were not included in your list:
High Plains Drifter
Two Mules for Sister Sara
Shenandoah
Warlock
Wichita
At Gunpoint
I think you overlooked Spaghetti Westerns in your list…
Some italian gems you should add…
Cemetery Without Crosses [1969]
Django [1966]
A Genius, Two Partners and a Dupe [1975]
My Name is Nobody [1973]
Sabata [1969]
Take a Hard Ride [1975]
and on the American side…
The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid [1972]
Wild Bill [1995]
Young Guns [1988]
Lonesome Dove
The Long Riders.
Shenandoah.
Pat garret and Billy the kid.
For a few dollars more.
Django.
Warlock starring Anthony Quinn and Henry Fonda.It is a classic western.
No list revolving around western movies cannot be complete without the best one ever, Lonesome Dove. It may originally might have a been a mini-series but has been out for a while as a full movie.
"Fargo".
Westerns should reflect the changing nature of the West, which Fargo does with black comedy, cogent philosophy,and a fairy tale ending.
Tumbleweeds
North to Alaska
Tell Them Willie Boy is Here
Giant
Shane
Duel In the Sun
The Furies
Liked your magazine and list of western movies, but think these should be mentioned:
The stalking moon
Silverado
The long riders
Valdez is coming
Would like you to do another magazine "200 Greatest Westerns"
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon = The Alam0 (1960) – Rio Grande
This list can't be complete without "Paint Your Wagon" and "River of No Return".
How can you omit 'She wore a Yellow Ribbon'? It's in my top 5. Also, 'The Fastest Gun Alive', 'Silverado', 'The Violent Men' and 'Pale Rider'. I love 'Big Jake' as well, but how many you remove? More: 'Death of Gunfighter', 'Warlock', 'Tin Star', 'Dodge City', (you've got to have at least one Errol Flynn!), 'The Law and Jake Wade'.
All Wayne westerns should be on the list.He was an American Icon.And the Lonesome Dove saga as well.
All Wayne westerns should be on the list.He was an American Icon.And the Lonesome Dove saga as well.Last of the Mohicans sould'nt be there because it was'nt the American west but the east.Ride with the devil was a civil war movie,and Treasure of the Sierra Madre was a movie of 1940's greed ,nothing western about it.
I realize that you cannot put in every western picture
but to include Bad Day at Black Rock as a western
you might as well include Gidget!!!
Also included was Pat Garret and Billy the Kid not only was
innacurate but torture to watch. on the plus side great
magazine with interesting editorials and great pictures
Keep up the good work
Thoroughly enjoyed your list and the discussion it prompted. Would agree that while it was a TV mini-series, "Lonesome Dove" could hold its own amongst this 1oo.
Also would vote for the aforementioned "Monte Walsh", "Cowboy" and "Grey Fox", in keeping with your thesis about "dreams and nightmares…who we think we are and how we got here." As well, "Man of the West" – as good as Eastwood's "Unforgiven" in depicting the struggle to break with a violent past – and "Hour of the Gun" – an excellent treatment of the post OK Corral Earp story.
If you are opening the door to modern westerns, why not "Hud"?
And while a man does gotta do what a man's gotta do, it is 2009 and it would seem only fair that the women have at least one more representation besides "Cat Ballou". How about "A Big Hand for the Little Lady" or "Cattle Annie and Little Britches"?
After they issued a compendium of Elvis Presley's ' number one hits, they followed it up with a silver collection – great tunes that didn't crack the top spot. Maybe next year the silver 100 westerns?
Just a few that I cant believe are not on the list.
The Hanging Tree : Gary Cooper, Carl Malden, George C. Scott
The Garden of Evil: Gary Cooper, Richard Widmark, Susan Hayward, Camron Mitchell
Open Range : Robert Duvall Kevin Costner
Wounderful Country: Robert Mitchem
Honky Tonk ; Clark Gable
Hondo :John Wayne
Four Faces West: Joel Mc Crea
They Came to Codora :Gary Cooper, Rita Hayworth,Richard Conti,
Van Hefflin
"The Long Riders" from 1980 belongs on the list. It features the several sets of brothers playing the lead characters in this Jesse James story. It's well done dramatically and historically.
"Valdez is Coming" from 1970 also deserves consideration. Burt Lancaster does a great job in a good movie.
Sorry, but comedies like "Blazing Saddles", "Way Out West", and "The Paleface" are neither westerns nor funny.
(Loved your book!)
