re: Mount Rushmore Of Western Movie Characters

Eli

Some all time greats posted. But I’ll add Tom Waits as the prospector in “All Gold Canyon” from Buster Scrubs. AGC is one of my favorite Jack London pieces and Waits fricking nails it.

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Rooster Cogburn -- Jeff Bridges

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John Wayne

Could barely understand that mush-mouth Bridges without subtitles and an old-timey Commanche dictionary in the Coen's dreary dimly-lit adaption. But for Mattie speaking clearly and steering the plot, those new to the story wouldn't know what the hell was going on.

He'll never make a list like this but Willie Nelson in Barbarosa was fantastic.

Plus Mount Rushmore of characters needs the backing of a great and acclaimed movie just like the real Mount Rushmore. Can't be a great character in a so-so movie.

Ethan has to make the cut...



Probably William Munney over Josey Wales and Man With No Name Trilogy.

That uses up Wayne and Eastwood...can't have 4 Lincoln's on Mount Rushmore.

So the other two spots...best role in best Western for iconic actors.

Movies to choose from that don't include Wayne or Eastwood...

High Noon
Tombstone
Once Upon a Time in the West
Shane
Open Range

And others...classic or held in high esteem by moviegoers.

I love westerns, I remember watching them with Dad growing up. Here are my top 4

Big Jake - John Wayne
William Munny - Clint Eastwood
Charley Waite - Kevin Costner
Doc Holiday - Val Kilmer

The word play between Wayne and Boone throughout the movie was just full of tension right under the surface. And when Jake repeats Fain's words back to him with menace that no matter what happened he was going to kill him. Good stuff

Same scene just flipped was in Unforgiven when Mummy confronts Little Bill. Claims he is the notorious killer and he was here to kill him.

Honorable Mentions
Boss Spearman - Robert Duvall
Bill Dagget - Gene Hackman
Preacher - Clint Eastwood
Wyatt Earp - Kirk Russell
John Fain - Richard Boone

As much as I love Josey, the character didn't change the Western genre. The Clint character who belongs on the Western Movie Rushmore is The Man With No Name. Sergio Leone's trilogy (Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More and The Good The Bad and The Ugly) forever changed Westerns. Even the way they were scored. Clint's portrayal of this iconic character still resonates today.

Josey Wales
Kirby York
Wyatt Earp
Jeremiah Johnson