Gene Hackman must have a knack for playing sadistic characters as he once again plays a cruel-hearted sheriff in The Quick and the Dead. The super-stylized Western brings out the big guns by showcasing all the best gunslingers in the West for a quickdraw duel.
The winner is up for a huge prize, and of course, gets to keep his life. Things heat up when Russel Crowe, who plays a priest, enters the tournament and guns for Hackman over a past incident. There’s a young Leo, too!
The Indian Fighter (André De Toth, 1955)
This revisionist Western features Johnny Hawks (Kirk Douglas) attempting to stomp out fires after Wes Todd (Walter Matthau) dupes the Sioux.
This breath of fresh air takes a pro- Native American stance. Set in the gorgeous Oregon Trail, Ande de Toth turns this film into a visual delight.
Compañeros (Sergio Corbucci, 1970)
The greatest Spaghetty Western comedy you're ever likely to see, Compañeros features some major heavyweights of the time, including Franco Nero and Tomás Milián.
The film revolves around a Swedish arms dealer and a rowdy revolutionary leader. Together they go up against the one-handed feind, Jack Palance.
For a Few Dollars More (Sergio Leone, 1965)
The second installment of Sergio Leone’s “Man With No Name” Trilogy follows Clint Eastwood, this time joined by Lee Van Cleef.
The film follows the bounty hunters in their pursuit of a deranged bandit named El Indio, played by the great Gian Maria Volanté.
Man of the West (Anthony Mann, 1958)
Link Jones (Gary Cooper) plays a former outlaw living a righteous life who gets thrown back into disarray when his old gang decides to take him and some innocent people captive.
Pushed into violence, Cooper is forced to face the sadistic gang leader Dock Tobin (Lee J. Cobb.)