It may not be considered a 'movie' but like others I believe that the original LONESOME DOVE is by far the best story and depiction of the old west. It is not over the top Hollywood meeting a demand for western fantasy but a real, honest to goodness, believable presentation of the time. The cast and acting is superb.
If it cannot top or even make your list well, hell, lets make another list.
Should also consider Life & Times of Judge Roy Bean and the classic Shenandoah.
Silverado is in the top 5 also the yellow ribbon and el dorado
How about:
- Django (ahead-of-its-time violent Terminator style Western and, in particular, influential though unrealistic with the Gatt in the coffin, but spawned many, many sequels, covering/mixing many sub-genres too)
- For A Few Dollars More (superior to Fistful of Dollars, so why not replace that in this list?)
- Back to the Future 3 (science fiction stupidness meets the West; meet 'the yellowbelly Clint Eastwood'!! if Laurel & Hardy get on the top 100 list for comedy, why not this?)
I liked many of the films in the top 100 list.
I think that you all have hit the button on many of the top 100 and some of the extra posts would be included as well, IMHO. One I have not seen for years….and would like to see again (top 100 or not) is WATERHOLE #3….even if just for the Roger Miller tunes. That was fun!!
I can't believe you could compile a list of the best 100 Westerns and not include "Lawman" starring Burt Lancaster, I am glad to see "Ulzana's Raid " on the list, it should have been closer to the top.
"Shane" should have been in the top five, maybe even number one.
I would not have included any of Clint's Spaghetti Westerns, I always thought they were awful, even though they brought him back into the making of some great Westerns later.
"The sons of Katie Elder" should be in the list as well as "the Cowboys" Even though they were "B" Westerns at least one of "Audie Murphy's" Westerns should be on the list.
Big Western fan. Big Jake, Eldorado and the Sons of Katie Elder should be ont the list.
Vera Cruz…. A great stroy, locations, and action! Gary Cooper is excellent as always and Burt Lancaster is at his iconic best.
Glad to see Virginia City is included, but what about Dodge City! A better Errol Flynn film, in my opinion.
Other honorable mentions….. Garden of Evil, Last Train from Gun Hill, The Son's of Katie Elder, Rio Grande, Hondo
Lots of good movies listed here. I vote for She Wore a Yellow Ribbon one that really deserves to be on this list.
I agree with most other suggestions here, including dropping Cat Ballou for Paint Your Wagon
Paint Your Wagon
The Cowboys
Monte Walsh
Valdez is Comming
I believe that Silverado, Pale Rider, The Outlaw Josey Wales, The Long Riders, Shennandoah, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon should be included (if Shennandoah is a Western). Also, Shane should be in the top 10; it is one of my favorites.
I forgot How could you leave Nevada Smith off the list. That movie showcased Steve McQueen at his very best.
How could they leave out the uncut version of WILD ROVERS with William Holden and Ryan O'Neal??? How could they leave out MONTE WALSH with Lee Marvin and Jack Palance???? How could they leave out LONESOME DOVE????
one of my favorites is THE FASTEST GUN ALIVE with Glenn Ford
and Broderick Crawford.
Without making it personal, all of these should have been on the list if any funny or unwestern movie made it.
McClintock
Palerider
Lonesome Dove,
Monte Walsh
Silverrado
The Sacketts
The Shadow Riders
Tom Horn
Crossfire Trial
They call me Trinity
Trinity was my name
The western, "Warlock", starring Henry Fonda, Richard Widmark, Anthony Quinn and Dorothy Malone should definitely have made the list. Also "Mackenna's Gold" starring Gregory Peck,
Omar Sharif, Telly Savalas and a host of other stars, should have made the list.
Where's High Noon?
Shane is my favorite
Enjoyed the magazine and some of the suggestions that didn't make the list. I enjoyed the inclusion of some movies that perhaps won't be considered westerns, but at the same time same time perhaps they might have been mentioned as an afterword or something.
Perhaps not classic, but worth mentioning:
Welcome to Bad Times
Pursued–a cross between film noir/ and a western
Little Big Horn: Its plot — presumably based on fact but really the purest fiction — concerns a small troop of cavalry who are trying to warn Custer before he reaches the site of the celebrated massacre. The cast is dense with tough pros, like Lloyd Bridges and John Ireland and King Donovan and Reed Hadley and, as the Woman They Left Behind, the inimitable Marie Windsor. It's black-and-white and shot on a thin budget, but anyone familiar with the period will nod his head with a knowing smile when you mention its name.
