Klavan's Top 5 Westerns

[@mattfarr137]

Klavan’s analysis on movies and literature is my favorite thing he does. I wish he’d do a second podcast just dedicated to that

[@John-sk8cm]

I second that motion 👌

[@SirBlackReeds]

No kidding. We need real film criticism & analysis to make a comeback.

[@lordchungus1552]

YEEESS

[@CoreIreland]

Yes, if the Daily Wire wants to help shape culture that's an easy one; plus they're sitting in one of the great novelists of our time.

[@CoreIreland]

Oh, and a gaming channel, watching him play Elden Ring was hilarious.

[@smedeiros86]

After listening to Klavan I want to drop everything and go watch these movies. I truly love this man.

[@LeviAckerman-cb5ji]

I kept away from John Wayne for the most part. He became such a parody, that everyone had me thinking the man said 'pilgrim' at the end of every sentence. But after recently going down the rabbit hole, I would definitely recommend a lot of his films, like True grit, McClintock, and the sons of Katie Elder.

[@cmln2413]

@@LeviAckerman-cb5ji Nice to see you finally coming around. There are plenty of others also!

[@cmln2413]

@Stella Medeiros You wont regret the decision!

[@marioarguello6989]

​@@LeviAckerman-cb5ji He said "pilgrim" in exactly ONE movie.

[@michaeleastes1705]

“She Wore a Yellow Ribbon” is simultaneously one of the best westerns and one of the best military films ever. John Ford was a genius.

[@shieldinhand6586]

Even the title is amazing. It’s so original and poetic.

[@robertgouldshaw2041]

Shane is my favourite movie and I am 19

[@j.sumner6999]

I really liked "Rio Grande" the last of the triology. It was a great family film. Maureen O'Hara was magnificent.

[@jasongcrow5313]

We’ll said

[@marchess286]

speaking of Ford's magnificent cavalry trilogy, I submit Fort Apache as a great western and military movie (especially the post dance scene). But, in Yellow ribbon the scenes of the death and funeral of "Trooper John Smith", especially, are extraordinary, kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqvMp6CBrZdjjck; kzbin.info/www/bejne/ombZo6pprLaLmZI

[@chrisboerger465]

I used to feel as you did about the Searchers, that the domestic scenes are hokey and out of place, but having since immersed myself in the art of John Ford, I've come to appreciate him as American cinema's version of Shakespeare, the way he juxtaposes these lighthearted scenes with the heavier drama. Through such scenes, he doesn't just create a story, he creates a living, breathing community, with secondary and tertiary characters who, granted, are specific types, some might say stereotypes, the hard-drinking doctor for instance, or the village idiot, but who nonetheless add richness and humor and on occasion even wisdom to the proceedings, just as Shakespeare was able to do with his minor characters.

[@bighands69]

The domestic scenes are closer to what families do in having fun at home.

[@julieannboone80]

The domestic scenes show what he and Martin were missing out on. They were out there for about five years? It was a noble sacrifice.

[@j.sumner6999]

I absolutely agree with you.

[@wrlord]

You have to have the domestic scenes in the Searchers -- they're the normal life against which Ethan's life and behavior are contrasted.

[@John-sk8cm]

You sound like a brilliant film student. l love your comment 👏

[@elainejan]

I’m an old lady. I grew up watching cowboys on tv. I so miss honorable, masculine, chivalrous men. And I can’t understand women who don’t want to be treated like ladies. They don’t know what they are missing.

[@4speed3pedals]

Lee Marvin did a terrific performance in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. I also loved his part in Cat Ballou.

[@bighands69]

The men of that era were genuinely hard as they come. As Quentin Tarantino said that you cannot find men like that any more for cinema and that the modern actress is as close to those old timers as the modern male actors are.

[@Ease54]

@@bighands69 Pronouns were set in stone.

[@marioarguello6989]

He was great in the Comancheros too

[@PaulAshley]

In the closing shot of The Searchers, Wayne grasps one arm. That was an ad lib homage to actor Harry Carey, who often made that gesture. The cast was watching from behind the camera and, knowing why Wayne did it, were reportedly moved to tears.

[@hiramnoone]

Olive Carey, Harry's widow who played Mrs Jorgensen in the film wept when Wayne made that gesture.

