ClassyCo
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Westerns have been around since the birth of cinema. They have been one of the most popular forms of entertainment for over a century. Westerns cluttered the film and television landscape for 25-plus years.
Like with all types of movies, I usually like Westerns depending on who is in them. There are some I've enjoyed despite not being major fans of the stars, but that is a rarity. John Wayne is a common choice for Westerns, and I haven't any shame in admitting that I enjoy his films. Audie Murphy is another good one in my opinion. There have been other actors and actresses that I like -- such as Marilyn Monroe, Robert Mitchum, Jane Russell, Clark Gable, and others -- that have made Westerns that I like well.
RIVER OF NO RETURN is one of my favorite classic Westerns. It was a reasonable hit during its release in 1954, primarily for its CinemaScope scenery and its female lead: the incomparable Marilyn Monroe. That movie has some beautiful locations shots, although one commentator it "an uneasy mix of widescreen grandeur and Wild West clichés." I personally think that is selling the movie short. Other Westerns I enjoy are RIO BRAVO (1959) and McLINTOCK! (1963), both starring John Wayne.
Television was once commonplace for a host of Westerns. For decades, shows such as GUNSMOKE, BONANZA, WAGON TRAIN, THE VIRGINIAN, THE BIG VALLEY, and THE HIGH CHAPARRAL among others, dominated the TV landscape and were big hits in the Nielsen ratings. Almost all of these shows get healthy syndicated reruns to this very day.
What are some of your favorite Westerns?
Like with all types of movies, I usually like Westerns depending on who is in them. There are some I've enjoyed despite not being major fans of the stars, but that is a rarity. John Wayne is a common choice for Westerns, and I haven't any shame in admitting that I enjoy his films. Audie Murphy is another good one in my opinion. There have been other actors and actresses that I like -- such as Marilyn Monroe, Robert Mitchum, Jane Russell, Clark Gable, and others -- that have made Westerns that I like well.
RIVER OF NO RETURN is one of my favorite classic Westerns. It was a reasonable hit during its release in 1954, primarily for its CinemaScope scenery and its female lead: the incomparable Marilyn Monroe. That movie has some beautiful locations shots, although one commentator it "an uneasy mix of widescreen grandeur and Wild West clichés." I personally think that is selling the movie short. Other Westerns I enjoy are RIO BRAVO (1959) and McLINTOCK! (1963), both starring John Wayne.
Television was once commonplace for a host of Westerns. For decades, shows such as GUNSMOKE, BONANZA, WAGON TRAIN, THE VIRGINIAN, THE BIG VALLEY, and THE HIGH CHAPARRAL among others, dominated the TV landscape and were big hits in the Nielsen ratings. Almost all of these shows get healthy syndicated reruns to this very day.
What are some of your favorite Westerns?