I know that this edition of Listeria is coming along soon after the last edition of Listeria, but I went overboard on my last trip to the magazine stand. Besides, this one covers one of my favorite subjects – Western movies. I grew up watching them with my dad, and that experience played a role in my interest in the history of the West.
American Cowboy published a special issue called “Legends of Western Cinema” and listed the 20 greatest Western actors. However, there is one problem that needs to be addressed before I begin. When people think about Westerns, or the history of the West, they think about cowboys first. Some of the greatest Westerns don’t involve cowboys at all. They involve mountain men, Native Americans, cavalry and all sorts of characters. In the real West, not everyone were cowboys. A good way to see this? If there are no cows around, then there are probably no cowboys around.
The rant is over, so here we go with the list. These are the 20 greatest Western actors according to American Cowboy in the order that they have listed. I will list my favorite movie of each and add the actors that I believe should be included.
John Wayne – The Searchers
Gary Cooper – High Noon
James Stewart – The Far Country
Henry Fonda – Once Upon a Time in the West
Clint Eastwood – The Outlaw Josey Wales
Steve McQueen – The Magnificent Seven
Kirk Douglas – There Was a Crooked Man
Robert Duvall – Open Range
Ben Johnson – She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
Lee Marvin – The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Sam Elliott – Tombstone
Tom Selleck – Quigley Down Under
Charles Bronson – Once Upon a Time in the West
Woody Strode – Sergeant Rutledge
Gregory Peck – The Gunfighter
Paul Newman – Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Tom Mix – Riders of the Purple Sage
Glenn Ford – 3:10 to Yuma
Tommy Lee Jones – No Country For Old Men
James Garner – Duel at Diablo
That’s the Top 20. I could name a bunch that belong on the list, but I will limit myself to five.
Randolph Scott – Ride the High Country
Kevin Costner – Silverado
Robert Mitchum – Five Card Stud
Robert Redford – Jeremiah Johnson
Richard Widmark – Broken Lance
There is the list. Who else should be included? Who should be omitted? What are your favorite movies? Let me know.
SBI: A Thinning Crowd 