[@j.sumner6999]

Particularly Harry Carey's widow, Olive Golden Carey.

[@jasongcrow5313]

I saw Harry Carey, Jr. tell this story and he came to tears.

[@zombieslayer7759]

It's so hard to narrow it down to five. But these are some of my favorites: 1. A Few Dollars More 2. Death Rides a Horse (a very underrated film, but it's insanely good and stars Lee Van Cleef) 3. The Outlaw Josey Wales 4. Tombstone (I love Val Kilmer who plays Doc Holiday) 5. The Hateful Eight (Quentin Tarantino) 6. The Cowboys (John Wayne) 7. The Shootist (John Wayne) 8. 3:10 to Yuma (the new one with Russell Crowe) 9. Once upon a time in the West, with Charles Bronson (badass)

[@brianoden1798]

3:10 to Yuma yes a great movie !

[@bluegoose1342]

@ Zombie Slayer. Good films. Glad you added The Cowboys. Such a great film.

[@theElderberryFarmer]

I thought that "Pale Rider" was an excellent western. Although not 'movies' per se, I would add "Lonesome Dove" and "Into the West" to the list of classic westerns. And, let's not forget "The Magnificent Seven", even though it is simply a western remake of "The Seven Samurai".

[@zombieslayer7759]

@@bluegoose1342 The Cowboys is awesome. Bruce Dern is creepy in it and in my opinion it's the best John Wayne film along with The Shootist.

[@smedeiros86]

Thanks for this list, sir. I will look at all of them. I am constantly looking for lists of the best western movies to watch.

[@davidthomas4282]

For me the Outlaw Josie Wales should be in any top 5 westerns. A film that again portrays the transition from "wild west" to civilised west. And a great portrayal of Indians.

[@REALRICHVICTOR]

Just a great episodic action movie. Like Jeremiah Johnson, too.

[@peachjwp]

William Wyler’s Big Country is a masterpiece. Musical score a triumph. Gregory Peck. Carleton Heston. Burl Ives. Jean Simmons. Transcends the standard good guy v bad guy dynamic.

[@bighands69]

The Big Country is a fantastic looking movie. Even though it was made in 1958 it looks better than any more modern movie.

[@mvr2579]

I'm so happy that others are praising this movie besides myself. It has always been in my top 10 westerns

[@robertjames-life4768]

Burl Ives earned a well deserved Oscar for that one. He chewed up every scene he was in.

[@johnnyquest3707]

burl Ives stole every scene he was in, and at the other end of the spectrum’ Gregory Peck’s portrayal of a guy so brave he never wanted to have to prove it was equally strong.

[@keithhayes844]

I second that.

[@oliveoil2x]

Love the Virginian, Shane, high noon, the man who shot liberty, Hondo, the searchers & back to the future 3 😆 loads of westerns out there to learn from and enjoy!

[@JDHart]

Long live westerns! I’m 62 and watching Little House on the Prairie for the first time and loving it. Eastwood is still the king of westerns

[@bighands69]

I like Eastwood but he was not part of the great western era. He made great fun movies but they never had the gravitas of the great westerns. I would love to see another era of great western movies or swashbuckling movies.

[@JDHart]

@@bighands69 what’s your favorite western?

[@CarlGorn]

My favorite western is actually a radio drama called *The Six Shooter* starring Jimmy Stewart. It was his only radio western ever, by his choice. It puts that movie feel in your head, in your imagination. Phenomenal limited-run series. And thanks to the copyrights not being renewed as radio became less relevant, it's now public domain, searchable, and downloadable.

[@JDHart]

@@CarlGorn I love Jimmy Stewart. I’ll have to watch that one.

[@JDHart]

Or hear it rather.

[@iancognito6920]

'Once upon a time in the west' is simply a masterpiece

[@benniebarrow348]

“Broken Trail” with Robert Duvall and Thomas Haden was another awesome western . Never gets old .

[@gordonely3591]

I just watched it last week . Very good . Johnson County War is in my top ten westerns . Now I'm watching 1954 The Bounty Hunter ( Andrè de Toth ) which starts like a Sergio Leone spaghetti , but travels quite uniquely due to crisp editing and snappy dialogue . Fast tempo❗

[@elishevajones6730]

"How the West was Won" is another excellent western movie. Staring Gregory Peck, Jimmy Stewart, Debbie Reynolds, and many other great actors.

