With a collection of over 260 Westerns, choosing one as my Best is very difficult. I totally agree that the ten listed in the July magazine are all top class, I would however add the following ten to rank along side them.
Two Mules for Sister Sara (Clint Eastwood)
The War Wagon (John Wayne)
For a Few Dollars More (Clint Eastwood)
The Alamo (John Wayne)
No Name on the Bullet (Audie Murphy)
A Man Called Horse (Richard Harris)
Open Range (Kevin Costner)
The Tall Stranger (Joel McCrea)
The Last of the Mohicans (Daniel Day-Lewis)
The Shootist (John Wayne)
As for my "Best Western", that would have to be "The Man From Laramie". A truly great performance from James Stewart,(one of the best cowboys ever) along with a very good supporting cast (including Jack Elam, who played the naturally ugly, mean, bad guy in 125 Westerns) The thing I love about this film,apart from James Stewart's acting, is that it has a typical good versus evil plot. James Stewart as usual plays the good and has to overcome the evil bad guys in a land were the Gun rules and laws are made by those with the power. Needless to say good wins and gets the girl as well.
I thought I was doing well having got over 260 Westerns until I found a website recently that listed all the westerns ever made. It contained a staggering 10,000 plus tittles. I have a long trail to ride.
Best wishes to all you Western fans out there.
Mike Ingram
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