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31. Once Upon a Time in the West (1968, Sergio Leone, Paramount Blu-ray) In the Southwestern town of Sweetwater, hired gun Frank (Henry Fonda) and his gang kill the entire McBain family for their land, but McBain's widow Jill (Claudia Cardinale) arrives from New Orleans to claim the homestead...

30. Bad Company (1972, Robert Benton, Paramount DVD) In the midst of the Civil War, Drew Dixon (Barry Brown) is fleeing west to avoid forced inscription in the Union Army. In Missouri, he encounters Jake Rumsey (Jeff Bridges), a leader of a band of thieves who takes Drew's money, but the two...

29. The Gunfighter (1950, Henry King, Criterion Blu-ray) Known as the "fastest draw in the West", infamous gunslinger Jimmy Ringo (Gregory Peck) is getting older and just wants to settle down and live out his final days in peace. However, when he arrives in the town of Cayenne, his past catches...

28. The Lonely Man (1957, Henry Levin, Paramount DVD) As aging gunfighter Jacob Wade (Jack Palance) returns to Red Bluff, he finds that the townspeople want to be on his way out and that his son Riley (Anthony Perkins) nurses a grudge against him for deserting him and his mother. However, King...

27. McLintock! (1963, Andrew V. McLaglen, Paramount Blu-ray) Cattle baron George Washington "G.W." McLintock (John Wayne) is a friend to most everyone in the town that bears his name, but has to deal with the arrival of his estranged wife Katie (Maureen O'Hara) and daughter Becky (Stefanie...

26. Invitation to a Gunfighter (1964, Richard Wilson, MGM DVD) When Confederate veteran Matt Weaver (George Segal) tries to reclaim the land illegally taken from him by the crooked Brewster (Pat Hingle), the New Mexico town that Brewster holds in his sway turns on Weaver, except for the Mexican...

25. The Sisters Brothers (2018, Jacques Audiard, Fox Blu-ray) In 1850's Oregon, notorious hired guns Charlie and Eli Sisters (Joaquin Phoenix and John C. Reilly) are sent to kill a prospector (Riz Ahmed) who has a chemical formula for finding gold. As they track down the prospector and the...

24. The Furies (1950, Anthony Mann, Criterion Collection Blu-ray) In the New Mexico Territory of the 1870's, rancher T.C. Jeffords (Walter Huston in his final film appearance) rules over his vast cattle empire like a lord from medieval times. However, his equally cunning daughter Vance (Barbara...

23. Three Violent People (1956, Rudolph Mate, Paramount DVD) In post-Civil War Texas, former Confederate soldier Colt Saunders (Charlton Heston) returns to his sprawling homestead with his brand new bride (Anne Baxter). However, he has to contend with his wife's past, his violent, one-armed...

22. The Virginian (1946, Stuart Gilmore, Kino Blu-ray - Western Classics I) When schoolteacher Molly Wood (Barbara Britton) leaves Vermont for the Wyoming Territory in 1885, she finds herself courted by the titular cowboy (Joel McCrea). As she gradually warms up to the Virginian, he has to deal...

21. Joe Kidd (1972, John Sturges, Kino Blu-ray) Clint Eastwood's titular character is recruited by wealthy landowner Frank Harlan (Robert Duvall) to join a posse hunting down Mexican revolutionary Luis Chama (John Saxon) raising hell in an early 20th Century New Mexico land war. However, the...

20. Goin' South (1978, Jack Nicholson, Paramount DVD) When third rate outlaw Henry Moon (Jack Nicholson) is set to meet the hangman, his date with the noose is interrupted by Julia Tate (Mary Steenburgen in her film debut), who marries him in a interesting arrangement. However, the marriage is...

19. Vera Cruz (1954, Robert Aldrich, Kino Blu-ray) Ex-Confederate soldier Gary Cooper teams up with hotshot gunslinger Burt Lancaster to help transport a shipment of gold for Emperor Maximilian to Vera Cruz. Along the way, the differences between the two men will eventually lead to a climactic...

17. Chato's Land (1972, Michael Winner, Twilight Time Blu-ray) After killing a man in self-defense, Charles Bronson's titular character retreats into the wilderness, pursued by a lynch mob led by ex-Confederate soldier Jack Palance. However, Chato quickly turns the tables on his pursuers, as...

16. The Missouri Breaks (1976, Arthur Penn, MGM DVD) When horse thief and cattle rustler John Logan (Jack Nicholson) decides to exact revenge on North Central Montana rancher David Braxton (John McLiam) for hanging one of his friends and returns the favor, Braxton counters by bringing in...