[@dukeofbanfe]

Love that one

[@marchess286]

It's a rousing and fun Western that I love, but it doesn't have the intellectual depth of Westerns such as Liberty Valance, Searchers, High Noon, as Klavan brought out.

[@prometheus5700]

My dad took me to the Hollywood Cinerama Dome to see this when it came out in 1963.

[@garyclarke9685]

I don't know about that one. It spanned over 3 generations & very slow moving. Also just too many storylines intertwined. Add to that the stars didn't get much screen time at all. I think John Wayne was in it for 5 maybe 10 seconds

[@jamesforbes2871]

After reading the comments I was surprised that no one mentioned 'Red River' ... Montgomery Clift and John Wayne in the classic cowboy epic. The films music was Dmitri Tiomkin at his best.

[@GonzoTheRosarian]

I loved all of these growing up. I have a life sized cutout photo of John Wayne in my office. One of my favorites is “The Shootist” , John Wayne was brilliant in it.

[@Sven_E07]

I agree. "The Shootist" is among my top 3 westerns and a portrayal which John Wayne should have won an Oscar for. He was almost nominated in the polling, but the studio didn't advertise it, so he missed this nomination.

[@mtatom92345]

I was born in’46. Hopalong was the first western I can remember. I learned what sort of “man” I wanted to be by watching/emulating the strong men of the West.

[@luanahazlett9251]

I loved westerns growing up. My father was a huge John Wayne fan and so am I. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to your clips, because they're so delightful and entertaining but also insightful. Also, I've always felt JW got a bad rap when folks said he was racist. I never believed it, still don't. I like the searchers but she wore a yellow ribbon and Rio grande, not to mention fort Apache I liked more. When you spoke about the Indians, I thought the movie you'd mention was Cheyenne Autumn with Richard Widmark, Gilbert Roland, Ricardo Montalban to name a few, I think Edward G Robinson was in it to. Anyway, thanks 💜 #Godspeed

[@TheBelegur]

The cinematography of the searchers and Shane is amazing. The all star cast of high noon and the shootist really makes these movies awesome picks. For once I agree with your solid picks.

[@joeybullets1807]

Shane is also one of the best westerns

[@bighands69]

It was shot on Vistavision which is about 12k resolution. I would love to see a 70mm restoration of it in a cinema. That would be an amazing experience.

[@Doc_Tar]

The two westerns that are on my top 10 favorite movies is "The Wild Bunch" and "Unforgiven." I'm not sure how they square up with Klavan's take on westerns, but I'll always watch them when they'er shown.

[@mvr2579]

I love westerns. Great list My favorites in no order Rio Bravo Shane Magnificent Seven Wild Bunch The Big Country Vera Cruz Unforgivin Logan High Noon The Searchers

[@christophervanasse9911]

Logan and The Dark Knight are the two greats. I was absolutely floored by Logan in the theatre after growing up watching Hugh Jackman.

[@raggedyman511]

"Ride the high country" is one of top 10.

[@mikehigbee2320]

I join others in praising "The Big Country" as one of the greatest westerns of all. Gregory Peck, Charleton Heston, Jean Simmons, Chuck Conners, Burl Ives, Charles Bickford, all with perfect performances and a great story. I consider it an excellent treatise on how to be a man.

[@rogerlinscott3224]

Plus the theme song.

[@arturtopolszki8424]

When it comes to Westerns there is one that above all: Once upon a time in the west. The story, the characters, the music, the photography and Claudia Cardinale.

[@Madstsone]

It is the ultimate Western

[@johnhumberstone9674]

I can't believe this is not his #1. It has just about everything a western should have.

[@dlfendel2844]

EXACTLY. It is the movie ABOUT the END of the West. Brilliant. The greatest western and one of the greatest movies EVER made.

[@Madstsone]

@@johnhumberstone9674 he completely ignored the spaghetti westerns and the revisionist westerns

[@philipsheppard4815]

@@Madstsone no doubt they aren't "American" enough for him and are too morally ambiguous for his simple good v bad mentality.