Its musical score was composed by Paul Dunlap, who hoped that people would remember him more for his concerto than for the many independent westerns he scored. Frankly, I never heard any of his formal pieces, but I can still hear in my mind, with pleasure, the closing theme of this picture and the themes of Stranger on Horseback and Hannah Lee.
One of my favorite lesser viewed Western films is "The Stalking Moon" from the very late 60's, starring a very tough Gregory Peck. Filmed seemingly like a horror film, the film builds the tension to an almost unbearable degree, and makes very strong use of location filming in the Badlands of South Dakota. Also, "Rio Conchos", probably my favorite Richard Boone film! I'm old enough to have watched "Have Gun Will Travel" back in the day, and its amazing how morally complex the hero on that show really was. He was a precursor to Tony Soprano and Vic Mackie, and is deserving of an examination of the far-thinkingness and ingenuity of that show.
The Wonderful Country with Robert Mitchum and Julie London and Pedro Armendariz and Gary Merrill and a supporting cast of terrific character actors. It's flavorful and evocative and it stays with you.
Red Sun is one such long forgotten gem that gave me just about everything I could want from a western. Beautiful big sky locations, loads of well-staged action, sultry women, a train robbery, a dirty dealing double crosser, Indian attacks, revenge, camaraderie, humor, etc. Some of it will feel like a dusty trail well traveled, but the unlikely intersection of 3 international icons of the 60s/70s elevates the material.
City Slickers–if you're going to include comedy weseters, I think this one fits nicely–sort of dispelled their romantic notions.
All The Pretty Horses–fits in with the "modern Western" genre I think
My "way out there pick" would be the TV series Firefly, a western in the stars, I don't agree with the concept, but an enjoyable sereis if you enjoy a mix of western & SF.
Soldier Blue Cant find one mention of this great film
I didn't see Assassination of Jesse James (2007) on there and it was very well done, and ignored in too many places. Also agree with Silverado, a movie that wears well with every viewing.
How about Santee, from 1973. Glenn Ford's last starring role in a major motion picture Western. I was glad to see the modern version of Apaloosa make it to the list at #67. Ed Harris & Viggo Mortensen with his 8 gauge shotgun were fantastic. Loved the magazine ! Thanks !
How could you forget Silverado?? Also, Stalking Moon, Scalp Hunter, Lawmen, The Bravadoes, Valdez and Comino, Cheyenne Autumn, Pursued, Relentless, Fort Bravo, Hour of the Gun, Northfield Minnisota Raid, Rawhide, and Rustlers Rhapsody.
Steve McQueen in Nevada Smith is a must in this top 100, it has the traditional revenge story, three great bad guys, a beautiful set of women, and a moral. Nevada Smith also spawned the movie "The Carperbaggers"
For a fist full of dollars, but For a few dollars More was much better and deserved to be in the Top 100.
Also, Blazing Saddles and Bob Hope have no business in this setting.
One more thing, Shane is totally number 1.
really got bored waiting for something to happen in High Noon, in my openion a real yawner as the badguys were not bad enough, the good guy was too damn old.
Two that I think are definitely missing from the list are Silverado ('85) and the Long Riders ('79?). I also would include Young Guns ('88?)
I concur with most of the posts that inclusion of the "modern" westerns (I agree they are good films) and slapstick comedies diminishes the value of your listings. Of course, ranking of films is totally subjective and with any list of 100 one will always find disagreement.
Regardless of the fact that the Lonesome Dove series were TV specials they absolutely should qualify as classic western films on any western fan's list.
I do scratch my head that the following films were overlooked:
Warlock
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
The Cowboys
Cowboy
The Stalking Moon
3:10 to Yuma (the original)
Hondo
Lawman
MacKenna's Gold
The Bravado's
Now, having carped about a few points I would close by thanking you for having published a fun read. I particularly enjoyed the side bar fact notes.
MY TOP 6 ALL-TIME WESTERNS ARE:
1. Lonesome Dove
2. The Outlaw Josey Wales
3. Wild Bill
4. Thombstone
5. The Long Riders
6. Open Range
Ray Griffin
u people are nuts shendhoa micitlock blazing sadles pale face is not westerns at all i cant belive u would think of them as westerns. and u forgot about a man called horse 1/2 .savage papmas with robert taylor . or how about the dersrter u people need to watch a real westerns before u make a list again if u want funny westerns then put them in a differnt catagorie not with real westerns pleaseeeeeeeeeeee .
