There is no doubt that Rooster Cogburn is one of John Wayne’s most identifiable roles. He is, after all, the quintessential John Wayne character that the two are basically synonymous with each other. Might we add, the role also earned Wayne an Oscar!
The film is the very first of a book adaptation of Charles Portis’ 1968 novel of the same name. According to historians, Cogburn was based on Deputy U.S. Marshal Heck Thomas, one of the toughest lawmen of the time. No doubt that makes Cogburn one iconic character. In fact, there is even a Coen Brothers remake that some say is even better.
Rancho Deluxe (1975, Frank Perry)
The ’70s wave of westerns typically featured the forgotten cowboy trope. In the fantastic film ‘Rancho Deluxe,’ we see a couple of small-time rustlers from Montana.
The duo played by Jeff Bridges and Sam Waterston make this Western a surprisingly odd and sweet little film that depicts the west as a place of refuge.
The Lone Ranger (2003, Gore Verbinski)
Johnny Depp was one of the most popular Hollywood stars during the success of his "Pirates of the Caribbean" films. His success as Jack Sparrow prompted him to attempt a more serious role. Unfortunately, it had to be "The Lone Ranger." This western film was a commercial failure, but you can't resist Johnny galloping through the desert in a crazy costume.
Depp really believed in this film and wanted it to work. One of the things he did to ensure authenticity was to insist on doing some of the action scenes himself. This is quite commendable when you consider that he wears a mask throughout most of the film, which made it very easy for a stuntman to impersonate him. Unfortunately, Johnny Depp was almost killed during production. He was doing his own horse-riding scene when he was thrown off a moving horse and was nearly trampled.
Ride Lonesome (Budd Boetticher, 1959)
A plot to avenge the murder of a steely Lonewolf's wife. The breathtakingly beautiful visuals are all thanks to the settings of Sierra Nevada locations.
Also, who can forget the legendary line, “There are some things a man just can’t ride around on.”
Death Rides a Horse (Giulio Petroni, 1967)
In this 1967’s cinematically triumphant picture, "Death Rides a Horse," director Giulio Petroni follows a man's thirst for vengeance after witnessing his entire family killed at the hands of violent outlaws. All he has is a spur, the only relic left to remind him of the traumatic event.
Pairing up with the mysterious Ryan (Lee Van Cleef), the film takes us on an incredible journey until we reach the cathartic end, inevitably filled with a lot of rage and fury.