[@daemein]

I can see that I am alone, but I love the John Ford retelling of the Magi story, The 3 Godfathers. It's lesser known, but it has a stellar cast, a touching story of faith, and I think, very nice cinematography. Harry Carrey Jr's crooning of The Streets of Laredo is an added bonus. Too mature for kids though. If you want a Western around Christmas, this is a good choice.

[@hiramnoone]

The great John Ford. Love that film. Has some good comedy mixed in too. "Don't talk Mex in front of the infant!"

[@naomivanharn2300]

Yes! Great movie.

[@keithhayes844]

Open Range is one of the best “modern” westerns, but “Old Henry” (2021?) is a modern classic. A serious hidden gem.

[@stevebrust963]

I agree with you about Open Range. It's a minor classic.

[@benniebarrow348]

@@stevebrust963oh yes , Open Range is fantastic

[@cowcocky]

Andrew great list. Those films all show masculine self sacrifice but only The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance shows three different versions of it. We have Rance who is prepared to lay down his life for the woman he loves and stand up for want he believes is right. Tom knows he will live but in shooting Liberty he loses everything. He does this for the woman he loves. And we have Pompy who stays with Tom and looks after him though Tom becomes a drunk and an outcast. I can watch it over and over again.

[@JennyEverywhere]

I absolutely adore Rio Bravo, with John Wayne and Dean Martin and just _gallons_ of other stars. I also love El Dorado, the other Rio Bravo, with John Wayne, Robert Mitchum and James Caan. They're pretty much the same story with some embellishments. Both were directed by Howard Hawks, which could explain the similarity. They're very Jedi vs. Sith in today's terms. The bad guys are evil personified, and the good guys try real hard to personify good, but show human frailties along the way. That's because surrendering to evil is easy, while adhering to good is hard. That's because all evil has to contend with is dominating others. That's chiefly done through fear, and simple violence can achieve that. But a good guy fights with himself, a far worse judge than the bad guys face. He has to work hard to be virtuous, which can only be achieved through mastery of oneself. And my top Western favorite has to be _They Call Me Trinity,_ with Terrence Hill and Bud Spencer. _Trinity is Still My Name_ is a decent sequel, but IMHO not quite as good as the original. These films are the quintessential Spaghetti Westerns, cowboy movies made in Italy. They're funny and entertaining as all get out, with some of the greatest slapstick fight scenes ever filmed.

[@bighands69]

Hollywood and American culture at that time was completely different. The quality of the movies are something else entirely. Even the film stock they are shot on are of a level that no modern movie can match. I have seen Vertigo on 70mm and there is nothing today that can even come close to that experience.

[@denroy3]

Please don't bring up Star Wars with classics like Rio Bravo. Which was a sort of answer to High Noon, where good men helped each other...as opposed to be cowards.

[@jerrymoore838]

Magnificent Seven, great film. Every time one of them dies it still chokes me up

[@rayboish]

I think that " Shenandoah " with James Stewart is a terrific film, wether it is actually a western is perhaps debatable because it's about a father trying to keep his family out of the American civil war. I think it's a great film.

[@Adam-sd2ow]

Once Upon A Time In The West, The Wild Bunch, Man Of The West, Rio Bravo, The Ox Bo Incident.

[@lasagnasux4934]

I have yet to see Terror on the Prairie, but the best recent western I've seen is RDR2, and it is one of the best stories I've ever seen.

[@jesupcolt]

The first Redemption has a better story, but 2 is still pretty good.

[@blindrocket]

I agree. RDR2 is just absolutely amazing and heart wrenching when you look at it as a whole.

[@lornae8683]

You’ll like it, I did. No diversity. LOL!

[@cunningstunt69]

@@jesupcoltnah rdr2 has a better story and protagonist but both are amazing

[@Hiraghm]

Possibly my favorite western, and there were so very many I liked, was "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon". And it explicitly supported your idea. I fell in love with the colonel's wife, Abby, because she was such a good woman. The Searchers is also one of my favorites; I'm always dismayed at people who think Ethan Edwards was a bad guy. I would like to think I would have behaved exactly as he did, had my family been butchered as his had. (and Comanches were notoriously evil among the other tribes). I also very much liked "The Three Godfathers". Men who had let themselves somehow be led astray, but deep down were still decent men, worthy and capable of redemption.

