I've been enjoying this single season series. Somehow, I had never run across it before. There aren't a lot of western series from which I haven't seen at least a few episodes, unless they were too short to hit reruns. It stars Robert Horton of Wagon Train fame as a man who has lost his memory and wanders the old west searching for clues to his identity. The influence of The Fugitive is pretty obvious, although a man drifting to a new situation every week wasn't exactly novel even for that show. The 30 minute black and white western is really a sweet spot for me. These tightly written episodes get the job done quickly and cleanly. Warner Archive recently released a Blu Ray of the series (1 season, 34 episodes) and they did a really nice job. It's a beautiful transfer.

I'm looking for book recommendations that are Westerns but centered on a mystery or crime. It could be a sheriff trying to solve a murder with lots of suspects (like the Iron Marshal). Or it could be a breakdown of a vigilante killing (like ox bow incident). Or a heist story about a group of outlaws meticulously planning a stagecoach heist.

Philip Marlowe but Western

Richard Stark's Parker but western

Things like that.

Anybody read any of his books? Just read "Killstraight" and "Doubtful Cañon", and am really impressed. Short and simple, yet entertaining and high quality reads, I tore thru each of them within a day. I highly recommend those titles. He reminds me of Louie La'mour, but better quality and less predictable plot formulation, in my humble opinion. What do y'all think of him?

God damn what a movie! The characters. The setting. The adventure. Perfectly paced. The old ways of doing things against the protege. All the guys coming together for new opportunity on this long trek. Nothing like a film leaving you smiling. Every frame felt like a painting.

My favorite westerns are 3:10 to Yuma remake, the searchers, tombstone, wild bunch, and unforgiven. This is up there!!!!

Spoilers for whatever this movie is called I have no idea:

I once saw a movie or show where a dude was in love with a woman and their group was trying to look for something either out in the canyons or desert. The ladies dad was part of a small group of cowboys that went out to search for whatever this thing was (I think it was a water source to keep traveling) and the love interest joined. Something happened to where the dad got bit by a snake and the love interest thinking the dad would die immediately stayed , but a badass cowboy decided to stay too just to make sure the father got a proper burial or something along those lines. Well the dad just had a fever and was awfully sick and the love interest was getting mad he wasn’t dying and kept telling the dude to just die. Well something happens of the badass dude got bit by a snake as well and the love interest goes back to their group thinking both of the guys who got bit would die and told the daughter back home that her dad died and wanted them to get married. Stuff happens and the bad ass cowboy and dad make it back to their settlement. Anyways I can’t remember the name of the movie or show but I do now it was oldish looking ! Need help

For me, it’s:

1. No Country For Old Men. Granted, a neo-Western but I like the rugged protagonist who ends up “subverting expectations,” it’s beautifully shot by Roger Deacons (The 🐐), and of course it leaps from the pages of my favorite author, Cormac McCarthy.

2. Hell or High Water. Another neo-Western, and one of an outstanding genre spiritual trilogy by Taylor Sheridan (Along with Sicario and Wind River). It’s also beautifully shot and acted, with quippy but down to earth dialogue, and great action. Couple of my favorite lawmen too.

3. Tombstone. Many people’s favorite, I can’t get enough of Val Kilmer’s portrayal of Doc Holiday, and the Hollywood ending being a true story makes it all the more compelling. I think it also does a great job of showing how Earp’s life really dovetailed the end of the Old West with its mythification in Hollywood.

4. 3:10 To Yuma (The Remake). It isn’t flashy, but the performances are top notch, and I think Russell Crowe portrays the villain in a way that makes him almost a second protagonist.

5. Lonesome Dove. I couldn’t help seeing The characters from the movie/miniseries when I later read the book. Overall, I think it’s a pretty good adaptation. It has the sweeping, romantic feel of the book, almost a sense of ennui. A classic.

This Sunday, December 22, appearing on Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Check local listings for time.

The I don’t know if the Indiana Jones would count but I like to keep my box sets all together

https://youtu.be/5NxRfo21Pfs?si=zB6SUl45X-RMjDx3

Comedy Westerns are a hard sell. It’s already hard enough being funny, so setting a story in a certain time or place is a whole other bundle of complications. Blazing Saddles did it well but that was flash-in-the-pan success with some all-timer writing and performances. El Diablo never had a chance, in that regard.

You’ll see this movie floating around HBO (app and channel) from time to time. I never really gave it much consideration until I saw the cast list:

Louis Gossett Jr., Anthony Edwards, Joe Pantoliano, John Glover, Robert Beltran, Jim Beaver, Branscombe Richmond, Miguel Sandoval. It’s a robust lineup of guys who’ll have you shouting “Hey, it’s whatshisnuts!” at your screen.

This made-for-TV movie is actually a lot more sleek and well-produced than you’d expect. The sets and locales are authentic and there doesn’t seem to be too much of an issue with budget-related things. The acting is more than good. When this was made the cast was probably considered second and third-tier talents, but I think most of us now understand that the career actors of TV land are some of the most skilled in the trade.

Maybe the most interesting tidbit about this movie is that it’s a rework of a John Carpenter script. That’s sort of fascinating because you can sense maybe some of the master’s fingerprints on this movie: it’s a bit morbid and matter-of-fact, the characters are seedy and action oriented, but it’s simply unlike anything from his body of work. The script (with input from Tommy Lee Wallace and Bill Phillips) is just OK, but there’s nothing surprising or fantastic going on plotwise, but it hits all the vital beats.

