US Westerns: list of the best, actors, directors

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

The American Wild West, cowboys, mustangs, pampas and savannahs, chases and murders - all this was once a favorite topic for screenwriters and directors of all film studios located in Hollywood without exception. The genre loved by millions of moviegoers is called "American Westerns". This style has spawned a galaxy of actors and actresses playing sharpshooters and incorruptible sheriffs.

Hollywood cowboys

Everybody knows names like Clint Eastwood, Gary Cooper, John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Marlon Brando and others. Superbly played in the western "The Quick and the Dead" in 1995, Hollywood superstar Sharon Stone. And not only she knows how to masterfully ride a horse. The inimitable Audrey Hepburn is also easily controlled with horses and with a Colt revolver. Good American Westerns are the pinnacle of directing and acting. The plots are simple with a predictable ending, but sometimes moviegoers do not know how it will end until the last frame.

It all starts with a script

US Westerns are thinmatter, since the success of a film depends on the degree of authenticity. The genre does not tolerate exaggeration: a cowboy cannot kill eight villains with one shot from a hard drive. Moviegoers either believe in what is happening on the screen, or not. Therefore, US westerns are created according to the best examples of dramatic art: actors are invited after long interviews, and when the director is sure that the images of the characters will match what was planned, the shooting begins.

Much depends on the role of the actors, as everyone's manner is different. For example, Humphrey Bogart is slow, and John Wayne is dynamic and explosive. Of course, the latter is more suitable for episodes with shooting, since it is he who can quickly grab a revolver from a holster on his belt and lay down the enemy. In a fight, Wayne also has no equal. Thus, US westerns are created taking into account many criteria, conditions and circumstances. This is the only way to achieve a good result that will suit the screenwriter, director, cast, the entire film crew, and most importantly, the viewer.

Once Upon a Time in the West

In 1968, an action-packed film directed by Sergio Leone was released on the big screen. The Italian maestro has created a classic American action movie. It was a western called Once Upon a Time in the West. The film stars Charles Bronson, Henry Fonda, Jason Robards and Italian actress Claudia Cardinale.

At the center of the plot is a farming family that refused to relocate at the request of representatives of a transport company whoThe idea was to build a railroad across the site. The head of the McBain family did not agree to the offer of businessman Morton, and he hired a killer. Frank, the best shooter in the entire Wild West, cracks down on a farmer and his children. In order to lead the police on a false trail, he leaves several clues at the crime scene pointing to a local Cheyenne gangster. However, he adheres to a certain code of honor, and the sheriff knows this.

At this time, a strange individual (Charles Bronson) comes to town, who plays the harmonica all the time. He likes Cheyenne, and the bandit wants to get to know him better. However, the visitor has his own interest: he arrived to settle accounts with Franky, who once killed his brother. The story is long and complicated, but it is already nearing completion. Cheyenne is also going to get even with Frankie for setting him up. He prepares to attack, but the Harmonica won't let him kill Franky, as he has his sights on him.

The quick and the dead

Gene Hackman, Sharon Stone, Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe - such is the stellar cast of actors who participated in the filming of the western filmed by director Sam Raimi in 1994. The director created a close-knit team of professionals who brought the film project to a worthy result. "The Quick and the Dead" was the title of the movie written by Simon Moore.

Inveterate criminal, tyrant and good shooter John Herod seizes power in a small town by force and deceit and becomes mayor. The first thing he did in the newpositions, announced a tournament among the best shooters. At stake was the amount of 120 thousand dollars. He has suspicions that one of the invited shooters is going to finish him off.

The competition is organized according to the classic Olympic system - "one against one": first, the one who stays on his feet after a series of shots wins, then the one who survives. There are sixteen participants: the son of Herod himself, nicknamed "Baby", the Indian "Speckled Horse", Ellen - a female sniper, "Ace" by the name of Hanlon, Sergeant Cantrell Clay, "Scar" and "Kelly" - local bandits, pedophile Dred, shooting champion Gatzon and others. In addition, Herod forces the priest Kort, with whom he has long-standing scores, to take part. His John wants to kill on the sly.

Killing the participants one by one, Herod intends to be left face to face with Cort, but events unfold in the most unexpected way.

Cheyenne Warrior

The Cheyenne tribe attacks the peaceful settlers. War is declared because of the barbaric extermination of bison by white hunters. Dozens of people die, and a pregnant white woman, Rebecca Carver, miraculously survives. Her husband is killed by settlers to settle accounts with him, but the whole thing is framed as if he died at the hands of the Cheyenne Indians.

However, one of the natives, nicknamed the Hawk, also a survivor, tells the woman about the treachery of her fellow tribesmen. between Rebecca andIndians develop friendships.

Journeyman - Western 2001

The Wanderer is a film directed by James Crowley about two half-brothers who were once separated by bandits. The elder was kidnapped by bandits for a ransom, and the younger one ended up in the house of a Mexican priest. It would seem that the brothers are no longer destined to see each other.

Many years have passed, and then one day on the vast expanses of the prairies a great hunt for a lone robber was launched. His search is being conducted by two groups of heavily armed men. Some must find the criminal and destroy him, while others pursue the goal of the exact opposite. Their task is to find the bandit, bring him to a safe place and save him from the judicial envoys. The question is who will find the robber first.

The film is made in the classic western genre and continues the tradition of such masterpieces as "Mackenna's Gold", "Stagecoach", "A Fistful of Dollars".

Yul Brynner and his comrades

One of the best American westerns "The Magnificent Seven" was filmed by director John Sturges in 1960 based on the novel "The Seven Samurai" by Japanese writer Akiro Kurosawa. Included in the register of cultural, historical and aesthetically significant objects of the United States.

The action takes place at the end of the nineteenth century on the border of America and Mexico. Residents of a Mexican village are in anticipation of a raid by a gang of Calvera gangs. They have nothing to pay off the robbers, the peasants have already given everything they could.

Then they decide to hire their own protectors and turn to Chris (Yul Brynner), who agrees to help the unfortunate people. The villagers perked up, collected the last money and handed it to their savior. Chris starts looking for volunteers to help him. He is joined by Harry Luck, who for some reason decided that they would go in search of treasure hidden by the Mexicans. Vin, who recently lost all his money at roulette, was asked to join the team. Another participant in the campaign was Bernard Reilly, who was doing odd jobs. Then Chris was asked to join the team by a master in throwing combat knives, a young man named Britt. And the last to arrive was dandy Lee, who was just looking for a place to hide from the representatives of the law after another murder.

Six shooters led by Chris went to Mexico to protect the civilian population of a small village. On the way they were joined by a certain Chico, a young man with no fixed occupation.

Conclusion

US Westerns are still being made today, but these are films of a completely different nature, in which the spirit of a real cowboy action movie is lost forever. Horses gave way to cars, the good old seven-shot Colt was replaced by automatic Berettas. And most importantly, no one is protecting anyone anymore.