Greatest Western of All-Time?

Shane or The Searchers

I'll cool with either

Once Upon a Time in the West

The Wild Bunch

Blazing Saddles

Once Upon a Time in the West

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One of the most bad arse movies of all time.

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Looks like there are people on this board with a good taste in movies.

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All of those led by Eastwood are up there for me, as well as most of the John Wayne flicks.

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There was a time when I said, "The Outlaw Josey Wales is the best western film without John Wayne."

But I was a kid and knew nothing then. There is a strong urge to divide them, though. Wayne Westerns/Eastwood Westerns/Other Westerns - seems a pretty natural divide.

With Wayne, I think the 4 absolute top contenders are Red River, Rio Bravo, The Searchers and True Grit. This is not to say that The Shootist might not, on a good day be better than the other four (but it is more of a "end of an era" movie, and I don't find it meets all of the Western movie criteria), or, that on another day I might not enjoy Rio Lobo better than Rio Bravo - ditto for Big Jake over True Grit. And there are numerous other Wayne westerns that are outstanding, Fort Apache, Rio Grande, Sons of Katie Elder, and the list goes on and on.

With Eastwood, you can really fine tune the focus. The "trilogy" (if you prefer) of the man with no name culminates in The Good, The Bad & The Ugly. There is also the matter of Josey Wales and Unforgiven. While my sentimental favorite is Josey Wales, I recognize it was a very different kind of western movie. Unforgiven was supposed to be the epitath for the western genre. While technically a western, it is almost an anti-Western.

If I had to nominate a western film starring Eastwood for GOAT, I probably go with TG,TB&TU, but that would be a purely objective choice, rather than my favorite Eastwood movie, generally and favorite western film, Josey Wales. (Honorable mention here is Hang 'em High. The movie is probably underrated.)

For the "other" category, I am eliminating, generally the "singing cowboy" subgenre, and all of the Roy Rogers and Gene Autry films - purely because I recognize these films were important and influential, but I honestly can't name one nor have I watched an entire one (I know - sue me.)

So, out of the other - the giants leap out, High Noon, Shane, The Wild Bunch, Silverado and Tombstone. Each of these films probably has a strong argument. Silverado gets a lot of critical praise and I think it is a fine film. I can't say it's better than Shane. Shane probably gets the nod, but, again, each of these movies has an argument for "GOAT Western of those without either John Wayne or Clint Eastwood."

(ETA: I would say it's fair for Once Upon a Time in the West should be on the list as an "Other", although that was supposed to be Eastwood in another go as "the man with no name"/blondie.)

(ALSO ETA: Magnificent Seven should also be an "other" - not sure if it is better than Shane, but is in the conversation.)

I really, really really like Pale Rider.

Growing up my favorite was always Hang 'em High. I think this is Clint at his most badass.

I'm a bigger Eastwood fan than the Duke. Unforgiven is incredible too.

My favorite of Wayne would be either The Searchers or Sons of Katie Elder.

Westerns are definitely my favorite style movie.


Side note: There have been some good ones to be released lately (relative term): Open Range is an example.