RAMBLINGS...MY TOP 10 WESTERNS

Here is a list of my 10 favorite Western films ranked in order of how I like them. It's sad that the this genre has all but died. I admit, there is not much of an audience left for these kinds of films, and that is a shame.

10. THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY 1966...I was totally captivated by this genre classic because of the performances of the three leads..Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef.

9. HANNIE CAULDER 1971...Raquel Welch looking as sexy as ever as a woman seeking revenge on the men who raped her. All time classic "revenge" western.

8. RIDE LONESOME 1959...I have never seen a Randolph Scott western I didn't like. I like this one for the very tight plot and the co-starring of beautiful Karen Steele. Beautiful color photography enhances the entire production.

7. WINCHESTER 73 1950...James Stewart is excellent in this strange western tale about a man seeking his prized gun which has been stolen. Unique story with multiple plots from director Anthony Mann.

6. MAGNIFICENT SEVEN 1960...Seven gunmen come to a small Mexican town to defend it against bandits. There are so many reasons I love this film..the actors...the gripping plot...the stark photography and many, many more.

5. HEAVEN'S GATE 1980...Here is egotism again I guess, but this is a film I am VERY PROUD of. A sprawling account of the Johnson County War and a story very timely today. When it came out is tanked, was cut severely and cost us all out jobs. Over time it has been accepted as a masterpiece as well it should be. Nobody photographs a movie like Vilmos Zsigmond. I made a lot of good friends and I knew we were making something pretty damn cool.

4. THE WILD BUNCH 1969...Of all the movies Sam Peckinpah made, this is easily his best. I knew Sam very well and this story of an aging group of outlaws looking for one last score in the face of a quickly changing west is, in some ways, his life story in a western, and as I have grown older I realize it's my story too. Essential viewing.

3. THE OUTLAW JOSIE WALES 1976...Clint Eastwood directed and stars in this jewel about a man seeking revenge for the killing of his family by Union soldiers. Great set pieces, great cast and much more made this a film I was pulled into and was sorry it ended. If you haven't seen this film, you need to.

2. THE TALL T 1957...Whoa...this always blows me away. Randolph Scott and Maureen O' Hara stars as two people who are kidnapped and held by a ruthless gang. Intense plot, taut direction by Budd Boetticher and a great performance by Richard Boone. I loved this film from the very first time I saw it many years ago.

1. RIDE THE HIGH COUNTRY 1962...Dare I say it...this is a movie that really hits me in the gut and at some point I always get a bit misty eyed. A great story from Sam Peckinpah about two aging men, one a Sheriff (Joel McCrea) and the other, his best friend (Randolph Scott). I won't give too much away in case you haven't seen it, but I love this film on so many levels. I knew a lot of people in this film, I miss them and the story and some of the dialogue reminds me of the good times I had with a friend who is no longer here. Of all the westerns I have mentioned here, this is the one you should see first!!

Well, that concludes the look at my 10 favorite Western films of all time. Please feel free to comment if you agree or disagree.