The quarantine got me creative over the summer. Growing up, I would turn on TV on the weekends and there would be old westerns playing. I’ve continued that tradition in my own home; streaming spaghetti westerns on Sundays. This summer I decided to explore films old and new in the Western genre. Even pulled together a challenge list. Some were easy enough to find and others much more challenging. I’ve enjoyed what I’ve seen so far, so I’m gonna share in case anyone else wants to go on this journey with me. If you have any suggestions, please comment or DM.
#1 A favorite western you recently discovered: Five Fingers for Marseilles (foreign, all black cast)
#2: A western starring Henry Fonda: My Darling Clementine
#3: A western that subverts the genre: Brokeback Mountain
#4: A western set in the rain or has raining scene: Unforgiven
#5: A musical old western genre: Cat Ballou; Bonus mention: Paint Your Wagon.
#6: A western from my childhood: The Professionals
#7: A modern day western: Lone Star (baby McConaughey makes an appearance)
#8: A western filmed in Italy: Django (1966)
#9: A western in another language: Bacurau (set in Brazil); Bonus film “The Unforgiven” with Ken Watanabi, the Japanese version of the old Western Unforgiven (see #4 of this western movie challenge).
#10: A western that with a heist: The Assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford; Bonus mention: Hell or High Water.
#11: A western starring Clint Eastwood: For a Few Dollars More
#12: A western movie from the year you were born: Stagecoach
#13: A classic western movie: Johnny Guitar
#14: A western involving a trip/journey: True Grit (1969) or (2010)
#15: A female-led Western: The Furies
#16: A western with black lead(s): Sergeant Rutledge; Honorable mention: “Thomasin & Bushrod” - a black Bonnie and Clyde western.
#17: A western based on a true story:
#18: A western with an epic battle scene:
#19: A western set in Texas:
#20: A western set in a cold climate: The Great Silence
