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.
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.”
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.
Winchester ’73 (Anthony Mann, 1950)
James Stewart proved to us that not only could he saddle up, but he could also shoot'em up. The daring and adventurous quest to retrieve his stolen rifle makes this without a doubt one of the most iconic westerns in history.
Dan Duryea, as the sickenly cruel Waco Johnnie Deam, also makes for one great on-screen villain.
One-Eyed Jacks (Marlon Brando, 1961)
It turns out Marlon Brando wasn't only an incredible actor, but he was one impressive director as he ended up making of the greatest westerns in history (he starred in it too, of course.) The project was originally supposed to be directed by the legendary Stanley Kubrick, but Brando stepped in and took over after some creative disagreements.
The film notoriously turned into a typical Brando production with its excessive running of over four hours. Supposedly all that paid off in the end and is now considered a slow burn masterpiece. The Monterrey and Big Sur scenic locations also add to the beautifully aesthetic film.