I Thought of two more missing from the list: "Tall Men Riding", and "Vera Cruz" with Gary Cooper.
These movies need to be on the list
The Desparate trail with Sam Elliott
Cattle Annie and little Britches with Burt Lancaster a great movie about the Bill Doolin Gang
Young Guns 1 & 2
Death Hunt with Bronson and Lee Marvin and excellant movie
The quick and the Dead with Sam Elliott
Tom Horn with Steve McQueen
The Tracker with Kris Kristofferson
The Last outlaw with Mickey Rourke
Wyatt Earp with Kevin Costner
Wyatt Earp
The Long Riders
Any John Wayne western
The Cowboys w/ John Wayne and a bunch of kids.
Dennis on Jan. 19,
THANK YOU for mentioning Vera Cruz. It was one of the best Westerns ever made, and this was the second 100 Greatest Westerns list I've seen without it. It has got to be the most under-rated movie of all time.
How about OPEN RANGE Starring the great Robert Duval and also Broken Trail.
american outlaws, all john wayne movies and all Louie Lamour movies but all in all a pretty good list
Tell them valdez is coming
Burt Lancaster
Thanks for giving me a say
God Bless
BUCK AND THE PREACHER…that is all!
the GREATEST movie of all time is missing, LONESOME DOVE!!!
Great article and Photos, WOW.
How about the Richard Widmark movie "The Last Wagon"?
Great outdoor photography and along with "The Naked Spur" one of the westerns to be shot almost entitely out doors, exceopt for a brief courtroom scene at the end. This movie paints the Indians in a realistic light. Very much like "Broken Arrow". Well, it was just a thought.
How about including "Man Without a Star"? Wonderful picture showing realistically day by day activities of working and running ranches. Very interesting approach to the old Range War theme. Great cast Kirk Douglas, not too histrionic. Richard Boone as a "thoughtful," villain. Much like his character in the "Tall T".
Well thanks for listening and also for the original article
The OBVIOUS omissions from the list are:
1. The Plainsman (1936)
2. The Long Riders (1980)
3. A Gunfight (1971)
4. Lonely Are the Brave (1962)
5. Wild Bill (1995)
6. Pale Rider (1985)
Valdez is Coming was great & you also left out The Mountain Men
with Charlton Heston & Briean Keith.
Pale rider
Texas Rangers
Seraphim falls
Girls on outlaws
High Plain drifter
Should be on your list……………….
Angel and the Badman
The Searchers
Cheyenne Autumn
Horse Soldiers
anything with Randolph Scott
Albuquerque
broken trail Robert duval
broken trail Robert duval lonesome dove cannot compare thank you
Nevada Smith
High Plains Drifter
The Appaloosa
I think one you have forgotten about is John Wayne's last film
" The Shootist" (1976). I first watched this movie with my dad,
and seriously we were both fighting tears at the conclusion of
the movie! I will never forget it as long as I live. An American
Classic Western and is definately worthy of mention here.
This may sound a little corny to some of you, but I also enjoyed
watching some of the Lone Ranger movies such as The Lone
Ranger and the Lost City of Gold! I grew up with the masked man
and there will always be a place in my heart for The Lone Ranger
and Tonto!
#1 Red River #2Cowboy#3 Tell Them Willie Boy is here should merit some considertion .Although Hearts of the West isn't a western in the classical sense ,I was pleased to see it listed in someone's top 100 films.
The movie Bravados with Gregory Peck & Joan Collins might be a good addition to the list.
Shanghai Noon
I agree with a number of the other people who made their comments.
Should have been on:
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon (1949) a real western
The Horse Soliders (1959)
John Wayn's Version of the Alamo
The War Wagon Kirk Douglas and John Wayne
Northwest Mounted Police(1940) S.Dakota and Western Canada
The Early West of Our Country——–
Northwest Passage with Spenser Tracy Robert Young (Excellent
Drums Along The Mohawk w/ Henry Fonda
Lost Horizon (Lewis and Clark w/Charleton Heston Fred McMurray and Donna Reed Excellent movie)
Remove list
Support Your Local Sheriff comedy set in the west
Blazing Saddles great movie but not a western
Laruell & Hardy Out West funny not a true western
Maverick good James Garner Jodi Foster not a true western
.Shane I never care about the movie it was boring
Silverado should be a top 25.
Red River
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon
The Shadow Riders
McClintock
If Lonesome Dove was a movie it would make the list.