[@johnchalmers]

My five favourite "Westerns" are "The Oxbow Incident" ( 1943 ) "The Shootist" ( 1976 ) "The Gunfighter" ( 1951 ) "The Wild Bunch" ( 1969 ) "Ride The High Country" ( 1962 ) . P.S. I had to wrestle between "High Noon" and "Ride The High Country" .

[@hiramnoone]

I like The Gunfighter better than High Noon myself.

[@jamoe4802]

The algorithm SUCKS! I should have been notified immediately when this video came out!

[@keithallen8543]

Lonesome Dove and The Cowboys. THE BEST WESTERNS EVER!!!!

[@josephinekromer2827]

Love the cowboys!

[@keithhayes844]

Lonesome Dove is a masterpiece, but it’s not really a movie; it’s a miniseries. If we’re including miniseries, the I’d also throw in Broken Trail with Robert Duvall and Thomas Hayden Church

[@ruvenzub]

There is something very comforting about watching a good western

[@williamkeepers1935]

I loved Hondo, it was the first Louis Lamour book I read in 6th grade, my favorite Western was Silverado, it may not have the depth that Klavan is looking for, but I loved it

[@edrianluyt8735]

No top 5 can exist without The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly! Come on man!

[@brianoden1798]

I will pay 'A Few Dollars More ' to watch a good Western.

[@ScrappyXFL]

I paused it right at the start, if the "The Outlaw Josey Wales" isn't in this list I'm going to be disappointed. Now, on to enjoy this vid!

[@keithdean9149]

One other movie I would like to mention is "The Shootist" (1976). Set in 1901, the hero, played by John Wayne, an aging gunfighter that is dying of cancer but was "never an outlaw," rides into town. The town is civilized, and the hero knows his time is over. All the things he fought for, killing over 30 men in the process, have come to pass. Now, it's time for him to pass.

[@whutzat]

Tombstone is my favorite western...even though it's a more modern one.

[@hiramnoone]

Yeah, liked it way better than Unforgiven which came out about the same time. Val Kilmer was superb.

[@whutzat]

@@hiramnoone I like Unforgiven...but I loooove Tombstone. If anyone was ever ROBBED of the Oscar they deserved...it's Val for that role.

[@lupcokotevski2907]

As a modern day Western, I really like Bad Day at Black Rock starring Spencer Tracy.

[@elishevajones6730]

"True Grit" is probably my all-time favorite western movie. Have you seen this? Staring John Wayne. Excellent movie.

[@bighands69]

A good movie but not one of the true greats though.

[@elishevajones6730]

John Wayne won Best Actor for "True Grit" so it was definitely one of the true greats!

[@michaelvayan9682]

​@@elishevajones6730Coen Bros version was better

[@kevmac1230]

Open Range is a favorite of mine.The gunfight is epic.

[@keithhayes844]

Overlooked. And it holds up really well.

[@kerryfickett5254]

I am doing an English camp for middle school students and after reading Tucker by Louis Lamour I thought I would highlight the western. And then you do this little gem of a video striking the keynote. Thank you so much. Also I just watched The Searchers with my dad; it's one of his all time favorites. I am so thankful for your voice these days. Thank you for perspective and insight. You do both exceptionally.

[@marks.2909]

Andrew I wholeheartedly agree with your top picks , just to add a personal western favourite “My Darling Clementine”

[@joba606]

YES !!!

[@zachary1990]

Hell or high water is my personal favorite modern western

[@blindrocket]

Man what an incredible video Andrew! I really appreciate your thoughts on your top five westerns and you’ve convinced me to watch all of them. High Noon sounds really cool and innovative being in realtime. One of my favorites is Stagecoach, an oldie from 1939 directed by John Ford and starring a very young John Wayne.

[@rtyria]

That is a great movie.

[@bighands69]

High Noon is a great film but John Wayne did not like the movie because the writer of the movie was a communist but ironically produced a movie that shows what happens when anarchy is allowed to rule.

[@richardrose2606]

Before Stagecoach Wayne was an obscure actor making B-grade (or even C-grade) westerns. Stagecoach made him a star.

[@photonole61]

What… no “Blazing Saddles”!?!?

[@peterscocca3024]

Agree 👍🏼 and have seen them all more than once . . . many more times

[@jamesforbes2871]

I unashamedly admit that my values were formed from watching Westerns. Both cultures played near equal roles in affecting my moral and ethical development but these great stories never failed to leave their residue of lessons to ponder until the next epic came along.

