I was recently ask what my favorite top 10 western movies are. I really can't tell you cause I haven't seen them all yet. Probably never will as there are just too many of them. One thing I will tell you is that not enough credit is given to that guy on the left... William S. Hart. He was the first "Big" cowboy star and even though his movies were made during the silent era they can stand up against just about any made today. If you haven't become acquainted with him you don't know what you're missing. Search out the movie "Tumbleweeds" and you'll see what I mean. That movie has everything in it. Here's a short cip from Youtube to give you a taste. And while Hart clearly steals the scenes watch for a little comic relief when a fly shows up when the dusty cowpoke pulls out his handless watch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhukiQZVkeo&t=1295s&ab_channel=TheVideoCellarClassic! And what about Hart's angora chaps? What modern day star could pull off wearing those?
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Here's another link to a short he made when he retired from the silver screen. Luckily there is audio for this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEEp2YEYs9c&ab_channel=SannaBlue
I still almost tear up when he signs off at the end. What a star.
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Judy and I, while attending the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival several years ago were fortunate enough to take a tour of his home which was located nearby in Newhall, CA. Being the detail nut that I am there wasn't a nook or cranny that didn't draw my interest. One of the really neat things I found in one old dusty display case was a carving by H.S. "Andy" Anderson. I pointed out to the docent just what they had there but there was no real interest. A shame but at least I know that Hart had the same appreciation for certain things that I have.
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Of course John Wayne is right there next to Hart and one of his films which I really like is "The Big Trail" made back in 1930 before he was "discovered" as the Ringo Kid in "Stagecoach" in 1939. He did manage to make a few stinkers, one being "Riders of Destiny" back in 1933. In it he plays "Singing Sandy" and no, that melodiac voice is dubbed. Here's a short clip worth putting up with just to see and hear Gabby Hayes' comment at the end: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B76qt_lZDd8&ab_channel=CultCinemaClassics
No, it would really be hard for me to come up with a list of only 10 favorites. That would be like asking me which of my carvings was my favorite. They're all my favorite....from the very first to the one I'm working on now.
Thanks for a little bit o' history. However, I must say I thought for sure that you would have a couple of all time favorites that you could list. Oh well -
ReplyDeleteFor interested in a more indept look at the history of western movies check this link
http://www.cinemacom.com/westerns.html
Ron
Thanks for the link Ron. Sorry that I couldn't be more specific but it would really be hard to narrow it down to 10. If it were limited to modern movies I's day that Lonesome Dove would certainly be there as would Dances with Wolves. 3:10 To Yuma starring Glenn Form is another good one. The newer version just doesn't measure up. Right now on the Western Channel they're showing a bunch of Randolph Scott movies, some of which I havent seen. I really like him as I do Joel McCrea. Of course then there's Hoppy, my hero. About the only western I wouldn't pay to see is Brokeback Mountain. Two wranglers wrestling in a tent just doesn't come to mind when I think about western movies.
ReplyDeleteIf you can get your hands on it, one of the latest Smithsonian Magazines has an article about how a guy that owned a small trading post in Monument Valley came to introduce John Ford (I think it was) to the valley where they filmed "Stagecoach" (the good version with the 'Duke', "The Searchers", "She wore a yellow ribbon" and a bunch more. A nice article and some great pictures of the mesas there.
ReplyDeleteTent wrestlin' won't get me to the theatre either:-)
I have to agree with you both on the tent. I also believe the original 3:10 to Yuma was the best version. I always liked the 'Duke' in just about anything. Clint Eastwood was always good too. I'm sure I'll think of someone else after I write this, but the two current actors that strike me as being the 'most' cowboy is Sam Elliot and Robert Duval.
ReplyDeleteRon
a bit over a yr ago-- "WILD WEST" magazine published "100 greatest westerns" i realize ofcourse that this is thier opinion and may or may not be the result of a poll, but it does list the good ones. High Noon is #1 in this list some of my favorites are in the top 10 and some of them i havent heard of. but if you are putting a collection together it would be list to start with--
ReplyDeleteI remember as a child my two brothers and I would go to the local movie (the only one in the small town)... With popcorn we watch some of the best old western movies then go home and act them out..Roy Roger's,Trigger and Dale Evans,"Gabby" Hayes, Hopalong Cassidy,Smiley Burnette, Zorro, Gene Autry the singing cowboy..what wonderful memorys of my childhood.. I road my dad's steer and at nine got my first horse...the movies were more fun to act out then.. Mary Anne W.Johnson
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