Blazzing Saddles a great movie, doesn't belong on this list.
I don't know why Tombstone always makes these lists when Wyatt Earp that came out at the same time is so much better.
Several people mentioned it but Tom Horn should be on here.
Appaloosa had probably just come out when this post started but one of the most seeminly realistic westerns ever.
Lastly, if we stretch the definition of western to include Last of the Mohicans, one of my favorites of all time, than I would include Charles Bronson's Death Hunt on the list.
big country – best ever
The Sons of Katie Elder, The Cowboys, McKennas Gold, Tombstone, Big Jake, She wore a Yellow Ribbon,
I've compiled a list of the 100 most critically-acclaimed Westerns (theatrical releases), as research for a book on Western movies. (See my site, thomasafoster.blogspot.com)
Of the top 50 on my list, 14 were missing from the mag's top 100. Many of those were hybrids, such as 7 Brides for 7 Brothers, Hud, Glory, Giant, and Friendly Persuasion. Also missing were some already mentioned in above posts: She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, Northwest Passage, Drums Along the Mohawk, and The Grey Fox. The other MIA Westerns: The Mark of Zorro (1940, Tyrone Power) and 3 de-glamorized Westerns from the 1970s: Bite the Bullet, The Emigrants, and Bad Company.
The QUICK AND THE DEAD (HBO SAM elliott),JACKbull, The Sacketts,once upon a time in the west,
The QUICK AND THE DEAD (HBO SAM elliott),JACKbull, The Sacketts,once upon a time in the west,Tom HORN…..The list is missing several great westerns …although I am glad to see ;;The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, the greatest western of all time in my opinion. The Missouri Breaks, with Jack Nicolson and Marlon Brando should also be considered for this list.
Peter Fonda's 1971 'THE HIRED HAND' to my mind is one of the most underated westerns ever made.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned "The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada." Great film.
"Sergeant Rutledge." Besides starring Woody Strode, one of the all time great African American western actors, the story is great, and John Ford once again makes use of the fantastic scenery in Monument Valley, Navajo Nation.
One Eyed Jacks is my favourite but one I still remember was Frank Sinatra's "Johnny Concho" (c 1956) which I think he directed or produced. Anybody know where I can get a copy DVD Region 2?
Paul – trullites@yahoo.co.uk
Missing is Three Godfathers from 1936 with Chester Morris and Walter Brennan
I believe that Lonesome Dove should be on there?
The Quick and the Dead (1995)
Noir westerns:
Ramrod (1948) … Joel McCrea, Veronica Lake, Preston Foster
Station West (1948) … Dick Powell
Devil's Doorway (1950) … Stunning overlooked Mann western with Robert Taylor and shot by John Alton
Silver Lode (1954) …. Western drama based on HUAC hearings with John Payne, Lizabeth Scott, Dan Duryea, again shot by Alton in technicolor!
Wagon Master (1950) … Only John Ford's own personal favorite!
Some of my favorites that were not listed.
The Sacketts
Silverado
Young Guns I & II
Lonesome Dove
The Long Riders
Gunfighter's moon
The Mountain Men
A Man Called Horse
Into the West
Bad Girls
you definitely need tom horn ,broken trail,open range and unbelievably not mentioned in any of the preceding comments HOMBRE great believeble story of greed gone awry with white knight errant paul neuman to rescue
"Silent Tongue"
"Going South"
Interesting and/or funny. The details remain vivid and clear for me.
1. young guns II
2. young guns
3. tombstone
4. all westerns with clint eastwood
Appaloosa (2008)
w/ Ed Harris, Viggo Mortensen, Renee Zellweger and Jeremy Irons
This should not be overlooked as an American Classic that will stand
up with the best of them many years to come.
Director/Screenwriter- Ed Harris
Bruce – bvinson@tampabay.rr.com
The Cowboys
Silverado
Lonesome Dove
Missing
she wore a yellow ribbon
lonesome dove a masterpiece
the cowboys
How about
"rustlers rhapsody"
one of Tom berengers firsts movies ever with a great cast. Suggest all you western fans watch this movie better than blazing saddles
The Commencheros I would say
Monte Walsh (Lee Marvin version)
The Long Riders
One Eyed Jacks (Marlon Brando)
Crossfire Trail with Tom Selleck
Lonesome Dove, even though it was a TV mini-series
Received your mag for a birthday gift and renewal. Will say that Wyatt Earp with Costner was better than Tombstone. Quaid made a more realistic Doc. Kilmer seemed ki nda "dandy". But most of all the female western forgotten "Buffalo Girls" with Angelica Houston and Reeba McIntire and several other big names was a long ways ahead of Cat Ballou. This movie had several historic cowboys and mountain men and seemed to follow history fairly close. Don't know about the love scene with Elliot and Houston but this is not the first movie to portray that they had an affair. Enjoy your magazine thanks for hours of fine reading and anticipation for the next issue.
