The Sheila Variations

Not a bad list. I would add (and these might not qualify as great, merely favorites): all three of Leone's 'Dollar' films; The Long Riders; The Cowboys; Stagecoach; The Outlaw Josey Wales; Winchester '73... I'll stop here.

I'm not "up" on Westerns, either, but if you see The Magnificent Seven, you should also definitely (if you haven't already) see Akira Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai. They're essentially the same story in two different (and yet not exactly so different) settings.

I have to say, I was mighty disappointed after reading this post. I thought you were talking about a different kind of "happy trails."

Bwahahahaha.

Mostly agree with the list. Interesting side point: Howard Hawks made Rio Bravo as a rebuttal to High Noon, believing that a professional sheriff would never put townspeople in danger by asking for their help against a dangerous enemy. So the John Wayne character spends the movie refusing help. Hawks actually made this movie over again with Dean Martin as the drunk gunslinger who helps the sheriff and gets his courage back.

"Hawks actually made this movie over again with Dean Martin as the drunk gunslinger who helps the sheriff and gets his courage back."

That is Rio Bravo, with Deano, Ricky Nelson, and Wlater Brennan.

Hawaks did 'El Dorado' (I think) with Robert Mitchum as the drunk lawman character.

Sorry - I'm a western geek and couldn't help myself. ;-)

Dan - Thanks. I always get the two confused, basically, because they are the same movie made a few years apart. Didn't Hawks also make a black and white version with a bugle blowing old guy in the Walter Brennan role?

DaveJ:

Believe it or not but my 6 year old nephew Cashel informed me that The Magnificent Seven was a remake of Kurosawa's The Seven Samurai. And yes, Cashel said, "Kurosawa's Seven Samurai."

Hysterical

This has been Howard Hawks week here at my blog.

No problem,Michael, they're easy to confuse. I can only keep 'em strait by rmemebering which one I own. I don't know the answer to your B&W question, and now I'm curious.

Red - you can have a western/Kutrosaa day at chez O'Malley, featuring Magnificent Seven/Seven Samurai and Fistful of Dollars/Yojumibo.

Dan - Bogdanovich's book about directors probably has the answer to my B&W question. I know I saw the movie in one of bogdanovich's classes years ago at UCLA. I believe the B&W version is the original and would have been made closer in time to the release of High Noon because Hawks really hated that movie.

Arthur Hunnicut is the old coot with the bugle in El Dorado and that one's in color, so I don't know where I'm getting this memory of a B&W version. Curiouser and curiouser. "Hmmm. What's that mean? It means, Hmmm."

"It means Hmm" Heh.

Scratching his ear, drenched in sweat. Love that moment.

Rio Bravo is on color too..curioser and curioser. Anyone happen to remember if Red River is color? been ages since I last saw it.

No, Dan. Red River is in glorious black and white. And maybe the best western Hawks ever made. That fight scene between Wayne and Clift is one of the most emotionally honest action scenes. Ever.

And Sheila, I knew you'd get the Hmmm line.

Red River is brilliant. And the only film I can recall where Wayne plays a really unsympathetic character.

No argument here. This list also reminds me of one of the great lines in westerns.

"Looks like we brought one horse too few."
"You brought two too many."
Boom, boom, boom.

Oh that's a great one too. I just saw it for the first time. I've been on a Leone kick and found the DVD on sale.

Where are the Ford cavalry movies? ("She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" is my favorite. Victor McLaglen, Harry Carey, Jr., young Ben Johnson, and the peerless Mildred Natwick in support of one of John Wayne's best performances. That's a movie.) And it seems to me a list that includes "Johnny Guitar" and spurns "True Grit" has some issues.

"Sons of Katie Elder" should be on it. Saw that at the drive-in. One of my folks faves. Mine, too.

I down with Kerry. "True Grit" ought to be listed, as should John Wayne's swansong "The Shootist." They should make a listing of best cheezy westerns too. I mean, who hasn't arrived at work bloodshot after staying up until three a.m. watching a Jane Russell and Randolph Scott oater. *crickets chirping* Anybody? Hello?

Should add the Shootist, John Wayne's last movie and his best IMO.

Also, if recall correctly, Jimmy Stewart made a bunch of Westerns too. Not sure any of them are in the list.

If you want to catch up on Westerns, just invest time in watch Turner Classic Movies. They cycle through some of the better Westerns, including Rio Bravo, etc.

More recently: "Silverado"

"Jimmy Stewart made a bunch of Westerns too. Not sure any of them are in the list."

He's in "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" with John Wayne. (And Lee Marvin as the heavy, what a cast!) My personal favorite John Wayne movie. And he had part in "The Shootist".

Add "The Sheepman" - the best opening 15 or so minutes in any Western

Dearest: What no "Blazing Saddles"? Or the one where Lee Marvin [and his horse] played drunken cowboys. Graboy is right on target: The Sheepman was a terrific movie. love, dad

Cat Ballou, Dad. Yes, that should be on it, too.

Oh, and Lonely Are The Brave with Kirk Douglas, his horse and Walter Mathau. Best movie about the dying of the old west.

Re: Jimmy Stewart

You are guys are right. I forgot he was in the Shootist, and I should have looked closer at the list. How could I miss "The Man Who Shot Libery Valance". Duh!

While The Man Who shot Liberty Valance is my personal fave, I dont see "Butch Cassidy and athe Sundance Kid" on the list.

test. test.