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Summary
The most famousWestern moviesmay not have originated from the 1950s , but the ten was actually something of a Golden Age for the genre , with some of the most triumphant films countersink in the American West filmed and release within the time period . When Westerns come to take care , images ofJohn Wayne ’s most influential filmsor Clint Eastwood’sDollarstrilogy are the first matter conjured by the imaginations of most , by far the most iconic voice to inhabit the musical style . However , their most famed body of work spanned the 70s and 60s , pre - dated by a marvelously hard age for the Western .
In fact , the Western was one of , if not the single most , popular genres in the 1950s , essentially serving the same character for audiences at the metre that Superhero moving picture serve today – Blockbuster tentpoles with monolithic far-flung ingathering . Long before Kyd traded in their six - hired gun crownwork guns for science fabrication energy blaster , the idea of the illusory American Cowboy was the most captivating for a post - planetary War II media landscape . Though theSpaghetti Westernsof the following decades may be more recognizable today , the 1950s produced some of the genre ’s most unbelievable incoming .
10Giant (1956)
A meditative drama that didn’t shy away from big issues
Just because big name like Clint Eastwood had yet to materialize in the Cowboy genre in the fifties , that was n’t to say that Westerns of the era could n’t have an impressive ensemble cast constellate with the geological era ’s bright wizard . EnterGiant , which feature the talents of James Dean , Rock Hudson , Elizabeth Taylor , and Rock Howard among its impressive roll . Like many Westerns of the time , the film was n’t actually limit that far back in the yesteryear , and told the story of a progressive New England socialite that comes to settle down with a flush Texas rancher .
Gianttouched on some legal tender outcome , and proudly put on a societal message regarding Texan culture , misogyny , and airstream relations that was background - break for the ten . As the level traverse the 1920s and 1940s , the moving-picture show also touched on the wounding of Pearl Harbor and the origin of America ’s involvement in World War II , still fresh whenGiantwas released in 1956 . Though it may not have been an action - packed gunslinging thriller , the attender drama and astonishingly reformist thesis statements ofGiantwarranted it a balloting for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress .
9Winchester ‘73 (1950)
A gripping anthology that began some notable careers
A groundbreaking film , Winchester ' 73chronicled the stories of the proprietor of the titulary rifle as it passed hands over the years . Winchester ' 73set the case in point for future films who would go on to essay a like bangle , such asSandra Oh ’s best critically - received moving picture , The Red Violin . In the setting loiter a evenhandedly - typical , if well - realized manhunt for a grave runaway . Winchester ' 73featured some of the earliest performance by player who would go on to become big names , such as Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis , still play small role in their nascent careers at the meter .
Each of the storey the prized rifle firearm manages to weave its way of life through felt special and weighty in their own rightfield , with no individual point of failure in the well - crafted anthology that let down the greater picture . The grip action sequence also finagle to truly pop even within the confines of the black - and - white-hot people of colour palette , as the film delivered pulse - pounding shootouts and introverted dialogue exchange in equal touchstone . If there ’s one survive smash onWinchester ' 73 , it ’s the ill - aged aboriginal American delegacy , unfortunately common for the fifty , include the Swiss - German Rock Hudson playing Chief Young Bull .
8The Searchers (1956)
Presented John Wayne’s most vicious character
While John Wayne may have arise to prominence during his escapades as a wise , sage cowhand folk hero in his 70s films , the doer had been starring in Westerns for much longer . The Searcherswas perhaps John Wayne at his most edgy and vicious , play a Civil War veteran hell - dented on rescuing his snatch niece from the clutches of a Comanche federation of tribes . IfWinchester ' 73merely scratched the surface of the 50 Western ’s troubled relationship with Native Americans of the West , The Searcherspried open a bleed wound , more realistic and thoughtful but no less unflattering .
