“Cowboys never die, they just ride off into the sunset” is the best bumper sticker we have. It reminds us of two things: cowboys are rambling adventurers, cowboys are eternal. It’s this happy-go-lucky-shirk-nothing type of ethos that has kept cowboys cool across the ages. That, of course, and The Marlborough Man. Plus being able to utter “there’s a snake in my boot” at any opportune moment. Plus, well, Steve McQueen in anything, ever. Being asked to list the best cowboy movies is ambitious. It’s unreasonable! It’s like trying to order your favourite children — of course you have secret faves, but you still, at least technically, love them all the same. Instead, the below list is but a personal summation — in no particular order — of a young man’s prized picks.
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY (1968)
Clint Eastwood’s scowl in this! Something that I tried to imitate for years before giving up due to the slimness of my eyebrows. Nevertheless, Sergio Leone’s ’66 epic spaghetti western perfectly encapsulates an entire genre of film. A bounty hunting scam! A race to the gold! A title that’s become something of a collective noun for any group of three people. If you loved The Hateful Eight you’ll love this.
TRUE GRIT (2010)
The Coen Brothers go west with this 2010 remake that’s darker and more sobering than your usual western runabout. If you truly want to FEEL things and get down and dirty with the genre, then this is the film for you. A curveball: the casting of Matt Damon himself. Matt Damon! In a Western! Believe it.
THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN (1960)
The film that sparked my love for western films and for Steve McQueen. I had this film on a VHS tape, and I played it so much it broke. Today I carry the theme song around in my head for moments where I need a bit of inspo. It’s about seven expert gunslingers banding together to save a Mexican village from a group of baddies. Starring all your nana’s silver screen faves, including Yul Brynner, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Horst Buchholz and (ofc!) Steve McQueen. Watch for the nostalgia (if you’re me), for the camaraderie, and for when you’re sick of heist films but still want to see a solid crew assembled.
HIGH NOON
When checking the cast list online why is high noon such a good movie? came up as one of the recommended Google searches. So, it’s ageing well, and I have nothing more of value to add here. Go watch it.
3:10 to Yuma (1957 and 2007)
There’s a special kind of fondness reserved for the memories you have as a child when you’re home “sick” from school, watching TV. The 2007 remake of 3:10 to Yuma is one such, and not just because I was an impressionable young lad with a penchant for Russell Crowe and Christian Bale. I recommend it to anyone who loves to see Crowe in uniform.
Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
Charles Bronson is a mysterious stranger with a harmonica! Claudia Cardinale is a beautiful widow! Henry Fonda is a villain! And the opening scene is the best 10 mins of film footage, ever: the cracking of knuckles, the dripping of a leaky water tower and a single buzzing fly. it manages to capture the tension all westerns strive for in just a few minutes. I bought my dad a harmonica after watching this and he didn’t turn into Charles Bronson. Probably because mum wouldn’t let him play it in the house.