[@bighands69]

There is nothing to be ashamed of and count yourself lucky that there was a culture that was their to help you. Modern culture and films lack that morality of character that was present in the past era that the films were made. When you watch a modern superhero film you see a very poor representation of that. It is all about the fact that they can do what they can through their power rather than their character.

[@altonmilligan9948]

'Once Upon a Time in the West', Sergio Leon, best western for me.

[@tonihernandez6862]

i love "Shane", i grew up in the 60s and grew up with cowboy hats and toy guns and holsters - and dreaming i was Shane. to be the hero of the west, it made me want to be good and do good things

[@BestnameIcanThinkof89]

One of my favorites is “Once Upon A Time In The West” by Sergio Leoni. It has a young Charles Bronson, who plays a really cool mysterious character. Also the score is amazing. It’s a long movie, but it is definitely worth it for any western fan.

[@jeravincer]

Bravo Klavan!

[@drakejdf]

Call me crazy but I love westerns of all types but I never get tired of young guns 1 and 2 and tombstone as for newer movies.I could list many more.

[@seasonstudios]

Some good choices Andrew. A guilty pleasure of mine is Rio Bravo for pure western entertainment. Another pioneer type of western is The Big Sky and one of the best "modern" ones is Lonely Are the Brave.

[@andrewgraziani4331]

Rio Bravo is 24 K gold.

[@hiramnoone]

@@andrewgraziani4331 Also El Dorado with Wayne, Mitchum and Caan.

[@andrewgraziani4331]

@@hiramnoone El Dorado yes thanks for reminding me.

[@keithhayes844]

Lonely Are the Brave! Good call!

[@519djw6]

*"Shane" is my favorite in this genre, but I also recommend "The Big Trail," one of John Wayne's earliest movies, and "Firecreek," with Jimmy Stewart. And finally, from a much more recent crop, I really like Kevin Costner's "Dances with Wolves."*

[@justinarmetta3367]

I don’t know how you could not include Unforgiven on this list. Not only is it my favorite Western but it is Clint’s best movie.

[@markallen2984]

I don't know if it's Clint's best movie but it is certainly Clint's Best Western

[@michaelwillever3522]

Yes!!

[@justinarmetta3367]

@@markallen2984 what would you say is Clint’s best movie just out of curiosity.

[@hiramnoone]

The Outlaw Josey Wales is his best. Then The Good, The Bad and the Ugly.

[@justinarmetta3367]

@@hiramnoone I will cede that both those movies are in my top 5 Clint movies but I’d still put Unforgiven above those two. I think Clint shows a greater acting range in Unforgiven.

[@user-pt4ix4kd9l]

Bud Boettticher and Anthony Mann westerns are highly recommended also.

[@PilgrimLJC]

Ah! My favorite western movie was left out! I, too, grew up watching westerns; more tv series than movies. The Virginian was the very best of them IMHO, and secondly, Gunsmoke. But the movie you overlooked is The Big Country, with Gregory Peck and a cast of the very best actors of the 50s. The acting, direction, cinematography, storyline, dialogue-everything!-is outstanding. I have watched it countless times and see something new in it every time. Check it out!

[@keithhayes844]

Gregory Peck and Charleton Heston have one of the best fist fights ever in The Big Country. William Wyler was a master.

[@a.m.hatfield9734]

I agree with much of what Mr. Klavan had to say about Westerns (which I greatly admire myself) and I share many of my favorite Westerns with him. Certainly the "Man Who Shot Liberty Valance", "the Searchers", "Shane" of course and "High Noon" (which John Wayne did not like) to mention a few. Where I depart from Klavan somewhat is his claim that the legend of the West is not true. I would say that even if not all the details of the legend of West are literally true much of it is and enough of it was true and credible enough to create the legend. I think of Wyatt Earp as an example. At different points in his life he was a horse thief, the town drunk, a pimp, a bouncer, a fornicator and some would say, a murderer. His friends however like Bat Masterson (another legend) also knew Earp to be the most physically courageous man he ever met. At certain points in his life Earp transcended his limitations and became something greater. During his time of being a town Marshall in Dodge City, Kansas, where he built his reputation, and later in Tombstone Arizona at the 'Gunfight at the O.K. Corral', Earp rose to the occasion so to speak and consequently stepped into history and immortality. What was true about Earp was his courage under fire. That courage was Earp's truth and thus the legend that was built upon the courage was equally true.

