Top 5 Greatest Westerns

by Helen Earnshaw | 25 June 2015

The Western is one of the most exciting film genres and has been a staple of the big screen for decades thrilling audiences.

Slow West

Sadly, we do not see as many Westerns hit the big screen as once did, but we have already been treated to some great films in this genre so far this year... and we are about to get another in the form of Slow West.

Slow West marks the feature film directorial debut of John Maclean, as he teams up with Michael Fassbender, Kodi Smit-McPhee, and Ben Mendelsohn.

To celebrate the release of Slow West at the end of the week, we take a look at some of the greatest Westerns to have ever graced the big screen.

- Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

When it comes to Westerns, there is no film that I love more than Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. For me, it remains one of the greatest films in this genre and has two stunning performances at its core from Paul Newman and Robert Redford.

It was back in 1970 when Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid hit the big screen here in the UK and it saw George Roy Hill back in the director's chair teaming up with Newman and Redford for the first of their collaborations - the second came three years later in the form of The Sting.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is an action packed and funny movie, but it is the relationship of Butch and Sundance that make this film what it is. The chemistry between Newman and Redford drives this film forward, makes these characters as likeable as they are, and has been the main force as to why this movie has endured.

This really was one of the very first buddy movies but there has never been another film where the two leading men have had such charm and charism as Newman and Redford do as Butch and Sundance - the nice thing is the two stayed friends right up until Newman's death in 2008.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was nominated for seven Oscar - including Best Picture - and walked away with four; Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Original Song, and Best Music.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is one of the most enduring and iconic Westerns and is as great a movie now as it was back then. God forbid they should ever try to remake this film!!!

- High Noon

It was back in 1952 when High Noon first hit the big screen - the film celebrated is sixtieth anniversary back in 2012 - and it remains a classic of the Western genre.

The movie saw Fred Zinnemann back in the director's chair - he went on to direct From Here to Eternity, Oklahoma! And The Nun's Story - and this is still regarded as one of his greatest works as a filmmaker.

Gary Cooper took on the central role of Marshal Will Kane, who must delay his retirement as town marshal on the morning of his wedding to Grace Kelly in order to face outlaws planning to kill him.

What I love about High Noon is the intensity that is in every frame of this picture - you always get the feeling that violence and possible death for Kane is always just around the corner. No matter how many times you watch this film, is a movie that always keeps you on the edge of your seat.

High Noon was one of the darker Westerns of the time as director Zinnemann moved away from the more flamboyant Westerns that were being made at that time. For me, it is a tone that works incredibly well.

Kane is, at time, a vulnerable and complex character brought to life wonderfully by Gary Cooper. For his performance, Cooper scooped a Best Actor Oscar. The movie was nominated for seven and won four; Best Film Editing, Best Original Song, and Best Music.

- The Wild Bunch

The sixties was a great decade for the Western genre and The Wild Bunch was another film that hit the big screen - thrilling audiences in 1969.

Sam Peckinpah was at the helm for the film, which followed an aging group of outlaws look for one last big score as the "traditional" American West is disappearing around them.

William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan, and Edmond O'Brien were just some of the names that made up the impressive ensemble cast.

Not only is The Wild Bunch regarded as one of the best Westerns of all time, many believe that this film was one of the greatest to hit the big screen during the sixties.

There is something incredibly raw, real, and visceral about The Wild Bunch that we haven't seen in a Western movie since. Peckinpah takes this film down a different path them other Westerns and opened the door to more violence in our movies.

It was an incredibly modern movie for its time and showed that the movie industry and this genre were about to change forever - it is a film that has aged really well in during the last forty years. The Wild Bunch is a provocative and controversial film and is as powerful a watch today as it was back in 1969.

The movie went on to pick up two Oscar nominations for Best Screenplay and Best Music and remains one of the most iconic films in the Western genre.

- Once Upon a Time in the West

When you think about the Western genre, Sergio Leone is one of the directors that immediately springs to mind. He returned to this genre in 1968 with Once Upon a Time in the West; he had already given us For a Fistful of Dollars, For A Few Dollars More, and The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.

Once Upon a Time in the West is widely regarded as one of the greatest Westerns of all time and remains a giant in this genre. For many, Once Upon a Time in the West was the greatest movie from the director.

Leone really is a master when it comes to the Western and he has crafted an epic as he explored the myth of the Wild West - not to mention the film has one of the best opening sequences of all time.

Once Upon a Time in the West follows a mysterious stranger with a harmonica who joins forces with a notorious desperado to protect a beautiful widow from a ruthless assassin working for the railroad. Charles Bronson took on the central role of the mysterious stranger, while Henry Fonda, Jason Robards, and Claudia Cardinale were also on board.

Like The Wild Bunch, Once Upon a Time in the West is one of those movies that have truly endured and seen their status grow over the years. It remains one of the greatest Westerns of all time and Leone is one of the best directors of films in this genre who has influenced a generation of filmmakers.

- Unforgiven

Hard to believe that Unforgiven was released back in 1992 and celebrated its twentieth in 2012 - it is arguably the best of the modern day Westerns that helped breathe new life into this genre.

Unforgiven saw Clint Eastwood back in the director's chair, while David Webb People penned the incredible screenplay. Eastwood also took on the central role of Bill Munny, a retired gunslinger who takes on one last job with the help of his old partner. Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, and Richard Harris joined him on the cast list.

I am a huge fan of Eastwood as an actor but even more so as a director and Unforgiven remains one of his greatest movies as a filmmaker.

Unforgiven was a movie that really marked the return of the Western as it was made in the spirit of all of those old classics. Yet it is a movie that is dark, complex and explores some interesting themes and ideas of morality and facing your sins.

From start to finish, Unforgiven is a terrific character study and saw Eastwood give a compelling performance as Munny - it really is one of his best every performances.

Unforgiven went on to be nominated for nine Oscars winning four; Best Picture, Best Actor in a Supporting Role of Hackman, Best Director and Best Film Editing.