-
Forum Update: We've upgraded the software to improve security, performance, and the overall experience.
👉 Read why we made the change | Support the Forum
What makes a good cowboy movie a great cowboy movie ?
- Thread starter taxifolia
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
CW Spook
US Veteran
The bad guy getting blown away in the penultimate scene...
THE PILGRIM
Member
It has to have a good story with well defined characters. Then you need some excellent actors who can bring those characters to life. Good scenery helps make it a Western by firmly establishing exactly where you are. There is an important locale factor in Westerns.
Chipmunk6
Member
Good quality villains.
C6
C6
kwselke
Member
The use of period guns helps quite a bit. Colt SAAs appearing in a movie set in 1840ish kills it for me.
UncleEd
Member
Besides those already named,
Open Range
Red River
and, of course,
The Magnificent Seven (the Eli Wallach character particularly)
Open Range
Red River
and, of course,
The Magnificent Seven (the Eli Wallach character particularly)
Steely Dan
Member
To me it's the story.
Also when I watch, I want to "see" the character, not the actor.
I love the old westerns because they were about the character and the situation they were in.
Can you imagine Tom Cruise in a Western. No thanks.
I also like the element of danger or proving yourself a man.
I was in the gym all by myself this morning and caught myself watching The Rifleman more than I lifted.
Also when I watch, I want to "see" the character, not the actor.
I love the old westerns because they were about the character and the situation they were in.
Can you imagine Tom Cruise in a Western. No thanks.
I also like the element of danger or proving yourself a man.
I was in the gym all by myself this morning and caught myself watching The Rifleman more than I lifted.
John Wayne.......
mc5aw
Member
Clint Eastwood ...
DeathGrip
US Veteran
Blue eyed Injuns.
Moonman
Member
John Wayne and Lee Marvin will work.
Hudgehog
Member
Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones together...
kamloops67
Member
authenticity is most important i think . i bugs me when i can pick out an anachronism .great background scenery is a plus .oh yeah some great riding and some good looking horseflesh is kinda nice too
joeintexas
US Veteran
Doesn't hurt to have Kevin Cosner either
RightArm
Member
It's not just mortality, but the need for redemption. Not everyone who wants it succeeds in redemption. My favorite failure is Mr. Eastwood in The Unforgiven. Maybe the best western to come out in the last 20 yrs or so.
'specially the maidens.....
, though Michael Ansara made a heckuva chief in Texas Across the River!
OP
taxifolia
Member
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2010
- Messages
- 224
- Reaction score
- 71
I'm tacking replies to my thread
So far, I agree with John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Kevin Costner, etc.. All great characters and movies.
I have to throw in Sam Elliott and Tom Selleck.
To date, haven't seen any posts dealing with what I believe makes "good" ---> "great".
For me , it is the "MORALITY PLAY" theme of a movie.
As I said prior, 3:10 to Yuma remake was a morality play if I ever saw one.
RightArm is getting very close - "It's not just mortality, but the need for redemption".
Also, Steely Dan - "I love the old westerns because they were about the character and the situation they were in".
I'll continue to monitor and post a detailed opinion if no one does it .
So far, I agree with John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Kevin Costner, etc.. All great characters and movies.
I have to throw in Sam Elliott and Tom Selleck.
To date, haven't seen any posts dealing with what I believe makes "good" ---> "great".
For me , it is the "MORALITY PLAY" theme of a movie.
As I said prior, 3:10 to Yuma remake was a morality play if I ever saw one.
RightArm is getting very close - "It's not just mortality, but the need for redemption".
Also, Steely Dan - "I love the old westerns because they were about the character and the situation they were in".
I'll continue to monitor and post a detailed opinion if no one does it .
shouldazagged
Absent Comrade
No damn fringed shirts!
Sorry, got carried away there.
I haven't seen all of "The Unforgiven", but what I saw was excellent.
And as dated and out of fashion as many people consider it now, "High Noon" remains a great one for me. And "Lonesome Dove" was superb.
A nice little Western with no shootouts or real villains, but with a lot of gentle humor and gorgeous scenery, was "The Gray Fox", with Richard Farnsworth as an old train robber released from prison and trying to go straight without much luck. I think I'm one of maybe seventy-nine people who saw it, which is too bad.
Sorry, got carried away there.
I haven't seen all of "The Unforgiven", but what I saw was excellent.
And as dated and out of fashion as many people consider it now, "High Noon" remains a great one for me. And "Lonesome Dove" was superb.
A nice little Western with no shootouts or real villains, but with a lot of gentle humor and gorgeous scenery, was "The Gray Fox", with Richard Farnsworth as an old train robber released from prison and trying to go straight without much luck. I think I'm one of maybe seventy-nine people who saw it, which is too bad.
feralmerril
Absent Comrade
Saw it and liked it.
Double-O-Dave
US Veteran
Well, let's see...there's got to be jail, a dog,a pick-up truck, mama, beer or whiskey - oh, that's for a Country song, not a Cowboy movie.
Couldn't agree more with some of the earlier mentioned films including The Unforgiven, The Searchers, 3:10 to Yuma. I think the common elements have got to be the concept of redemption, and ultimately, justice served.
Though an AR rifle, and an AK type rifle have been on my "want" list for a while, I bought a Marline 1894 lever gun (.38/.357 Magnum chambering) a couple of years ago, and it has given me a lot of pleasure, including fond memories of the Rifleman, Bonanza, The Big Valley, and all of the old John Wayne westerns.
Regards,
Dave
Couldn't agree more with some of the earlier mentioned films including The Unforgiven, The Searchers, 3:10 to Yuma. I think the common elements have got to be the concept of redemption, and ultimately, justice served.
Though an AR rifle, and an AK type rifle have been on my "want" list for a while, I bought a Marline 1894 lever gun (.38/.357 Magnum chambering) a couple of years ago, and it has given me a lot of pleasure, including fond memories of the Rifleman, Bonanza, The Big Valley, and all of the old John Wayne westerns.
Regards,
Dave
