Classic Western Movies
How Many Have You Watched ?
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Most-Wanted-Western-Movies.com presents the 20 Greatest Classic Western Movies of all time. These classic movies are the best western movies which can't be missed by any western movie lover.
Why 20? Does this means only top 20 movie rentals are there in western cinema? 
Well ..NO
The list is growing with time and more feedbacks/ reviews from the visitors. Everyone has different opinions if you ask them what are their top 20 movie rentals.
But the best ones always come in short numbers. Right? before a movie sneaks in the Classic
Movies list on Most-Wanted-Western-Movies. com, it got to be a CLASSIC !
That ensures that a western film freak always quenches that 'classic' thirst here.
For me watching western movies, writing movie reviews and rating them is sheer fun
.
But 'A Man Got To Know His Limits..' ( Uncle Clint said once ).
So the Classic Movies list is prepared after rigorous searches on classic western movies, their popularity
among masses and reviewing ratings given by people/ film critics over the internet. As a die hard fan of
western films, I can say that "I just love each of these western classics and these are my favorite top 20 movie rentals from western genre!"
Western genre has given many remarkable films to Hollywood cinema. Such a great screen presence western films have that soon after the first western flick was made, they established themselves as a separate cult of movies. Listed are the best of classic western movies ever touched the silver screen.
Let's start from bottom to top of our Top movies!
Here We Go...! 
20. High Plains Drifter - (1973) (Clint Eastwood, Verna Bloom)
 what did you say your name was ?... I DIDN'T! |
Clint Eastwood shines in High Plains Drifter. This movie is the first western movie directed by Clint Eastwood , and it stands upto his name. This western film at first didn't stir up the critics's camp, but eventually has gained its true mass like a rolling snow ball.
High Plains Drifter is a story carved out of.....read full article on High Plains Drifter
19. Little Big Man - (1970) (Dustin Hoffman, Faye Dunaway, Chief Dan George)
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This is one of the hilarious and angriest of all revolutionary classic western movies. Written by Arthur Penn, in Little Big Man (1970) Jack Crabb (Dustin Hoffman), a 121-year-old man living in a rest home, describes his incredible life experiences...read full article on Little Big Man
18. A Man Called Horse - (1970 (Richard Harris, Judith Anderson)
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Set in 1825, this classic western movie is a story of an English aristocrat who is captured by Indians. He lives with them and begins to understand/accept their lifestyles. Eventually he is accepted as part of the tribe and becomes their leader. His transformation from one life to another makes his tale worth listening to, and a masterpiece in classic western movies list.
17. The Outlaw Josey Wales - (1976) (Clint Eastwood, Sondra Locke)
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Story of Josey Wales doesn't begin as of an outlaw. He is a peaceful farmer in the days near the end of the Civil War. After his home is burned and his family murdered, he swears to take avenge his loved ones. He joins a band of rebel guerilla fighters who continue to fight the Union - even after the official surrender of the Confederacy - an action which makes them, legally, outlaws.
The story plot reveals that while Wales is an outlaw by appearance, he's pulled by this hidden yearning to Live, to start from new beginning again. And the movie shows us how Josey Wales - a mere seeker of vengeance - learns to live again, the way he chose so long ago. Most of the classic western movies are based of same concept of revenge, but Josey Wales stands apart the crowd.
16. Dances with Wolves - (1990) (Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene)
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Dances With Wolves is one of the best western movies which will be remembered forever. This is the journey of Lieutenant John Dunbar who sees himself standing where road to future splits in two. The story unfolds when we see Dunbar being sent to a remote outpost in the wilderness of the Dakota territory during the American Civil War. There he encounters and is eventually accepted into, the local Sioux tribe.
Soon Dunbar earns himself a name, "Dances with Wolves". His life gets drifted more towards tribal values than his army duties. Not soon after, the frontier becomes the frontier no more, and as the army advances on the plains, Dunbar is torn apart to make a decision that will not only affect him, but also the lives of the natives he now calls HIS people..
15. The Shootist - (1976) (John Wayne, Lauren Bacall, James Stewart)
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John Bernard Books (John Wayne), a legendary gunfighter approaching his 58th birthday, comes in the town to see an old acquaintance Dr. Hostetler and finds out that he has rectal cancer and two months to live. Dismayed by the knowledge of an awaiting painful death Books tries to keep a low profile and he takes a room with a widow Mrs. Bond Rogers and her son, Gillom.
But soon the whole town is stirred up by the presence of legendary J.B. Books. Most of the town people are in awe of him, some try to take him down to make their own name, Gillom idolize him, the Marshal hates him, and Mrs. Bond becomes a friend after her initial disgust for J.B.Books.
