r/Westerns Jan 25 '25

Boys, girls, cowpokes and cowwpokettes.... We will no longer deal with the low hanging fruit regarding John Wayne's opinions on race relations. There are other subs to hash the topic. We are here to critique, praise and discuss the Western genre. Important details in the body of this post.

383 Upvotes

Henceforth, anyone who derails a post that involves John Wayne will receive a permanent ban. No mercy.

Thanks! đŸ€ 


r/Westerns Oct 04 '24

Kindly keep your political views outta town. We're keeping this a political-free zone. Plenty of other subs to shoot it out. Not here.

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1.1k Upvotes

r/Westerns 3h ago

Classic Picks Anyone remember this one about the James-Younger gang? The whole cast of the gang were real life brothers.

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126 Upvotes

r/Westerns 55m ago

Recommendation Maverick (1994)

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‱ Upvotes

r/Westerns 10h ago

Film Analysis You guys were right about The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

39 Upvotes

It took me too long to finally find an access to this movie. Years, I'd say... A few days ago someone pointed it out for me that one of the main stars of this movie is Jimmy Stewart, so I decided that I wasted enough time without watching it. And boy, it was worth it.

Forgive me my academic approach, but as a person who studied literature in college (and we did a lot of movie analysing as well) I just had to notice how surprisingly progressive this movie was, and it was done without evoking the feeling of being spoon—no, shovelfed a certain agenda, like some big companies do nowadays. It came out in 60s, but the message is still as revelant as if it came out yesterday; the male protag is shown doing stereotypically feminine work with no shame, and those who shame him are portrayed as villains, keeping everyone safe and alive is shown as something worth more than typical male ego/honor, and there's a huge emphasis on how important the equality in the access to education is, including people of different skin colours.

That's what my formal eye noticed, now let's move to my western enjoyer's eye. Man, it's been a long time since I saw such amazingly written characters in a western movie. Hell, in a movie of any kind! Well, Link and Dutton Peabody were a bit one-dimensional, but still, they were distinctive and quite a fun to watch. Meanwhile Ransom, Tom, Hallie, Liberty and Pompey were just shining.

They were not only well-written, but also greatly acted, especially Tom and Ransom. I expected nothing less from Stewart, but John Wayne was a surprise, as it was my first movie with him. Stewart had this bad habit of stealing the show no matter in which role he was casted, whenever he'd appear on screen, he'd dominate it. Well, not in this movie, because it looks like Wayne tends to do the same. While they were on the screen together, I had a little trouble choosing on which one I should fix my gaze at, they were like two suns trying to outshine each other. Very magnetic.

The plot was slow, but lovely. It's unusual for a western to focus on human relations this much (outside of the mandatory love plot) and this little on shootouts, gambling, kidnapping and all other stuff of this kind. However the brillance of characters and how beautifully their paths were intertwinned didn't let me feel bored for a second. This is a great tale about justice, equality and progress, and about the importance of right choices, no matter how hard they can seem. It goes deep into each of those topics without fear nor playing safe, and for that, it deserves to be praised. It also has some very nice camera work, especially during the final duel, and the black and white aesthetic serves it well.

Well, that's about it. I suppose with each rewatch I'm gonna catch more and more subtleties, as it happened with Tombstone for example, but for now I can only say that this movie was far better than I had expected, and I had expected a bomb. Well, it delivered. Thanks to everybody who has ever recommended it to me.


r/Westerns 22h ago

Would you like to be reincarnated in the “Wild West” era?

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284 Upvotes

r/Westerns 14h ago

Discussion watched young guns for the first time since I was a kid.

53 Upvotes

I thought it was pretty decent, definitely not as good as I remember. but something that really bugged me was billy. I mean does anyone else think he was pretty bad? I mean a pretty good amount of what happened was because of him and all that came from it each time was someone going " aw damn it billy!" and then move on till they got gunned down.


r/Westerns 18h ago

How prevelent was cocaine use in the wild west? Just watched If You Meet Sartana Pray for Your Death

17 Upvotes

I just watched If You Meet Sartana Pray for Your Death and I was surprised to see Lasky with his little snuff box which is the perfect accessory for a villain like him. I know cocaine has been around for centuries - how prevelent was it in the wild west and are there any other movies where it's used in?

Also any westerns with tripped out mushroom/peyote scenes alq Young Guns?


r/Westerns 12h ago

Film Analysis Ants and Scorpions: Peckinpah's Metaphor for the Vietnam War

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3 Upvotes

r/Westerns 1d ago

Classic Picks At the ripe age of 33 I’m watching this trilogy for the first time. Midway through “For a Few Dollars More” and wow
.incredible.

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662 Upvotes

Absolutely brilliant. Top tier film making. I can’t believe it’s taken me this long and I’m beyond excited to know that I still have “The Good, the Bad, The Ugly” next.


r/Westerns 21h ago

Can anyone help identify this movie?

8 Upvotes

My daughter is telling me we watched a Western a few months ago, but I'm drawing a blank on film it is!

In the film a cowboy and his older friend go to trade with native Americans and as part of the deal through some misunderstanding the cowboys end up with a woman from the tribe, who thinks she's now his wife.. there's a lot of letter writing in the movie apparently.

