# What Was the Best Western Movie Ever Made? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 13, 2001, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-western-movie-ever-made/54317 "2001-02-13T16:41:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-western-movie-ever-made/54317/1 "2001-02-13T16:41:36Z")
I know it happened in the “south” but I would have to say “Lonesome Dove”. If it(Lonesome Dove) won’t count because it was a mini serious, then I say “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly” was the best. Well What about ya’ll? ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-western-movie-ever-made/54317/2 "2001-02-13T16:45:52Z")
“Seven Samur…,” er, “The Magnificent Seven,” followed closely by “True Grit.” ---
**Author:** ![Rue\_DeDay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/41988e/32.png) [@Rue\_DeDay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rue_DeDay)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-western-movie-ever-made/54317/3 "2001-02-13T17:36:52Z")
“Silverado” because it has every Western cliche´ ever. Any John Wayne movie with “Rio” in the title. “The Quick and The Dead” and “Tombstone” were both better than they should have been. My all-time favorite Western is “The Cheyenne Social Club”. And the one where Henry Fonda’s character is named “Howdy”. Everyone who saw him would say “Howdy, Howdy.”. I love that. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-western-movie-ever-made/54317/4 "2001-02-13T17:40:10Z")
**The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance** is the best made, most intelligent, most well acted Western ever - at least IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-western-movie-ever-made/54317/5 "2001-02-13T17:50:33Z")
“The Searchers.” Hands down. ---
**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-western-movie-ever-made/54317/6 "2001-02-13T17:54:09Z")
My vote goes for _Once Upon a Time in the West._ ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-western-movie-ever-made/54317/7 "2001-02-13T17:55:05Z")
**High Noon** and **3:10 to Yuma** and **Winchester '73** and maybe even **The Ox-Bow Incident** ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-western-movie-ever-made/54317/8 "2001-02-13T18:10:03Z")
**Stagecoach** – You basic western, rarely done better. **She Wore a Yellow Ribbon** – Episodic, but nice story about life on the frontier. Great performance by John Wayne. **Fort Apache** – Henry Fonda as the glory-hunting commander. One of the few older westerns where the Indians are perfectly justified. And, for a change of pace **Support Your Local Sheriff** – Hilarious western comedy. Especially noteworthy is how James Garner keeps Bruce Dern in a cell without bars, and what he does when Walter Brennan pulls a gun on him. ---
**Author:** ![doc\_miller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f05b48/32.png) [@doc\_miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doc_miller)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-western-movie-ever-made/54317/9 "2001-02-13T18:27:01Z")
Three of my four favorites are already mentioned, so I’ll second **Magnificent Seven** , **Silverado** , and **Support Your Local Sheriff**. Though its not exactly a traditional western, I’ll add **Quigley Down Under** to the list as well. Scott ---
**Author:** ![TKD2DAN](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dbc845/32.png) [@TKD2DAN](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TKD2DAN)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-western-movie-ever-made/54317/10 "2001-02-13T18:37:02Z")
All good choices, but I would have to say: “The Outlaw Jose Wales” (I reckon so…) and “Pale Rider”. I prefer Mr. Eastwood’s later westerns to his earlier works, but they were pretty good too. ---
**Author:** ![Tommy\_the\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Tommy\_the\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tommy_the_Cat)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-western-movie-ever-made/54317/11 "2001-02-13T18:50:17Z")
Another vote here for **Silverado**. I actually enjoyed Kevin Costner’s acting in this role. I love Lawrence Kasdan flicks. Beautiful and panoramic epics, every one. I’ve also gotta put in a good word for **Lonesome Dove**. That was a great movie/mini-series. It showed us that Ricky Schroder really could act and that we should call him Rick. ---
**Author:** ![Wildest\_Bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Wildest\_Bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wildest_Bill)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-western-movie-ever-made/54317/12 "2001-02-13T18:53:38Z")
“The Magnificent Seven” yea that was a good one good choice Goboy. “Outlaw Josey Wales” that one kicked butt. As another comedy western that nobody has mentioned that is just hilarious is “Evil Roy Slade”. Man I would love to see that movie again. But I can’t find it at any video store. John Astin(from the Adams Family) stars in it and he is just too freakin funny especially his laugh. Anybody seen it? ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-western-movie-ever-made/54317/13 "2001-02-13T18:56:36Z")
Stagecoach has already been mentioned, and that has to be a top contender. I’m also partial to My Darling Clementine. My favorite (which doesn’t mean its the best, just that I enjoy it the most) is Little Big Man. “Yes, my son, it is a good day to die.” ---
**Author:** ![DocDaneeka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c68b51/32.png) [@DocDaneeka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocDaneeka)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-western-movie-ever-made/54317/14 "2001-02-13T19:02:14Z")
Here’s another vote for **Support Your Local Sheriff.** I’m going to add **My Name is Nobody** starring Henry Fonda and some good-looking blonde guy I’ve never seen anywhere else. I’m going to get booed for this one, but I LOVE the Mel Gibson version of **Maverick.** ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-western-movie-ever-made/54317/15 "2001-02-13T19:20:58Z")
I’m not a big western fan, but Mr. Athena is, and he informs me that the best Western ever made is **"Pat Garret and Billy the Kid.** I think I may have seen it once or twice… something about cowboys… ---
**Author:** ![rushtopher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e47774/32.png) [@rushtopher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rushtopher)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-western-movie-ever-made/54317/16 "2001-02-13T19:21:48Z")
Blazing Saddles anyone? Since likely nobody will take that seriously, how about Unforgiven. It is the only western to win best picture I think. I also like the Searchers, but I think High Noon is overrated. ---
**Author:** ![ReservoirDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@ReservoirDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReservoirDog)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-western-movie-ever-made/54317/17 "2001-02-13T19:36:05Z")
My favorite is also **The Outlaw Josey Wales** , with honorable mentions going to _Once Upon a Time in the West, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance_, and _High Noon_. ---
**Author:** ![Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/soul_brother_number_two/32/3515_2.png) [@Soul\_Brother\_Number\_Two](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soul_Brother_Number_Two)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-western-movie-ever-made/54317/18 "2001-02-13T19:44:00Z")
one vote for tampopo, here. ---
**Author:** ![dustMagnate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/fbc32d/32.png) [@dustMagnate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dustMagnate)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-western-movie-ever-made/54317/19 "2001-02-13T19:52:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Wildest Bill \* > \*\* > As another comedy western that nobody has mentioned that is just hilarious is “Evil Roy Slade”. Man I would love to see that movie again. But I can’t find it at any video store. John Astin(from the Adams Family) stars in it and he is just too freakin funny especially his laugh. Anybody seen it? \*\* **Now keep your eyes peeled or I’ll peel’em for ya!** -Roy Slade. Thanks WB I haven’t thought of that movie in years. You might look it up in IMDB and/or Tower Video. My favs: Little Big Man; Soldier Blue; Man in the Wilderness; The Great Northfield, Minnesota Raid; McCabe and Mrs. Miller; High Noon; “Botch Casually and the Somedunce Kid”(by way of MAD). I loved westerns as a kid: saw LBM at a very young age (my poor father hated it but sat through anyway) ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2001, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-western-movie-ever-made/54317/20 "2001-02-13T20:20:57Z")
**Red River**. I also like **The Virginian** a whole heck of a lot, partly because its lack of denoument fits a Western very well. What _is it_ about Westerns, anyway? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-best-western-movie-ever-made/54317.md?page=2)