To avoid a painful death, Books comes up with an idea to go out with a bang. He invites all his rivals on his birthday in city bar to celebrate in an unforgettable way. And whole town is holding its breath to see who comes out of bar ...Alive. This is John Wayne's last western. Duke always deliverd us the best western movies ever made.A classic western movies gem! ......read an interesting review from Janet on The Shootist
14. Virginia City - (1940) (Errol Flynn, Randolph Scott, Miriam Hopkins)
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A confederate prison escapee during the Civil War, Union officer Flynn (Kerry Bradford) swears to stop a $5,000,000 gold shipment from reaching the South. He is challenged by Southern sympathizer and commander of his prison Randolph Scott (Vance Irby), whose interest in the gold is patriotic. And there one more party after this gold; outlaw Humphrey Bogart (John Murrell), who is a Mexican bandito complete with black hair and a sleazy moustache. Spice to plot is Miriam Hopkins as a dance hall chanteuse-cum-confederate spy.
A bizarre mix of all entertaining spices placed on the shelf of classic western movies.
13. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance - (1962) (John Wayne, James Stewart, Vera Miles)
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In 2007, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". So this movie doesn't stand tall due to its high rank among America's most popular movies, it also has got official accolades to corroborate its significance among classic western movies.
The movie opens on a funeral. Fold by fold movie reveals the secret behind the man once who
shot a feared outlaw Liberty Valance. A pure classic western movies stuff!
...read an interesting review from Scherpschutter on The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
12. Rio Grande - (1950) (John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara)
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Rio Grande is set in the times of post Civil War when the Union was trying to solve the Apaches problem. Union officer Kirby Yorke(John Wayne) is posted in the Rio Grande where he hard trains new recruits. Many classic western movies are set in the time of Civil War but Rio Grade depicts emotions, duty and honor in a never-told-before style.
One of the recruits is Kirby's son (Claude Jarman Jr.) whom he hasn't seen in last many years. Story takes a turn when young recruit's mother Kathleen (Maureen O'Hara) comes in to take her son away from war field. Once again Kirby and Kathleen fall for each other again. But nothing comes easy in a war/western movie!
11. Unforgiven - (1992) (Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman)
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An old time outlaw William Munny (Clint Eastwood) takes a last job in hand for the future of his kids. The others in the gang are; 'The Schofield Kid' and his old friend Ned (Morgan Freeman). Their employers are the prostitutes of town 'Big Whiskey' who are enraged after a few drunken cowboys cut one of their fellow prostitutes... read a full article on Unforgiven
10. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid - (1969) (Paul Newman, Robert Redford)
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Among the classic western movies based on the exploits of the historical characters, it is a hilarious action western indeed. Butch and Sundance are the leaders of the 'Hole-in-the-Wall' Gang. Butch is the brain; Sundance is the muscle of the gang. Together they perform many adventurous robberies. But now the west is becoming civilized and the fashion of keeping outlaws in town is getting outdated.
When Butch and Sundance rob a train once too often, a special posse begins trailing them no matter where they run. Over rock, through towns, across rivers, the group is always just behind them. But they finally escape through sheer luck. And now Butch has another idea, "Let's go to Bolivia".
A hilarious journey starts as they try to keep their professional alive in poor Bolivia. A storyline depicting last days of the outlaws of the wild wild west puts Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid high among classic western movies. Pure fun to watch and highly recommended movie among top 20 movie rentals...read an interesting review from Scherpschutter on Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 9. Once Upon a Time in the West - (1969 (Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson)
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Once Upon a Time in the West (originally released in Italy in 1968 under the title C'era una volta il West) and released in the United States on May of 1969, is an epic spaghetti western and hold a high rank among classic western movies directed by Sergio Leone. It has matured into an undeniable classic work from Sergio Leone.
On a harsh western background, paths of the four characters are going to cross and clash: a young woman looking for a new life but first a revenge, a notorious outlaw on the run, a mercenary on the payroll of the railroad tycoon and a mysterious man with no name who plays a couple of sad chords on a harmonica.
...read the whole story on Once Upon a Time in the West8. The Searchers - (1956) (John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter)
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John Wayne plays Ethan Edwards an ex-army veteran, who returns from the Civil War to find out that the Texas ranch of his brother is destroyed and his family is massacred by Comanche raid under Chief Scar. He comes to know that Indians have taken away his niece Debbie.
Ethan starts a years-long search for his niece along with his half Indian nephew Martin. Finally they find Debbie but she has been a converted Indian. Ethan is at the verge of nervous breakdown due to his hatred for Indians and now Debbie is an Indian.
Now Martin begins to suspect that his uncle's hatred for the Indians is beginning to take over onto his Indian-turned niece. He becomes uncertain whether Ethan plans to rescue or to kill her. The Searchers is a must watch for every die hard John Wayne movies lover and a nice catch in top 20 movie rentals.7. Stagecoach - (1939) (John Wayne, Claire Trevor, John Carradine)
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Besides being a gem in Classic Western Movies, "Stagecoach" brought John Wayne to stardom and elevated the prestige of a genre that had until then been considered a B-movie province.