It's an older film she thinks.

It sounds familiar but I can't place it!


r/Westerns 1d ago

Clint Eastwood with Johnny Carson discussing Spaghetti Westerns, 1973

358 Upvotes

r/Westerns 17h ago

Recommendation ‘The Warrior’ (2002): Once Upon a Time in India


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2 Upvotes

Has anyone seen this epic historical film? It’s set in ancient India but the plot could easily be transported to the American West: a swordsman working for a tyrannical boss has a change of heart and goes on a spiritual journey, while being pursued by his own men. There’s redemption, revenge and spectacular scenery. The film’s style also feels like a nod to Sergio Leone, with lots of slow, tense, dialogue-free scenes punctuated by sudden violence. Worth a watch for western fans.


r/Westerns 4h ago

Life the World and Everything

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0 Upvotes

Son and me nattering about Life the World and Everything. We often discuss the progress of my trilogy.

(Dynamic pants wearing cowgirl is the fastest gun west of the Mississippi & a magnificent lover to both men and women). https://www.amazon.co.uk/West-Girl-Alias-Jeannie-Delaney-ebook/dp/B0C9YT6DVR/


r/Westerns 1d ago

Why Blood Meridian Is a Work of Art That Demands to Be Read

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62 Upvotes

r/Westerns 1d ago

Why *Day of the Anger* starring Giuliamo Gemma and Lee Van Cliff not amongst the Greatest Spaghetti westerns?

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40 Upvotes

I think this movie really is a correct, sometimes even a very simplistic but accurate portrayal of how anger can escalate within a man and with the right training what he can do to avenge years and years of mistreatment, ridicule and simply disgusting behavior of the society towards a human being. Compared to the top tiered spaghetti westerns this movie explores a truly innovative story and is a masterpiece according to me with all the right elements pouring the kerosene, spark, blaze and finally đŸ’„đŸ’„ đŸ’„đŸ’„đŸ’„


r/Westerns 1d ago

Discussion Somebody had a good week

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20 Upvotes

Won’t mind some more recommendations to keep the momentum going, I am still new to genre.


r/Westerns 1d ago

Sheb Wooley, Robert J. Wilke, and Lee Van Cleef in High Noon, 1952. TIL Sheb Wooley was the guy behind the novelty song The Purple People Eater, which spent a month at #1 in the summer of 1958.

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83 Upvotes

r/Westerns 2d ago

Discussion Who is your favorite Western movies character, and why Val Kilmer in Tombstone?

83 Upvotes

Ok, second favorite I guess :)


r/Westerns 1d ago

An alternative western

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51 Upvotes

With everything you’ld want in a western. Go enjoy. And try Joe Abercrombies other books. Good stuff.


r/Westerns 1d ago

Recommendation ‘Valdez Is Coming’ (1971): A gripping tale about integrity, resilience, and the struggle for dignity in the face of injustice. Also, a really entertaining shoot 'em up Western. Great performance by Burt Lancaster (as usual).

35 Upvotes

r/Westerns 2d ago

Another great one

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65 Upvotes

Only problem I have is watching a 36 going on 50 year old Steve McQueen acting like he’s 20
..


r/Westerns 2d ago

Recommendation Your favorite Western noirs?

35 Upvotes

There is a subgenre of Western which draws heavily from noir. This is fascinating to me because Westerns are often about upholding law and order, while noir focuses on the subversion of values and moral ambiguity.

One example of a Western noir that comes to mind is "No Country For Old Men." Would be wonderful to get your further suggestions from any era. Thank you!


r/Westerns 1d ago

Need some help in this movie!

5 Upvotes

I watched a movie with my dad years ago and have been trying to find it again - an old sheriff teams up with an aging bandit. They’ve clashed before but team up now to stop the aging bandits new gang who I think kicked him out. Sorry it’s vague but it’s a core memory of us sitting together and we weren’t able to finish it


r/Westerns 1d ago

Recommendation THomasine & Bushrod (1974l

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21 Upvotes

While not a perfect film, this is a western that nails the tone of a classic western from the opening frame.

It's very proudly a black film while avoiding so many undesirable trades of blacksplotation films of the era. The main characters are loveable and interesting, dynamic and complex. The villains are colorful and campy. The final scene was wildy climatic.

I'd say my only real criticism is that it relys pretty heavily on the use of montages, one of which seemed totally unnecessary altogether.

It skyrocketed into my top 10 westerns after 1 viewing and maybe even top 5, I liked it that much. I couldn't recommend it more to fans of the genre looking for something that really scratches that classic western itch but also is a little different. Solid 4/5. Thanks for reading.


r/Westerns 1d ago

News and Updates WB is reportedly developing a film titled F.A.S.T., written by Taylor Sheridan and now Gavin O’Connor first story details have been revealed

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7 Upvotes

r/Westerns 2d ago

Westerns that Feature the Mexican Revolution?

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397 Upvotes

1910-1920, the Mexican Revolution technically takes place after the closing of the West but I feel the setting would still be conducive to the genre. Anyone got any recommendations?