Today marks the birthday of Western film legend John Wayne, and to celebrate we have a look back on his career in Western films and some of the top picks.
Starring in over 80 western films throughout his career, John Wayne is undoubtedly one of the most iconic cowboys in cinema. Clint Eastwood is known as the “man with no name”, Henry Fonda was the outlaw, and Wayne was the loner with charisma. And of course, he was famous for his trademark cowboy walk.
Wayne was rugged, but a man of moral conscience who stuck to his principles. His first major role was in The Big Trial (1930), which was a huge failure and led to him starring in B-movies for almost a decade. This all changed when he starred in Stagecoach (1939) as it cemented his image as the ultimate cowboy, becoming a figure for generations to idolise.
To celebrate Wayne’s 113th birthday, we’ve selected five of the best westerns (which naturally include him) to honour his great legacy as one of the greatest on screen cowboys.
True Grit
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It follows a drunken U.S. Marshal, a Texas Ranger and a stubborn teenager as they track down her father’s murderer. This is one of the purest westerns ever made as it’s a simple tale without the complications. The photography is phenomenal with the visuals of the wilderness, the acting is top class as there is no weak character in sight and the film itself is so well paced. True Grit revitalised Wayne’s career and showed everyone that he is a skillful actor who is more than a one-note cowboy. It’s a film that’ll take you on a journey that leaves you saddened when it’s over.
Stagecoach
Image credit: Netflix Movies
Kick-starting Wayne’s career, Stagecoach follows a group of people travelling across the US and find their journey complicated by an Apache tribe whilst learning about each other in the process. It will have you on the edge of your seat as they make their way through the dangerous country and try to survive whilst doing so. Stagecoach showed that westerns were a huge part of Hollywood and no longer were B-movies. It’s fun, it’s exciting and it’s not just a great western but a truly great film.
Rio Bravo
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A sheriff that is based in a small town in the American West enlists the help of a ragtag bunch to help keep his town in order and arrest the brother of a powerful rancher. With help from a cripple, a drunk and a young gunfighter, the sheriff can enact justice and protect his town. The stellar cast are at their peak and the film is a classic in the western genre. Nominated by the American Film Institute as one of the greatest westerns, Rio Bravo is a quintessential western film full of drama, suspense and kick-ass action.
The Searchers
Image credit: Taste of Cinema – Movie
Set during the Texas-Indian wars, the film follows a middle-aged Civil War veteran who embarks on a journey to rescue his niece from the Comanches. Teaming renowned western director John Ford and Wayne up again to create such a masterpiece. It’s more than a western, it’s a visual story that has a sense of melancholy that is rare in westerns. The Searchers is an incredible movie that has inspired a generation and showed the world that westerns are not just about the action but about the people in the story.
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Image credit: Collider
A man returns to a western town for the funeral of his old friend and tells the story of his origin. This film is a huge departure from the vibrant landscapes and freedom and instead focuses on a claustrophobic black and white tale enclosed in a set. It’s a psychological western that moves away from gunfights on horse tropes, focusing on the complexity of humanity. Telling a remarkable tale that holds a mirror up to the western genre and tries to subvert it. It’s one of the most rewarding western films you’ll ever watch that’ll leave you feeling sombre.
By Charlie Vogelsang
Feature image: History.com