This is a Great collection of Movies but Without John Wayne in "The Cowboys" it's just Not Complete!!
Also left out is "Rooster Cogburn" with John Wayne & Cathrine Hepburn and it's also one of my all time Favorites.
Ya'll also forgot "Paint Your Wagon", "The Culpepper Cattle Company" made in 1972 (it was the first Movie I saw in a Theater with my GrandMother at age 10) and she Really Loved It!
And theres "Tombstone" ,"The Pale Rider","McClintock" & the best Mini Series Western ever Made "Lonesome Dove".
What about "True Women","The Quick and the Dead " "Silverago","City Slickers" "Young Guns " "Blazing Saddles","The Great Scout &Cathouse Thursday".
"The Last of the Mohicans" with A+ Proformances by Daniel Day-Lewis & Madeleine Stowe,or 1931s "Cimarron" was a Blockbuster Big film of it's day","A Man Called Horse" ,"The Sons of Katie Elder ","The Plainsman","Chato's Land ","Cheyenne Autumn", "The Misfits","How the West Was Won", "The Sacketts " & "Will Penny".
That's enough to add that are not on the List but Should be, Maybe The List Should be The Greatest 250 Westerns of All Times because there's were deffinately well over 100 that were Truly Great Movies".
Thank You for A Great Site
Mike Evans
LONESOME DOVE!
"For a Few Dollars More" from the opening scenes with Lee Van Cleef riding the train into Tucumcari, opening his coat to reveal an arsenal, the hideous faced wanted character falling into the street,
the encounter with Clint Eastwood after Eastwood and the Chinese hotel boy do perhaps the funniest scene in any Western and then Van Cleef and Eastwood playing off against each other, the "I don't smoke when I eat" scene (actually the funniest scene in any western–name one funnier),
the evil villain well acted, with the watch as plot device that plays throughout and culminates the movie with the best of that Italian western trilogy's endings,
FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE is one of the best westerns, top ten perhaps. Instead you list its little sister Fistful of Dollars. How did you fall prey to conventional thinking,(everybody remembers the name Fistful of Dollars, but name anything memorable in it, no). Please correct this error.
UM….YOUNG GUNS! and why is broken arrow even on the list? Its a good movie but its not a western. Also personally i liked Bad Girls.
The following should be considered:
1) "Vera Cruz"(1954) Gary Cooper & Burt Lancaster
2) "One Eyed Jacks"(1961) Marlon Brando
3) "Dodge City"(1939) Errol Flynn
4) "Valdez is Coming"(1974) Burt Lancaster
5) "McCabe & Mrs. Miller"(1971) Warren Beatty & Julie Christy
One of the greatest westerns is the movie The Shadow Riders
Open Range
Broken Trail
Lonesome Dove
bad company , culpepper cattle company , spikes gang and monte walsh must be the most realistic westerns ever made and cannot beleive they have been excluded from list
The Big Country Gregory Peck
Monte Walsch Lee Marvin Jack Palance
Mackenna's Gold G Peck
My nominations are: Warlock, Wagonmaster, Devil's Doorway, Hombre, She Wore A Yellow Ribbon, Pursued, San Antonio, Lawman, Valdez Is Coming, The Hanging Tree, Man Of The West, The Lawless Breed, The Furies, Forty Guns, The Big Sky, Last Train From Gun Hill, They Died With Their Boots On, Western Union, Lust For Gold, (Original) 3:10 To Yuma, The Last Hunt, Canyon Passage, The Unforgiven, Whispering Smith, Ramrod, Union Pacific, Wells Fargo, Arizona, Nevada Smith, Tom Horn, Hondo, Dodge City, Colorado Territory, Ride The High Country, The Bravadoe, The Stalking Moon, The Naked Spur, Broken Lance, The Spoilers (Wayne & Scott), Angel and The Badman, Tall In The Saddle, The Dark Command, Three Godfathers. Viva Zapata, Drums Along The Mohawk, Last Of The Mohicans, Bad Day At Black Rock, & Treasure Of The Sierra Madre are on my favorite movies list, but I don't consider them as westerns in the purist sense.
