Westerns that kill the hero!

[@azohundred1353]

Another film I'd add is The Gunfighter (1950), with Gregory Peck in the lead. I don't like spoiling an ending like that, but on a video topic like this, it seems fine just now. Besides, what makes the film great is watching the psychological journey of Greg's character throughout it, not just wondering about the ending shootout and who wins it. This was a great list full of powerful classics. Well done.

[@famouspeople63]

Thanks

[@brianjones7907]

you missed out "Hombre" (1967) one of Paul Newman`s best parts as John Russell who dies saving the very people who distrusted him..

[@donlarocque5157]

They treated him like dirt.

[@evadd2]

Hombre. An excellent understand Newman effort.

[@1Bonex]

The film Hombre is another movie where the hero (Paul Newman) was killed.

[@famouspeople63]

Good call

[@arthurbrumagem3844]

Wasn’t happy about that myself

[@skelelator]

I would like to add Ride the High Country, when Steve Judd (Joel McCrae) is killed by the Hammond Brothers, who are killed by Judd and Gil Westrum (Randolph Scott)

[@1950Grendel]

The Magnificent Seven when Dexter, Bronson,Coburn, and Vaughn all get killed by unknown shots.

[@kenhawkins1033]

Just for the record, the final scene in the book "The Shootist" was exactly the opposite of the morality play in the movie. Gillam kept the gun, and walked away from Books enjoying the adrenaline buzz from shooting the bartender.

[@kennethrouse7942]

And he stole the money that Books left in the envelope on the table for his mother. A thoroughly dislikeable teenager. 👍

[@kennethrouse7942]

Although I WILL say, in the movie, I thought, "I hope that's a PROP that Ron Howard just tossed across the room and not that beautiful SAA Colt!" 😊

[@kenhawkins1033]

@@kennethrouse7942 🤣 We are kindred spirits! Colt made some beautiful stuff.

[@kennethrouse7942]

@kenhawkins1033 Must be the shared first name! 😉👍 Seriously, several years ago, there was an article in 'Guns of the Old West' magazine about a duplicate matched pair of etched Colts with pre-ban ivory grips that were to be raffled off for charity, I think. MAN, but they were magnificent! 👍😎

[@andrewnash5933]

Would also add to the list"The Hired Hand" with Peter Fonda.

[@famouspeople63]

Thanks

[@larrymrobinson1051]

What about Gary Cooper in The Plainsman (1936), maybe the first time the hero gets killed in a Western!

[@bravehome4276]

I can't think of many scenes as sad as the letter reading one in The Ox-Bow Incident. Two other contenders, the deaths of Frenchie and Deputy Dimsdale in Destry Rides Again. And a whole lotta heroes die in The Alamo (pick your version).

[@littleblackduck3134]

We got to see Colonel Potter before he joined the Army

[@bravehome4276]

@@littleblackduck3134A solid character actor!

[@moparmenace59]

I was 14 when The Cowboys came out and I hated Bruce Dern with a passion for many years.

[@arthurbrumagem3844]

He wasn’t meant to like and they achieved their purpose as I didn’t like him either. In most of his movies he plays a jerk, bad guy etc

[@billmacarthur5310]

Excellent as always. The segue between Django and the Cowboys is a little tight.

[@AmericanMadeMud]

I was wondering what to watch tomorrow night. Now I know, The Cowboys. It's been a long time since I saw The Cowboys. So long I don't clearly recall the last act. Now I have to watch it again which is not a bad thing.

[@mikesaunders4775]

A bit of a trendy list that focusses on more recent additions to the western genre.

[@LowPlainsDrifter60]

Silence (Jean-Louis Trintignant) in "The Great Silence" (1968)

[@garfieldsmith332]

Yes. A great film. Corbucci's best western.

[@ChanceJohnT58]

Missing several as well as Hombre and The Gunfighter. Ride The High Country with Joel McCrea 1962. Major Dundee with Richard Harris 1965. Pat Garrett & Billy The Kid with Kris Kristofferson 1973. Death of A Gunfighter 1969 with Richard Widmark. Ulazana's Raid 1972 with Burt Lancaster. And may be squeeze in The Culpepper Cattle Co. 1972, Showdown 1973. P.S. Many think Shane was dead at the end of the film as his horse is ridding through a grave yard.

[@scottjo63]

One hero lived, one hero, who loved his coffee like his mother made it, "hot, strong, good died in Once Upon A Time In The West.

[@raymeedc]

~ How’s about The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence, where poor, defenseless do gooder Liberty, the hero of the tale, who was just minding his own business, was ruthlessly gunned down (Wayn’s shot was a blank, little publicized fact) by the notoriously demented Rance for no reason I can decipher whatsoever, the kind of villainous character James Stewart is infamous for? ~

[@bravehome4276]

Well, there was a precedent (After the Thin Man).

[@Chiller11]

Interesting list. I would have included Shane, though I still like to think he survived. You could have included Clint Eastwood’s ghost movies, High Plains Drifter & Pale Rider as the hero is already dead at the start of each movie.

[@earlleeruhf3130]

Was he a ghost in Pale Rider? I didn't think so.

[@Chiller11]

@@earlleeruhf3130 The film leaves it open to interpretation but I think he is the avenging spirit of a man Marshal Stockburn had killed in the past. My reasons: The Preacher is an almost immediate answer to Megan’s prayer. He rides a pale horse which I think references Revelations 6 v7-8 “I looked and behold an ashen horse; and he who sat on it had the name Death.” So I believe Preacher was a supernatural being. The scars we see on Preacher’s back are identical to the bullet holes he shoots into Marshall Stockburn during their gunfight. Interestingly Preacher issues the coup de grace with a shot to the forehead, something Marshall Stockburn hadn’t done to Preacher in an earlier life. Stockburn recognizes Preacher at the last second as a man he previously killed (or thought he killed?) Finally Preacher and his pale horse kind of eerily disappear at the end as Megan urges him to come back and we love you, an obvious reference to Shane, a dying man riding into the sunset.

[@arthurbrumagem3844]

Was always wondering about Shane myself

[@glennso47]

The comedy song “Irving” by Frank Gallop. Irving guns himself down by twirling his gun around and shoots him self in the belly.

[@jmuraidajr]

All Great pictures but you should have had Hombre, not Buster Scruggs!!!

[@lunda2222]

Deadwood killed of the hero (Wild Bill Hickok) in fourth episode (Here Was a Man).

[@larry1824]

Hombre Gunfighter Shootist Wild Bill Great Silence Little Big Horn Western.Union: Scott's character is real hero. Wild Bunch Ride the High Country Cowboys

[@713davidh42]

Too much Tarantino and not enough of older movies as noted from the comments below.

[@robertkostoroski3581]

No Country not a Western , does not qualify no way no how . Really ???? Buster Scruggs ???? Just proves your,e a Joke . Finally , Shane .

[@bravehome4276]

Buster Scruggs was a Coen Brothers' joke (on the whole Western genre). Shane did not die onscreen, so doesn't qualify.

[@robertkostoroski3581]

understand the parody , still should not have been put in if you were serious , why subscribe to a joke@@bravehome4276

[@wadetaylor1299]

Called a neo western because it's a modern western! So don't speak to much if your not educated enough on the subject. What would you call them guys In the movie city boys . Need learn what neo Westerns our or western characters 🤔

[@robertkostoroski3581]

Was a good movie just don't considerate a western in the true sense of the word is all.@@wadetaylor1299