[@toniam.2080]

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance! I love that movie ❤️

[@amick425]

No one is wrong here… but my all time favorite is “Unforgiven”… the performances of Harris, Hackman, Freeman, and Eastwood (and all the supporting actors) are just so good.., it’s a near-perfect” film. And the story of looking at how it’s a very thin line between right and wrong (good/evil) and the character study of Eastwoods’ “William Money” trying to come to terms with his past… just spectacular!

[@Horsehead147]

I saw “The Big Country” when I was about 10. My stepdad showed me; he really liked the scene where Gregory Peck confronts Chuck Conners and they go out and fistfight all night. He thought that was how men should resolve their differences; one on one, no hype men, no spectators, no crew. Just the two rival parties. And not only did they gain a certain respect for each other, Gregory effectively disarmed Chuck, whose character relied on the energy of his crew. Removed, he was far less cocky. Also, Burl Ives was great in it. And solid soundtrack as well. Edit: Charlton Heston vs. Gregory Peck, thank you for the correction!

[@seanmoran2743]

Wasn’t it Charlton Heston and Gregory Peck

[@nmr6988]

The all night fist fight was between Gregory Peck and Charlton Heston. But yes, it's one of the truly great westerns and the score cannot be beat.

[@Horsehead147]

Oh I’m sorry guys you are right. It’s been awhile. Think I’ll go watch it again today 😃

[@nmr6988]

@@Horsehead147 my husband and I love that movie and we will watch it at least three times a year. Sometimes I'll just put in the DVD so we can hear the opening because the score is so fantastic.

[@Horsehead147]

@@nmr6988 agreed!

[@naomimartin3796]

I love all of these movies. And hundreds more! The classics truly have the best story lines.

[@jerrytalley337]

Andrew, all great movies. I hope you will watch Open Range with Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall if you haven't already seen it. Has the good vs evil, innocent romance and Charlie and Boss displayed good moral character and values.

[@wandaarnt234]

Western Movies give me a hopeful entertainment have always Loved them Cheers from Pennsylvania Blessings 🙏🙏🙏👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@Atpost334]

Agree with a lot of your commentary, but not totally. For me, the humor in “The Searchers” is what completes the daily life of their times. In all times there is the deadly serious that is also sprinkled with some humorous moments. That is the complexity and the mastery of Ford and Wayne in this film.

[@jimluebke3869]

"The Magnificent Seven" basically tells this story as well, right up to the last speech about who really wins. Interesting that it also resonates with the Japanese (who wrote the original), who rapidly transitioned from a samurai order to an industrial order. Gotta love the way the Japanese put in their own storytelling, where Americans would have whittled down the characters for brevity's sake. Each samurai explores a facet of why these men are warriors -- for justice, for adventure, for their art, for glory, for honor, for courage, and to become a man. There's a thoroughness to these character studies that American editors sacrifice to the tightness of the pacing, and I think we're poorer for it sometimes.

[@emile4449]

Great movies I will be checking out, thanks. One of the great ones, in my book, is... Clint Eastwood's The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. Historical, funny, and action packed. 🐴

[@EasyModeFishing]

Hang Em High is my favorite western.

[@st.peterunner8758]

Are you a zoomer, or groomer?

[@sketchbook1]

I LOVE the comedy in the Searchers! It's a GREAT movie, just as it is. It's one of my favorites of all time.

[@MarnysCrochetandCrafts]

I love all John Wayne movies!!!! My very favorite John Wayne movie is "El Dorado".

[@georgebailey98]

Here is an alternative list of great westerns that aren't quite as well-known: 01. Lonesome Dove (1989) 02. The Professionals (1966) 03. The Quick and the Dead (1995) 04. Quigley Down Under (1990) 05. Destry Rides Again (1939) 06. The Ox-Bow Incident (1943) 07. Bad Day at Black Rock (1955) 08. Bad Company (1972) 09. Open Range (2003) 10. Westworld (1973)

[@barrygioportmorien1]

Two great movies,

[@claytf4816]

I was looking for Lonesome Dove, top of my list too.

