Certainly in the top 5 of my favorite Westerns.

It's certainly amongst the best, although I think it would have to be The Outlaw Josey Wales for me.

I have to say, while on the subject, the McBains were the strangest looking "Irish" people I've ever seen Red-haired, but with deeply tanned Mediterranean complexions.

Certainly in the top 5 of my favorite Westerns.

Yeah same here. I love the harmonica tune playing throughout the film, even if it gets very repetitive towards the end.

Yes, it is without a doubt one of the best westerns. But my personal favorite is The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. It's not like most westerns but to me it is a perfect movie. The cinematography is gorgeous, the score is incredible and it's sadly often overlooked.

Saw it last month again in a theatre in Cinemascope, restored!

Magnificent. I like the simplicity of the story and the functionality of the harmonica.

What seems like a gimmick to give the character of Charles Bronson something 'different', turns out to be essential in his (SPOILER!!)

revenge on the killer of his brother.

Certainly one of the best directed, yes.

@DoubleUK

What seems like a gimmick to give the character of Charles Bronson something 'different' turns out to be essential

There's something similar with the McBain kids' toy train set / town - They're trying to work out what "valuables" have been left behind by McBain and I think it's Cheyenne who absently picks up the toy engine, whilst pondering that there must be something of value about the place...

I think what truly elevates it though is the incredible score and it's almost meta ending with the arrival of the railroad tracks foreshadowing the end for all these great Western characters.

I'd probably put it third behind Unforgiven and TGTBATU

1. Once Upon a Time in the West
2. The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
3. Unforgiven
4. The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
5. Shane

@Russ007 said:

Certainly in the top 5 of my favorite Westerns.

Yeah same here. I love the harmonica tune playing throughout the film, even if it gets very repetitive towards the end.

My personal choice is ** Once Upon a Time In the West*. The opening shoot-out scene, the haunting harmonica tune, " _How can you trust a man who wears both a belt and suspenders? _", "The Man Can't Even Trust His Own Pants!*", the revenge mystery and the final reveal.

As good as The Good, the Bad and the Ugly is with the character arc as played and infused with pure Clint Eastwood Once Upon a Time In The West just shines with so many minor moments that are raised to such epic importance.

So, there's no place for "The Magnificent Seven" (1960) on that Great Western Movies list? Oh well, "My Name is Nobody" and I'm on "The 3:10 To Yuma," but "There Was A Crooked Man" shouting "Support Your Local Sheriff"! and singing "The Ballad of Cable Hogue," in the company of "McCabe and Mrs. Miller.";)

Yes, definitely the best Western...both as the apotheosis and subversion of everything that has defined the genre. Of course, this greatness goes beyond the boundaries of genre, just as 2001 does in its own way (Kubrick was THE master for genre-busting). And lets not forget the music, one of the greatest of all original scores ever composed!

Interesting timing to see this thread reappear... I recently watched The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, which I hadn't seen in ages, and I have to say that it's not only one of the best (if not the greatest) Westerns but also films of all time. Simply fantastic.

I think it is the best western. I was surprised to see that it didn't even make the Vulture top 50 Westerns. https://letterboxd.com/codywinfrey/list/vultures-50-greatest-westerns-of-all-time/

@felixxx999 said:

I think it is the best western. I was surprised to see that it didn't even make the Vulture top 50 Westerns. https://letterboxd.com/codywinfrey/list/vultures-50-greatest-westerns-of-all-time/

You must have missed it - listed as number 3 there...