Under fear of a possible Apache attack, a group of travelers in a small New Mexico town board the Overland Stage bound for Lordsburg. In this lot are the pregnant Lucy Mallory (Louise Platt); timid liquor salesman Peacock (Donald Meek); Hatfield, an aloof gambler (John Carradine); Gatewood (Berton Churchill), a pompous, embezzling banker; and two who have been exiled from town, alcoholic Doc Boone (Thomas Mitchell) and Dallas (Clair Trevor), a lady of the evening. Along the way they run into the Ringo Kid (John Wayne), an escapee from prison to take revenge on the Plummer brothers for destroying his family and framing him for murder.
As their journey progresses, the characters of passengers are drawn clearly.6. The Wild Bunch - (1969) (William Holden, Ernest Borgnine)
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Like many others this member of classic western movies list is also set on War backdrop. But story is all original and refreshing.
Pike Bishop(William Holden) leads a gang of aging outlaws. To make a last score and to retire after that, the gang robs a Texas bank. After a narrow escape gang realizes that the bank already knew about the robbery and it was a trap for them. The man behind that trap was none other than Pike's old accomplice Deke Thornton.
In order to get Deke Thornton off their tail, gang is forced to flee to Mexico. On their way to Mexico with nothing to show for the failed robbery, Bishop's gang agrees to steal a shipment of guns for General "Mapache" Juerta, to restore their fortunes.But with Thornton closing in, and an unpleasant association with Juerta, their destiny is not too far from them.
5. The Magnificent Seven - (1960) (Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson)
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You have seen many classic western movies and then you see 'Magnificent Seven'. Although it was a remake of "The Seven Samurai.", 'Magnificent Seven' inspired many of western movie plots with its story narrative and a fluent portrayal of events....Read an entertaining review from Darius on The Magnificent Seven
4. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre - (1948) (Humphrey Bogart, Walter Huston)
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Treasure hunt has been a favorite story plot for many classic western movies. This treasure-hunt western movie begins as drifter Fred C. Dobbs (Humphrey Bogart), broke and out in Tampico, Mexico, squanders all his money on a lottery ticket. Later on, Dobbs and fellow indigent Curtin (Tim Holt) meet Howard (Walter Huston), an old fellow who mesmerizes them with stories of gold.
After collecting their pay from their shifty boss, Dobbs and Curtin combine this money with Dobbs's unexpected windfall from a lottery ticket and, together with Howard, buy the tools for a prospecting expedition.
Dobbs has pledged that anything they dig up will be split three ways, but story doesn’t go that way. When they found the treasure, bandits, rouges and their own greed are major obstacles in front of them before they can enjoy their treasure.
3. Shane - (1953) (Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, Van Heflin)
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On the top of classic western movies, Shane tells the story of a boy's adoration for a mysterious stranger who comes to the aid of his family, the Starrets, small farmers who have settled in a Wyoming valley. They're menaced by rancher Ryker, who wants to chase the newcomers. Ryker tries to break the farmers' resistance by hiring a professional killer, Wilson.... read an interesting review from Scherpschutter on Shane
2. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - (1966) (Clint Eastwood, Lee Van Cleef, Eli Wallach)
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The Good, The Bad and The Ugly stands out in every aspect of a movie and deserves to be in the top 20 movie rentals. Be it direction, acting, characters, background music, dialogues or camera-work, no other spaghetti western comes even close to this movie. It's entertaining, it's violent, it's hilarious..it has everything a classic western movie should have. Don't tell me you haven't seen it yet!..read the whole story on The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
And the Numero Uno..I mean Number One award goes to....
1. High Noon - (1952) (Gary Cooper, Grace Kelly, Lloyd Bridges)
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And now you reach at the top of Classic Western Movies list. Bravo !
'High Noon' is not only on the top of classic western movies list but also has been a favorite among top 20 movie rentals from western genre. A never told before story, impeccable performances, tight knit script and witty dialogues are key components which make 'High Noon' stand apart from all classic western movies.
Will Kane (Gary Cooper) is a town Sheriff. He is retiring and getting married today. Before he can start a happily-ever-after life with his new bride, some men come to town who tell him that a man named Miller, he sent to prison some years ago has just been released and is arriving on the noon train. Everyone in town realizes instantly that Miller is coming to town for one thing; to get Will.
Will's friends advise him to flee and he does. But soon he returns back to face Miller and finish the game forever. He tries to find support from his friends but all of them under the fear of Miller's wrath turn their eyes away from him. It is breathtaking to watch Will standing alone in a town he protected for years. Even his wife feels he should run away. But what a man gotta do..
And as the train comes closer, Will is all alone and it is almost high noon. Suck in some air and watch the scorching heat of High Noon. It's gonna be tough!
So wasn't that fun going through the list of 20 Classic Western Movies?? I feel the same way.
This 20 Classic Western Movies list can work as your movie rental guide (if you love to rent dvd movies, most of these famous movies are available on dvd) to save you from dilemma "what is classic and what is just Sick". These top 20 movie rentals from western movies are timeless work of art. They were classics, they are and they will be forever. They are the choice of countless western film fans out there! That is the magic of classic western movies I guess.
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Happy Watching The Best Western Movies! 
