# Best Western (not the motel chain) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 3, 2010, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-western-not-the-motel-chain/534807 "2010-04-03T05:30:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-western-not-the-motel-chain/534807/21 "2015-04-03T17:36:41Z")
I couldn’t pick just one. High Noon Unforgiven The Searchers The Magnificent 7 ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-western-not-the-motel-chain/534807/22 "2015-04-03T17:45:15Z")
I nominate “The Frisco Kid,” with Gene Wilder and Harrison Ford, simply because no one else will. ---
**Author:** ![Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/face_intentionally_left_blank/32/288_2.png) [@Face\_Intentionally\_Left\_Blank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Face_Intentionally_Left_Blank)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-western-not-the-motel-chain/534807/23 "2015-04-03T17:55:12Z")
Huh. No mention of “True Grit”? Either version. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-western-not-the-motel-chain/534807/24 "2015-04-03T17:56:23Z")
Which is as it should be. Although I would like to switch my vote from _Red River_ to _She Wore A Yellow Ribbon_. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-western-not-the-motel-chain/534807/25 "2015-04-03T18:02:01Z")
It may be time to go back to the drawing board on this topic. Check out [Lists of Western films - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Western_films) and see if you have any good idea(s) for doing such a thing. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-western-not-the-motel-chain/534807/26 "2015-04-03T19:14:12Z")
I’ve always preferred _For a Few Dollars More_ over _GB&U_. I think it’s more tightly plotted and better paced. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-western-not-the-motel-chain/534807/27 "2015-04-03T20:10:39Z")
I noticed that there really have not been any good Westerns released since this poll was first conducted in 2010. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-western-not-the-motel-chain/534807/28 "2015-04-03T20:38:31Z")
> [@Zsofia](#): > > _The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly_ is not just my favorite Western but also quite possibly my favorite movie. I know this post is five years old, but I’d like to agree. Though I can’t ever pick a _single_ movie to a call my favorite, **The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly** is definitely _one_ of my favorites. EDIT: And now I wish I had waited 35 minutes so I could say “I know this post is _exactly_ five years old…”. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-western-not-the-motel-chain/534807/29 "2015-04-03T20:41:17Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > I noticed that there really have not been any good Westerns released since this poll was first conducted in 2010. Another thing is how little difference the more recent votes have made: ```auto ================== View Poll Results: What is the Best Western Ever? "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" 10 20.41% "The Outlaw Josey Wales" 6 12.24% "Unforgiven" 5 10.20% "Once Upon a Time in the West" 4 8.16% "Silverado" 3 6.12% The best western was made for TV ("Lonesome Dove", "Deadwood") 2 4.08% "The Searchers" 2 4.08% "Rio Bravo" 2 4.08% "The Magnificent Seven" 2 4.08% "The Wild Bunch" 2 4.08% "Tombstone" 2 4.08% Voters: 49 ================== View Poll Results: What is the Best Western Ever? "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" 12 20.34% "The Outlaw Josey Wales" 7 11.86% "Unforgiven" 6 10.17% "Once Upon a Time in the West" 4 6.78% "The Wild Bunch" 4 6.78% "The Searchers" 3 5.08% "Silverado" 3 5.08% "Tombstone" 3 5.08% "Rio Bravo" 2 3.39% "The Magnificent Seven" 2 3.39% The best western was made for TV ("Lonesome Dove", "Deadwood") 2 3.39% Voters: 59 ================== View Poll Results: What is the Best Western Ever? "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" 14 20.00% "The Outlaw Josey Wales" 9 12.86% "Unforgiven" 7 10.00% "The Searchers" 5 7.14% "Once Upon a Time in the West" 5 7.14% "The Wild Bunch" 4 5.71% "The Magnificent Seven" 3 4.29% "Silverado" 3 4.29% "Tombstone" 3 4.29% "Rio Bravo" 2 2.86% The best western was made for TV ("Lonesome Dove", "Deadwood") 2 2.86% Voters: 70 ``` ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-western-not-the-motel-chain/534807/30 "2015-04-03T21:24:13Z")
> [@Death\_of\_Rats](#): > > I noticed that there really have not been any good Westerns released since this poll was first conducted in 2010. Can you spot any on [List of Western films of the 2010s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Western_films_of_the_2010s) that would make you change your mind on recent Westerns? ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-western-not-the-motel-chain/534807/31 "2015-04-03T22:36:27Z")
I voted for a John Wayne movie not mentioned: [The Cowboys](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0068421/?ref_=nv_sr_1) Anyway, it’s _my_ favorite Western. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-western-not-the-motel-chain/534807/32 "2015-04-03T22:48:29Z")