How could you have forgotten Man of the West? It's a classic.
What about the first 3:10 to Yuma(1957)
one of my favorates is Valdez is comming with Burt Lancaster.Also one eyed jacks with Karl molden and Marlon Brando.and invitation to a gu fighter staring Yul Brenner.
"The Gunfighter" w Gregory Peck ( Perhaps surpassed only by "Shane)
& Kirk Douglas in the Big Sky
The bend of the river should have been included.
bob
I would like to add a couple of films I really enjoy which I didn't remember seeing on the 100 list. Reading through the lists made by others ceataing started more memories
Valdez is Coming
Hombre
The Garden of Evil
Wagon Master
Vera Cruze
Will Penny
The Culpepper Cattle Company
Broken Trail
Mckennas Gold
The Last Wagon
The Sheepman
I too join the list of people who noticed that "Lonesom Dove" is missing. And . . . . let us not forget that there were 5 movies made as part of that series. They were all great. Yes, I agree that they were all made for TV, but isn't that what we do today?
Tom Holmes SASS 74413
A clear distinction must be made between a western and a comedy disguised as a western. The Paleface, Blazing Saddles, Ruggles of Red Gap, and Way Out West should never have been considered, probably even Support Your Local Sherrif and Cat Ballou. By including these movies you left off Marlon Brando's "The Appaloosa" and Burt Lancaster's "Valdez is Coming" two great movies. Shame on your so called experts.
Red Headed Stranger with Willie Nelson is one of the greats that are missing.
What about " Against a Crooked Sky."
Lonesome Dove
McClintock
Broken Trail
Angel and the Bad Man
My Name is Nobody
Conager
High Plains Drifter
TRUE WOMEN – wonderful movie about wives of those fighting
at the Alamo. Awesome story
Whoever came up with your list was an idiot! probably a DUDE!
As somebody who grew up riding horses roping and bull riding where are
Lonesome Dove / watch Robert Duvall & Tommy Lee Jones ride they look like they were born in a saddle ps. Robert Duvall was in the original true grit / Lucky Ned Pepper
the Cowboys / John Wayne looks damn good riding a horse
Monte Walsh /Lee Marvin can ride as well
ps. the new True Grit is in my top 5 movies of all time
Three movies that come to mind right away are : Silverado, Wyatt Earp, and Pale Rider
The Red Sun with Charles Bronson and I didn't see the Magnificent Seven listed.
Heaven's Gate
The fastest Gun Alive, Sheepman starring Glen Ford and Sherriff of Fractured jaw are a must.
THESE LISTS ARE TRULY SUBJECTIVE, AND SO IT'S NO
SURPRISE THAT 2 OF MY FAVORITES NEVER MAKE ANY LIST:
– THE STALKING MOON – (Gregory Peck) 1968
– THE APALOOSA – ( Marlon Brando ) 1966
THESE TWO MOVIES ARE THE ESSENCE OF WESTERN
STORY-TELLING BUILT AROUND A POWERFUL CENTRAL
FIGURE………..I ENJOY WATCHING THEM ALONE.
Some huge westerns left off the list:
The Call Me Trinity
Trinity Is Still My Name
Silverado
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
and the best of all – Pale Rider
you need whispering smith
el dorado
man of the west
broken lance
the big land
night passege
showdown
cast a long shadow
gunpoint
gunsmoke
the iron mistress
the desperodoes
flaming star
charro
rio lobo
rio grande
3 godfathers
true grit
rooster cogburn
cahill u.s. marshal
duel at diablo
the nigh of the grizzly
sasactewan
the shootist
the spoilers
wyatt earp retern to tombstone
wild bill
distant drums
the plainsman
big jake
Should have been on:She wore a yellow ribbon, Sons Of Katie Elder, Rio Grande, 3 Godfathers, High Plains Drifter, Chisum, The Long Riders, Young Guns I and II, The Sacketts, El Dorado, Night Passage
Shouldnt be on: Blazing Saddles, Way out west, Support your local gunfighter and any other comedy western, great movies but shouldnt be on this list
lonesome dove;
it was an epic story that i found slow in only one part. all the characters were well played, though i thought angelica houston was miscast.
robert duval's performance was one of the great western characterizations.