[@jamoe4802]

These are all must-see films. All of them. Klavan is too harsh on The Searchers lol these are all 10/10.

[@elaineteut1249]

Van Heflin (who plays the Dad in Shane), was a good actor. He always got the "father" part which he also played in "3:10 to Yuma".

[@jasoncain9602]

I could just listen to Klavan talk about westerns all day.

[@JohnReedy07163]

My Western favorites begin and end with High Plains Drifter The rest of them I turn on to play Red Dead Redemption alongside but High Plains Drifter is a captivating experience everytime

[@Luxington1]

Three others that I think are great are: Broken Arrow with James Stewart, dealing with the Apaches. The tragedy of clashing civilizations that didn't come to peace terms in the "I walk away' scene can move a man to tears. Hang 'em High with Clint Eastwood, also tells that quintessential Western story about creating civilization, but this time it's twisted through the motive of a revenge movie, but overcomes that by the end in a great character arc that is missing from Eastwood's other popular westerns like The Good the Bad and the Ugly. The Shootist, John Wayne's last movie, and one of his best, also very Shane like, but civilization has already moved on at this point, and he has no place in it except to show the idolizing youth played by Ron Howard that the glorious and manly violence , though necessary, is ultimately ugly and not something to aspire towards. This one is like a bookend to the entire western genre, and after that, westerns became mostly post-modern deconsteuctional flips that are more miss than hit.

[@lieutenantflyboy]

Shane, Logan, The Good The Bad and the Ugly, The Searchers and the Man Who Shot Liberty Valence are my Top 5.

[@eoinMB3949]

"McCabe & Mrs. Miller"? Its a stone cold classic. Also, 2The Good, the bad, the Ugly" Goes without saying

[@landondolanz2844]

The magnificent seven and Rio Bravo... But your choices are great as well.

[@maureentuohy8672]

Three-way tie for best Western. The original “Magnificent Seven.” The original “True Grit” and the marvelous “Tombstone”.

[@RandySmith-iz1ml]

Well said Andrew, I hope many of the younger generations see this and decide to watch those great westerns. Bless you.

[@giuliom8520]

I love Westerns! Thanks for the recommendations!

[@talldave1000]

Andrew, I love your content. It always makes me THINK whenever I watch your videos. Speaking of the lie that we build our civilization on...that parallels another line "History is written by the Victors" and another one "Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story"

[@user-vo8so5sh3n]

My 14 year old son loves Hondo…it is often our choice for family movie night ♥️😊

[@spectrumcommand1188]

Somebody get Andrew Klavan to play both Gun and the Red Dead video games both are brilliant western video games love them both and I'm sure Andrew Klavan will.

[@DarthWamp]

Thanks for this Andrew! I would almost suggest that this should be listed as top 5 classic westerns. There are some really fantastic modern ones as well. One of my favorites is Silverado, though I think I can understand why that wouldn't be on your list when looking at the theme that runs through your choices :)

[@bangoskank7018]

The Proposition is an Australian set western, I highly recommend.

[@bernardhayes4459]

Great points, Logan was a wonderful movie

[@2GunRock]

Tombstone - Butch & Sundance - Good, Bad & Ugly - Big Jake -- Liberty Valance - Magnificent Seven (original) HONORABLE MENTION: The life and times of Judge Roy Bean (by far the most conservative and anti elitist-left.)

[@carterrogers796]

Not enough Klavan gets recommended in my youtube feed.

[@billyjonesy2972]

This is my TOP TWELVE LIST of favorite Westerns. It is not based on reviews, production value, or box office success. It is based on how much I like the movie and how much I want to see it again. Totally subjective! These are all movies I’ve watched more than once. These are enjoyable! 1 Red River 2 Support Your Local Sheriff 3 The Magnificent Seven (1960) 4 Stagecoach (1939) 5 Hombre 6 Open Range 7 How the West Was Won 8 Little Big Man 9 The Big Country 10 Dances with Wolves 11 Quigley Down Under 12 Cat Balleu

[@JimPfaff]

Why don't you like the comedic interludes in The Searchers. It provides a cultural perspective that is rare in Westerns of the time. It's a serious attempt to show the raw, uncultured society thst developed in the west. I see it as a tremendous additive to the story Ford was trying to convey in this masterpiece.