Most of those are winners and different enough to be unable for me to choose. The following in no particular order are favorites: _Treasure of The Sierra Madre_, a different sort of western _The Oxbow Incident_ _Unforgiven_, for its relentless character study of a man trying to overcome his nature. _Little Big Man_, for the sheer entertainment value _Tombstone_, for the brilliant casting and acting _Dances With Wolves_, for the cinematography and good storytelling, not to mention the excellent Native American cast ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-western-not-the-motel-chain/534807/33 "2015-04-03T23:21:03Z")
> [@Zeldar](#): > > Can you spot any on [List of Western films of the 2010s](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Western_films_of_the_2010s) that would make you change your mind on recent Westerns? I’m not going to badmouth _Django Unchained_. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-western-not-the-motel-chain/534807/34 "2015-04-03T23:28:57Z")
“The Outlaw Josey Wales” for me but I do enjoy “Blazing Saddles” even more but won’t class it with the best westerns. “Silverado” is pretty awesome also. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2015, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-western-not-the-motel-chain/534807/35 "2015-04-03T23:41:51Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > _The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance_. So, a Ford movie not mentioned. > > ETA: OH, I forgot about _Shane_! Hmm…that might be a close second, tough call, maybe first. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance gets my vote. Unforgiven is well worth it, and The Searchers too. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2015, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-western-not-the-motel-chain/534807/36 "2015-04-04T00:00:48Z")
I like almost all of the choices, but I voted for TV, because you can do so much more with a miniseries, let alone a multi-year series, than a movie. The _Lonesome Dove_ franchise, for sure, but also _Centennial_. And even today, I watch more 50-year-old western series like _Cheyenne, Have Gun - Will Travel, Maverick_, etc. than contemporary shows. And there’s one clinker in the list for me. I’ve tried to watch _The Wild Bunch_ a dozen times, but I always get bored before I’m halfway through it. ---
**Author:** ![MsKaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@MsKaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsKaren)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2015, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-western-not-the-motel-chain/534807/37 "2015-04-04T03:57:20Z")
A vote for _The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance_. ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2015, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-western-not-the-motel-chain/534807/38 "2015-04-04T04:59:35Z")
“The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean” or “Jeremiah Johnson” ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2015, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-western-not-the-motel-chain/534807/39 "2015-04-04T23:03:25Z")
As of 100 Voters, here’s how the list has changed since 49 Voters: ```auto ================== View Poll Results: What is the Best Western Ever? "The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly" 10 20.41% +7 "The Outlaw Josey Wales" 6 12.24% +9 "Unforgiven" 5 10.20% +4 "Once Upon a Time in the West" 4 8.16% +1 "Silverado" 3 6.12% +1 The best western was made for TV ("Lonesome Dove", "Deadwood") 2 4.08% +1 "The Searchers" 2 4.08% +5 "Rio Bravo" 2 4.08% 0 "The Magnificent Seven" 2 4.08% +3 "The Wild Bunch" 2 4.08% +3 "Tombstone" 2 4.08% +2 "Red River" 1 2.04% 0 "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" 1 2.04% 0 "High Noon" 1 2.04% +1 "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" 1 2.04% +1 "Little Big Man" 1 2.04% +2 A John Ford western not yet mentioned 1 2.04% +2 A Clint Eastwood western not yet mentioned 1 2.04% 0 A Kevin Costner western not yet mentioned 1 2.04% 0 The best western is a comedy ("Blazing Saddles", "Support/Sheriff") 1 2.04% 0 "My Darling Clementine" 0 0% +1 "El Dorado" 0 0% +2 An Anthony Mann or Budd Boetticher western 0 0% 0 A Sergio Leone or Sam Peckinpah western not yet mentioned 0 0% +2 A John Wayne (non-Ford) western not yet mentioned 0 0% +2 The best western is modern (takes place after WWII) 0 0% 0 The best western is something that doesn't fit any of these categories 0 0% +2 Voters: 49 +51 Voters: 100 ================== ``` ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2015, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-western-not-the-motel-chain/534807/40 "2015-04-05T01:01:03Z")
When I get to likin’ someone, they ain’t around long. But I still voted fer him. Besides, I chaw plug sometimes myself. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-western-not-the-motel-chain/534807.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-western-not-the-motel-chain/534807.md?page=3)