"Blazing Saddles"
I miss
SON OF THE MORNING STAR
The Battle of the Little Bighorn was filmed in various version. This is, to my opinion, the best, though the battle itself could be better and more accurately presented.
I agree heartily that She Wore a Yellow Ribbon should have been numbered in this list. Commanche Station, one of my favorite Bud Boetticher movies, should also have been included. Ditto for Lonesome Dove. And Kevin Costner's Wyatt Earp should also have been included–it's a much better movie than is often recognized.
I'm relieved that Tom Horn was not included–what a boring movie. I suspect that Tom Horn's real life was much more interesting.
lomesome dove
the stalking moon
tribute to a badman
With all due respect you have t.v. vs. movies and Lonesome dove packs everything you would expect from any western into one rock solid movie. Robert Duvall, Tommy Lee Jones were both brilliant and a far cry from the acting performances of the 50s. What movie produced more action, desire or heartbreak, drama not to mention the sunsets. What a wonderful movie (if you can rent it) its a movie. There could never be a remake of Lonesome Dove.
"Geronimo The American Legend" actually
capsule the bloody conflict that colored the
great plains red, revealing the underlying
injustice that fuel the native American to
resist so violently.
Hour of the Gun, Lonesome Dove, Love Me Tender, The Long Riders
The shooting
Keoma
Appaloosa (Vigo Mortensen and Ed Harris)
The Appaloosa (Marlon Brando),
Jack Slade,
and
The Culpepper Cattle Company were entertaining westerns.
"Monte Walsh" w/Lee Marvin-Jack Palance should be listed as a Great Wester movies.
Monte Walsh is a Great Western that should be listed.
El Dorado, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, and The Angel and the Bad Man all need to be included on this list…the new version of The Alamo and El Marriachi both need to be removed.
Wagon Master with Ben Johnson & Ward Bond and The Big Trail John Waynes First Starring Role.
The movie that´s missing here in this list is any Sergio leoneé western that´s not on it.
Nice to see Blood on the Moon make the list, but where is 'The Magnificent Seven'?
Easily a top ten in my opinion.
C'mon Man!
1. Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid
2. D'Jango
3. Shootout at High Noon
Big Jake which was probably the best western iv'e ever seen isnt here and a few Audie Murphy ones too
<aybe I overlooked it, but where is: "The Long Riders"? One of my favorites of all time, and the casting was simply brilliant.
You picked Appaloosa and not Silverado? Ridiculous. Lonesome Dove should also be on there. And High Plains Drifter. Also, if you pick Open Range you have to include Broken Trail (which I think was better anyway).
Oh, and Winchester 73 is a good one too.
Whoops, that's on there.
1. McClintock
2. Cheyenne Autumn
Valdez is coming.
Ya where is lonesome dove?? That is the greatest western ever … Agreed should be #1 on list
1. The Stalking Moon
2. Breakheart Pass
3. Valdez is coming
4. The Scalphunters
5. Young Guns
6. Dances with Wolves
7. The White Buffalo
8. Big Jake
9. Quiggley down under
1. Young Guns
2. Silverado
3. The Quick and the Dead
4. Young Guns 2
5. The Gunfighter (Story about Hopalong Cassidy)
6. Shanghai Noon
7. Lonesome Dove
Not necesarily in that order. Just listed them as they came into my head.
Young Guns should be in it. Awesome movie about Billy the kid and the lincoln county war.
Hombre. Rio Grande. Rawhide. The Big Country. The Man Alone. The Last Train To Gunhill. The 3.10 To Yuma-Glen Ford.
Does "Ride with the Devil" count as a Western. It's a Civil War Movie but set in Kansas and Missouri. Highly recommend as a Western or Civil War Movie. Unsung and it shouldn't be.
Silverado should be in the top 50, let alone top 100 . . .
Riders of the Purple Sage (1925) – The Tom Mix silent version but still the best.
Any Western starring Randolph Scott in the 1950s and early 1960s, especially Buchanan Rides Alone (1958).
PS: And definitely John Wayne's True Grit!
Oops! Tru Grit (1968) was included. My bad. Sorry.
I know it was a parody, but I would include young guns parts one and two !!
I would add:
Duel at Diablo
Buck and the Preacher (have not seen that anyone's suggestion list)
The Cowboys
Bend of the River
The Hanging Tree
Dump Lonely are the Brave & Bad Day At Black Rock. Neither are truly wild west movies and are more Dramas than Westerns.
1. Shane
1. Buffalo Bill
LONESOME DOVE