15. Garden of Evil (1954, Henry Hathaway, Twilight Time Blu-ray) After their ship to California is diverted due to engine trouble, a group of soldiers of fortune (Gary Cooper, Richard Widmark and Cameron Mitchell) are hired by Susan Hayward to take her to her husband, who's trapped in a gold...

14. Heller in Pink Tights (1960, George Cukor, Paramount DVD) While trying to put on a show for the citizens of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Tom Healy (Anthony Quinn) and his traveling theatrical troupe must deal with creditors, angry townspeople, the law and his leading lady Angela Rossini's (Sophia...

13. Pillars of the Sky (1956, George Marshall, Kino Blu-ray - Western Classics Collection II) In 1868, Cavalry sergeant Jeff Chandler has to keep the peace between settlers in Northeastern Oregon and the local Indian tribes when the actions of his superior officer endangers that peace by...

12. The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid (1972, Philip Kaufman, Universal DVD) In 1876, after their pardons and amnesties were overturned by the Missouri government by some maneuvering by Pinkerton and his agents, the combined gang led by Jesse James (Robert Duvall) and Cole Younger (Cliff...

11. The Trap (1959, Norman Panama, Olive Films Blu-ray) Lawyer Ralph Anderson (Richard Widmark) returns to his California hometown of Tula to secure a safe passage out of the country for his mob boss client Victor Massonetti (Lee J. Cobb). His father, the town sheriff, is disgusted by this but...

Now that I've completed my review for The Shootist (it'll be posted tomorrow) and spent much of the evening watching the Oscars, I can resume my Western marathon for the month: 9. A Bullet for the General (1966, Damiano Damiani, Blue Underground Blu-ray) During the Mexican Revolution in the...

Since my review copy of The Shootist arrived today, I will have my brief write up of A Bullet for the General a little later on in the week, since I want to get my review done and ready to go for next week.

8. Sergeant Rutledge (1960, John Ford; Warner Brothers DVD) In 1881, Sgt. Rutledge (Woody Strode) - a member of the 9th regiment of the U.S. Cavalry - is on trial for the rape and murder of the daughter of the slain regiment commander. Fellow brother in arms Lt. Cantrell (Jeffrey Hunter)...

7. Heaven's Gate (1980, Michael Cimino; Criterion Collection Blu-ray) After graduating from Harvard University 20 years prior, Jim Averill (Kris Kristofferson) arrives in 1890's Wyoming and comes to the aid of the European settlers in Johnson County under siege by the local cattle barons who...

6. Blue (1968, Silvio Narizzano; Paramount DVD) Along the Rio Grande in the late 19th Century, Ortega (Ricardo Montalban) leads his bandits in a raid on a Texas settlement. When his adoptive son Azul (Terence Stamp) is wounded and left behind, he takes to the settlement - particularly to Joanne...

5. Dodge City (1939, Michael Curtiz; Warner Bros. Blu-ray) Though initially turning down the offer of becoming Sheriff of Dodge City, Texas cowboy and cattleman Errol Flynn takes up the job to wrest control of the city away from the villainous Bruce Cabot and his gang and restore law and order...

4. Saddle the Wind (1958, Robert Parrish; Warner Bros. DVD - Warner Home Video Western Classics Collection) Former gunslinger and Confederate soldier Robert Taylor has holstered up his guns and now wants to keep the peace in his community while tending to his ranch. However, the arrival of his...

Going to go ahead and set a placeholder for the Westerns I've seen so far for this month: March 1: Jubal (1956, Delmer Daves), Criterion Collection Blu-ray - 4 out of 5 March 2: The Alamo (1960, John Wayne), MGM DVD - 3.5 out of 5 March 3: In Old Arizona (1928, Raoul Walsh & Irving Cummings)...

3. In Old Arizona (1928, Raoul Walsh & Irving Cummings; Fox Blu-ray) The first Western in the dawn of the Sound Era to be shot outside the sound stages, this film adaptation of O. Henry's "The Caballero's Way" introduced audiences to the Cisco Kid. The movie also introduced the concept of the...

2. The Alamo (1960, John Wayne; MGM DVD) A look at the fateful 13 days of the Texas War for Independence, the siege of the Alamo. John Wayne brings his usual presence to his portrayal of Davy Crockett, but he also produced and directed this movie. He demonstrates a solid sense of getting good...