The tormented psycho - sexual imagery of John Wayne ’s bloodthirsty trek to " deliver " his niece , having long - since accommodate to and accepted her circumstances , warranted dissection by critics of the New day , eager to parse the ratio of the cinema ’s disapprobation of both obsessive White Western settlers and the often - brutal Comanche tribes . The uncomfortable violence raised motion about the film ’s billet on racial bias , interbreeding , and the roughshod cycle per second of retaliation . Undeniably opinion - provoking but unrelentingly disturbing , The Searchersis a violent think - composition outweighed only by its ambition .
7Johnny Guitar (1954)
Didn’t shy away from bold female gunslingers
Though many of those tune up in to the daddy - acculturation zeitgeist may well recognizeJohnny Guitarfor the title caterpillar track written for the film , used in thesoon - to - be adaptedFalloutseries , the 1954 Western was actually based on a book of the same name . Johnny Guitarbroke ground with its unapologetic distaff anti - hero protagonist , Vienna , who was soon to be lean out of town for her unpopular decision to back up the construction of a controversial railway line . as luck would have it , Johnny Guitar turned up to defend her from the locals ' tempers , though not without interference run by the dastardly malefactor , The Dancin ' Kid .
By far , the most captivating element ofJohnny Guitarwas the chemistry between Joan Crawford ’s Vienna and Sterling Hayden ’s Johnny , a explosive relationship that danced around the sparse line between love and hate . While neither character may be particularly well - developed nor deepened by the end of the film , the bangle ofJohnny Guitar ’s use of Trucolor photography was n’t lose on critic . Johnny Guitaralso merit congratulations for being one of the few Westerns to have a high - noon duel between two fair sex combatants , even including a rare glimpse of a char being shoot down in the head .
63:10 To Yuma (1957)
A perilous journey flanked by excellent action scenes
One of the few fifties Westerns to get a remake in the 21st century,3:10 to Yumawas well - made enough to have a deeply enduring encroachment on American cinema as a whole . From the very logline,3:10 to Yumamanaged to craft a compelling narration , weaving the tale of a down - and - out Arizona rancher who resort to rent a dangerous job far outside his earnings level – escort a life-threatening felonious drawing card to his trial on the titular train path . Along the way , Van Helfin ’s Dan Evan had to hedge gunslinging outlaws , a vengeful pursuer , and his own temptations .
Perhaps the most salient thing about3:10 to Yumais its serious-minded visuals , cramming the television camera into the claustrophobic quarters of a train while peril lurked just out - of - frame . The film also manage to put to sieve some breathtaking shootouts , slowly ramping up the stress levels before maintaining the tension ’s feverishness pitch for a drawn - out climax , which admittedly does reasonably bollocks the goodwill built up by the old human action with an out - of - position happy finish . Still,3:10 to Yumapresented some of the good character dramatic play and classical westerly action at law to add up out of the 50s , cement its cultural significance .
5High Noon (1952)
A tense drama that plays out in real-time
High Noonholds the unique position of being not only one of the first , but one of thebest film to take position in real - prison term . The film revolves around the unmanageable plight pose to hero Marshal Will Kane , play by Gary Cooper . A vengeance - seek outlaw locked up by Kane years ago is blistering on his trail , and Kane had to choose between staying in town to confront his assailant forefront - on or flee with his married woman in tow . High Noonwas one of the first film to initiate the " race against time " format , enhancing it with its diagetic runtime .
Despite the pleas of his friends and syndicate , Kane ’s sense of honor at last nix him from leave his township in the hands of the outlaw for even one day before the new Marshal came to take over him . Director Fred Zinnemann leveraged the mounting anxiousness of the violent Frank Miller ’s arriver by commonly cutting by to clocks and time while lead up to the high high noon confrontation , serving to build up a regular deal of anticipation . Luckily , the payoff is worth the build up - up , and even ifHigh Noon ’s finish did n’t re - invent the real , the journey of getting there was utterly unforgettable .
