YONDERINGS-BONUS-FIVE
11. Rio Conchos: (1964) Another overlooked western that few have heard of these days; it stars Richard Boone, Stuart Whitman, Jim Brown, Tony Franciosa, and Edmond O’Brien in a post-War Between The States drama where ex-Confederates are attempting to refight the war by using Apache warriors armed with a new style of repeating rifle. Though not filmed on location, the movie’s title refers to the Rio Conchos from out of el Estado de Chihuahua, Mexico that meets with the Rio Grande near Presidio, Texas. A special nod goes to Richard Boone, who is at the top of his game while still finishing his role as ‘Paladin’ in the highly successful TV series, Have Gun Will Travel.
12. Conagher: (1991) A low key, made for television western headlining Sam Elliot in the title role; the screenplay stays very close to the original novel written by Louis L’Amour. It is the story of an old style cowboy, with lessons of honor and honesty, ‘riding for the brand’ and what happens when someone violates that code. This movie was the last performance by the multi-talented Ken Curtis, who did everything from playing the role of Festus in Gunsmoke to becoming lead singer for the Tommy Dorsey band in 1941 after Frank Sinatra struck out on his own. The movie was dedicated to his memory.
13. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance: (1962) A John Ford production filmed in black and white; at even this late date, the choice of filming medium only adds to the starkness and ‘black and white’ of the story itself. Pairing John Wayne with Jimmy Stewart in lead roles while Lee Marvin plays the bad man Liberty Valance, this was a collaborative effort by everyone involved to produce one of the great morality plays of its time. It also led to a very successful song by Gene Pitrey, reaching the top ten after the movie’s release.
14. How The West Was Won: (1962) Proclaimed as one of the greatest movies ever from its inception, this film brings such a vast array of talent in all areas as to make the mind boggle at the scope. Basically five different stories with four different directors and accompanying stars that carried the plot along, there is no way that any such movie could be made now no matter how much computer gadgetry employed to cover over the weaknesses present in today’s Hollywood ‘culture.’ It was so good that in an unusual move, western author Louis L’Amour wrote a novel adapted from the screen play. If you decide to watch this film, do yourself a favor and view it in its original widescreen format. You will not regret it.
15. The Magnificent Seven: (1960) An all star cast, a rousing action-packed tale involving personal as well as professional ethics and a musical score without peer, this movie was a classic ‘must see’ from the day it debuted. In the decades following, The Magnificent Seven spawned numerous sequels, spin offs, parodies, imitators, and an unfortunate remake that is not even a recognizable ghost of the original. Supposedly based on the Japanese film The Seven Samurai, it goes its own way with a style that will never again be successfully emulated because of names such as Yul Brunner, Steve McQueen, Eli Wallach, Charles Bronson, James Coburn, Robert Vaughn, and others. You will walk away suitably powder burned, satisfied and wondering why they can’t make ‘em like they used to.
