Genre Talk: Favorite Westerns

[B-Independent.com]

Westerns Every Filmbuff Needs to Watch is the only real Classic Cinema list I have outside of the Instant Watch list I put togher for one of our subscribers last week.

Recently, in the Ning main forum, the group had a discussion regarding this very topic, but I wanted to bring it back around to you guys to see what your thoughts are.

What other westerns should be required viewing?

Are there any that redifined the genre?

I keep thinking that perhaps I should add another favorite to that list, THE BALLAD OF CABLE HOGUE, but is it really a western or a comedy about a man coming to grips with his place in teh world that just happens to take place in the old west? Do films like this qualify as westerns?

[Drom John]

IMO, yes.
Any film in the not citified west is a western.
Otherwise, genres become too confining.
Can a western also be a comedy, musical, romance, and so on? Sure shooting.

[B-Independent.com]

Genres by their definition are confining, and that's partly why I'm a fan of mixing genres to create something new.

When it comes to Westerns, as a genre, I had a professor who states "all westerns deal with revenge on some level," which is not the case with CABLE HOGUE....at all.

Both Howard Hawks and John Carpenter have gone on record stating they ONLY make westerns, although Carpenter's career is generally catagorized as horror while Hawks' is comedy and action. Carpenter's remake of RIO BRAVO, ASSULT ON PRECINCT 13, is clearly set in an urban enviorment, but Carpenter still calls it a western.

Along that train of thought, what is STAR WARS but a western in space complete with space cowboys and evil cattle barons named Darth Vader.

Another critic who I've published won't lable an Austrailia western a western, but rather an Austrailian period film.

An interesting query, what exactly comprises a western?

[Miss Sandy]

I would add "Cimarron" (1931-Richard Dix version, I haven't seen the Glenn Ford remake) to the list. Mostly as the first western to win an Oscar but also for the land rush scene.

I rented it as 'required renting' in my goal to watch all Best Picture winners and actually ended up enjoying the movie. Not politically correct at all but not many things were then - if you go into knowing that, you might like it.

[B-Independent.com]

Like most works of art, films are products of their times. In recent years, a number of films once considered classics are getting negative criticism due to elements such as racism or sexism, such as BIRTH OF A NATION, THE JAZZ SINGER, or THE SEARCHERS.

[Miss Sandy]

BIRTH OF A NATION. Putting the racism and stereotypes aside, it is a great film. Certainly the only time in my life that I ever rooted for a KKK posse to hurry and save the stranded family in their hour of dire need.

[B-Independent.com]

my roomate was on a plane and happened to be seated next to Robert Redford. They started talking about his work and it came up that of all the movies Redford has made, JERIMIAH JOHNSON is his favorite.

[Drom John]

And my role as a John Milius pusher keeps going.

Milius got the rifle as his payment.

[maryhatchbailey]

I would add:
The Westerner
High Noon
The Ox-bow Incident
Giant
The Big Country
Treasure of the Sierra Madre
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
Rio Grande

[maryhatchbailey]

I agree with your comment about The Big Country-Gregory Peck's character is the ideal real man. Even Burl Ives's character, as gruff as he is, shows some integrity. I know a 12 year old who I may recommend it to. Thanks for the idea.

[B-Independent.com]

It was nice to see Wayne have run with his persona. The Cogburn character seems to parody much of hsi previous work.

[macroman]

Many of my favorites have already been listed. Here are a few others I like:

My Darling Clementine
The Long Riders
Destry Rides Again
Once Upon A Time in the West
The Man from Laramie
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Ride the High Country

[Just Gus]

I would add some of Budd Boetticher's work with Randolph Scott:

The Tall T
Ride Lonesome
and 7 Men from Now

The villains in The Tall T and Ride Lonesome are multifaceted as is our hero Scott....the line between the good guy and the bad guy is fuzzier and quite enjoyable to watch the interaction of the two sides of maybe the same coin.

7 Men from Now....you gotta see Lee Marvin!