Originally written by Frank Capra, “Westward the Women” sounds rather absurd on paper: A sizeable California farm is suffering from a shortage of women, so naturally, to balance things out, a train is sent out to haul back 150 brides to the farm.
Throw in some treacherous landscapes and tragic death in the mix; the film becomes a telling tale of hardship and gender politics. Not exactly your run-of-the-mill western.
Destry Rides Again (George Marshall, 1939)
A greedy cheat takes control over all the local cattle ranches. When the sheriff suspects rigging, Kent has him killed. Enter legendary lawman Tom Destry, who restores town order. It's every western cliche thrown in one.
From crooked gamblers, drunks, and beautiful girls, you sure can't deny that it's a good old time.
The Gold Rush (Charles Chaplin, 1925)
A western with a comic core, even if it can get pretty dark at times. The Charlie Chaplin silent classic depicts the hardships of prospectors in the Klondike Goldrush. Chaplin's pursuit of a woman initially offers hope, but things take a turn.
The events follow result in a great film filled with some absurdly romantic gestures and a lot of heart.
Shane (George Stevens, 1953)
"Shane" is based on Jack Schaefer's popular novel of the same name. This incredible film adaptation features Alan Ladd perfectly cast as a tough gunfighter trying to quit the game and live a peaceful, of course, that turns out to be harder than he realized.
With Oscar-winning cinematography and Jack Palance’s masterful acting, both in emotion and physicality, the film will leave you pretty choked up.
Once Upon a Time in the West (Sergio Leone, 1968)
The epic film gives a historic account of the railroad development and modernization of the west. It's a work of epic scale that ambitiously depicts a turning point in the region.
Once viewers get over the fact that their beloved Henry Fonda is a cold-hearted killer, it evolves into an astonishingly beautiful film with powerful imagery.