The real jewel is Gossett Jr. as Thomas Van Leek. A sort of bummy gunslinger, he assists the main character, Billy Ray (Edwards) in trying to take down the notorious woman-abducting El Diablo (Beltran). They (very quickly) assemble a ragtag group of ne’er-do-wells and then tumble into a final blood-soaked confrontation. Gossett is a real delight in his every scene. He’s untrustworthy but charming, clever but simple. Van Leek is well past his prime but perfectly built for the “real” West, relating to Billy Ray, “I ain't as fast as I was, but I cheat real good.”

The rest of the cast carries this along pretty well. Edwards struggles as the lead even though he plays the buffoonish antihero as intended. Others, like Glover as a swindling preacher, and Pantoliano, playing a dainty dime novel writer – aggressively against his career archetype – do enough to push the scenes along.

My main takeaway: There’s a few mentions to the idea that a western “hero” like Van Leek is not palatable to the late 1800’s audience Joey Pants’ character writes for, but that theme applies to this movie’s focus too. Gossett Jr. should’ve got way more screen time, he was great.

If you’re trying to milk that MAX subscription this movie may be worth the hour-forty-five runtime. Ultimately though, it's not funny or clever enough to succeed in the Comedy Western genre, despite being a decent enough Western. Without the right tone, the savagery of the genre is hard to square with laughter. I mean, the plot impetus for this one is the abduction of a schoolgirl and the movie sort of glosses over the apparent rape and trauma perpetrated by El Diablo. Hah, crimes

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His character in Winchester 73 and The Far Country are my faves. Who’s your favorite?

I saw a clip from a western on instagram, but didn't catch the name. The scene was of a group of travelers at night in the woods talking about how dangerous it was to walk into a camp unannounced. One said he'd shoot at any sound. Then the next scene was someone rising from their bed and shooting at someone in the woods. I'm intrigued...that ring any bells for anyone?

Mine would be the brawl between Rock Hudson and Kirk Douglas in The Last Sunset i can’t help but laugh at how huge Rock was compared to Kirk who was only like 5.9 lol.

Soo basically our living situation isn’t very good and we “don’t have anywhere to put it” but I have about 3 people that are able to get me a pen and tack for it? We have a lot of room actually! We have ducks and a rabbit already but we can squeeze in one more. I honestly would love it and maybe you guys can help me convince her. I really really want a lamb this year and I can make money off of it also and did I mention she’s low-key broke.

These are Westerns I've seen and enjoyed no particular order. Recommend me some please, thanks.

Very solid little western with an excellent cast. On Tubi.

Hey! I'm a debut author and I just wanted to share with this awesome subreddit a book I wrote as my love letter to the Western genre. If you like McCarthy or Faulkner, I feel you would enjoy my book, too.

If you're interested, the name is There Comets Cry by Matthew D. Bala. You can find it on all of these platforms linked here. (https://books2read.com/u/3nkk7x)

Does anyone know what the status of "Rust" is, that western that was suspended because of the Alec Baldwin tragedy?

Movies tend to romanticize legendary figures. I think The Gunfighter (1950) is one of the best movies which does the opposite. What are some other movies like that?

My little collection of western and Civil War books (Blood Meridian not shown cause it was in another room and I’m not smart).

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A patient, choppy Spaghetti Western with a simple premise: After Jim Lattimore is murdered by his Mexican in-laws, a group of five men gather to enact revenge.

Guy Madison stars and Aldo Florio directs in what is a roughly edited late-bloomer of a movie. A lot of Five for Revenge, alternatively titled Five Giants from Texas, is told between the (poorly dubbed) dialogue. It’s very deliberate piece of work, at times forcing the viewer to stew in the nastiness of this affair, from the murders to the rapes to the torture to the severe and twangy soundtrack.

First off: the sound direction is not good. Too much stop and go, too many jolts of volume. There seems to have been an intent to create suspense with the horns and toots but coupled with some ragged jump-cuts it leaves the viewer jarred. It’s pretty apparent this is Florio’s first attempt at directing.

The then-budding Western trope of using a number to spice up your title draws you in, but what’s funny is the “”Five” are a quintet of the chillest dudes in the Old West. The Five work in relative quiet coordination, they greet each other with looks and nods, direct each other with intuition and familiarity. We have little idea of how they know each other or Jim, or the apparent bloodpact between them all. They come in different shapes and skin tones but they’re a unit. It’s cool on paper, but nonchalant revenge seekers taking care of biz doesn’t pop on the screen.

Despite the poster’s promise, Madison’s shirt remains on for the duration of the flick. The former Wild Bill Hickok is adequate in this, confused-looking mostly, like the character doesn’t understand the world’s violence. His character John sort of moves like the Terminator, completing each terrible task until the revenge mission is complete. He forms a little bit of chemistry with Jim’s gorgeous widow, Rosalita (Mónica Randall), but it’s essentially dressing for a murderous affair.

What pulls the movie together is the bullet barrage at the end. The lulls and valleys of the first and second act set up the payoff of the finale’s mayhem. It’s not like total fireworks of blood or anything but the familiar festivity of a SW emerges when John and dem boys walk into the lair of the Gonzales Bros and start lighting up background actors. John’s showdown with the film’s big bad is probably the best bit of the whole thing.

Ultimately: It’s a movie that punishes you, then throws a big ugly party at the end

1. Rio Bravo

2. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

3. The Searchers

4. El dorado

5. Hondo

6. The Shootist

7. Fort Apache

8. Stagecoach

9. The comancheroes

10. Big Jake

Let me know what you think and your top 10!