4Rio Bravo (1959)
One of the first Westerns to rely on an oddball cast
One of the latest entries of the fifty in the westerly genre , Rio Bravostill manage to beatMagnificent Sevento the punch of an oddball company of gunslingers holding out against a wave of baddies on a lonely spread . Curiously , Rio Bravoseemed to have been made as a sort of verbatim reply toHigh Noon , with wizard John Wayne later admitting his distaste for the film . Similarly , the plot ofRio Bravocenters around an impending menace , only this clock time conform to with an assured , stoical combat forcefulness rather than doubt and indecision of a single close - retreat Marshal .
The knotty implications of this reply are worth examination , but there ’s no deny thatRio Bravodoes some things better thanHigh Noon . The ensemble cast are endlessly entertaining , with distinct personalities uncharacteristic in a genre filled with transcript - glue murderous crook and virtuously incorruptible guardians of hodunk townsfolk . That being say , the dull stride of the film may have gain from take a close examination ofHigh Noon ’s pacing , even if it is emphasise by some of the best shootout episode of the 1950s .
3Bad Day At Black Rock (1955)
A delicious mystery with ground-breaking representation
Another Western whose scene is n’t preoccupied with the American frontier of old , Bad Day at Black Rockwas set in 1945 , a bare decade before the film ’s release . The picture presented a complex mystery story rotate around the eponymous town of Black Rock , beset by a alien in society to uncover the true statement behind the disappearance of an old mankind . The vile lengths the townspeople of Black Rock ends up going to in purchase order to hide its dreadful secrets instantaneously made Spencer Tracy ’s John J. Macreedy a sunniness - desirable protagonist .
For 1955 , the film was shockingly progressive . Macreedy was a handicapped old hand , missing one arm , who did n’t let his injury give up him from uncovering the the true while keep up his own sprightliness . Additionally , Bad Day at Black Rockexplored unheard of themes of racism against Japanese - Americans , still a fresh topic in the wake of World War II in both the story itself and the universal public at the time of the moving picture ’s release . Beyond simply being a well - made , if tragic , mystery thriller , Bad Day at Black Rockis a specify film that exemplifies the archetypalAmerican westerly hero .
2Shane (1953)
A genre-defining Western based on real events
establish on the 1949 novel of the same name , Shaneinvoked real - life events while pioneer the ideal of the authoritative drift gunslinger that became more popular of a character trope in the Westerns of decennary to get . The nominal hero , Shane , find himself embroiled in the conflict of a little townsfolk he cast through , and quickly endear himself to the topical anesthetic while drawing the ire of the intimidating cow man looking to claim their land for themselves . From there , Shanepresents a good example Western no less surprising than it is iconic .
Shanewas based on the very tangible fierceness that really occurred in the American West between hopeful squatter and greedy cattlemen , putting to light an oft - forgotten conflict . Beyond that , the film was more influential for its influence on the genre , from the spectacular , sweeping landscape painting cinematography that conquer the imaginativeness of the time catamenia to the oracular Shane , who fittingly rides by into the sunset after his work is done in the now - famous end scene . It ’s hard to say the comportment ofShaneisn’t feel in every Western to fall since its expiration in 1953 .
1The Naked Spur (1953)
A visionary romp through Colorado’s Rocky Mountains
Of the Westerns to come out of the fifties , few can compete with the seer filmmaking ofThe Naked Spur . Despite a relatively dewy-eyed premise , The Naked Spurexpertly extract the foundations of the American West into pure cinematic gold , exemplifying the best of what the musical genre has to provide . Not relying on a complicated plot to enrapture its TV audience , the film severalise the simple-minded fib of a bounty hunter forced to work with two unlikely allies so as to capture a manslayer , order the characters front - and - centerfield rather than a needlessly convoluted tale .
Much like the immense expanse of the American West itself , the report is a beautiful , if bare bones , structure against which the striking performance of James Stewarts ' Howard Kemp and party were set aside to shine . The salient on - localisation shot in Colorado ’s Rocky Mountains enhanced the tense activeness and delicate love story , which are all amplified by the soaringBeautiful Dreamertheme reverberating through the wilderness . From nail - bite shootouts to Kemp ’s quick brain and the raw big businessman of the expose performances , The Naked Spuris a truly exemplaryWestern .
Custom Image by Yailin Chacon
