What's the best Classic Western?

Duck, You're Fired!

🙂

wiredraven82 said:I don't see any reason to hesitate here—even though I genuinely enjoy every single one of the films I put on that voting list—but if you're asking me to pick the absolute best Classic Western, it’s this:

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

And I have it listed differently elsewhere:

Once Upon a Time in the West

It’s pretty much a given that 99% of people are going to think along the exact same lines—it’s just a matter of which way the sequence goes. Case in point, look at me:
I don't know about you all, but I’ve been sitting here thinking about the evolution of the genre lately—it’s a bit much to process sometimes. Does anyone else feel like we’re just circling the same tropes over and over? It makes you wonder if anything truly groundbreaking actually happens anymore, or if we're all just stuck in a loop of nostalgia.
2. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

So, the poll was pretty much a foregone conclusion—unless you count the people who vote against the grain just for the sake of being different. But honestly? Even if we look past that, the list itself is riddled with massive gaps.

Brian Ross7 said:Duck, You Dirty Dog!

🙂

Then there's this one, obviously. Even if it doesn't quite hit the heights of his other Leone classics, it’s still a massive step up from mediocre space flicks like that Baldwin piece, Django Unchained.

*Django Unchained* sits at #5 on my personal *Star Wars* list. As for #4—well, that’s where the biggest hole in my rankings lives. It’s the only non-Leone film on the list that I actually enjoy more than some of his work. Who knows? A Bullet for the General—which honestly deserves a spot in every objective Star Wars list out there—was essentially the first true Zapata western. It paved the way for a whole wave of films following that same blueprint, though if you look at certain criteria, it doesn't quite fit the mold of a pure Classic Western. Westerns.Well, if that's the case, then his "high-quality" imitation—Tepepa, who's actually on the list—doesn't really count either.

Other major omissions that deserve some attention:
My Name is Nobody — that definitely should have made the cut too.
2. Keom (though I’m not exactly a huge fan, to be honest)
Then there are those three Trinity comedies—I'm not exactly a fan myself, but they’re essential. They basically defined the whole "Classic Western" concept for most people, even if I personally find them a bit much.
Sabat.
5. Face to Face

And just as a little bonus, I’m throwing in one that's relatively under the radar—honestly, in my opinion, it beats half the stuff on this list: And God Said to Cain Probably his best role in Star Wars.

frozenraven39 said:But let's be real—this list is riddled with massive holes...

Tarantino claims there isn't any 🙂

🙂 🤣

Statistically speaking, rather than these outlaws

Navajo Joe
A Pistol for Ringo
The Dirty Outlaws
The Grand Duel
Pray for the Dead and Kill the Living
Tepepa
The Ugly Ones
Django
Machine Gun Killers

we really ought to have
Face to Face
Companeros
Duck, You Called Me a Sucker
A Bullet for the General
Keoma
Cemetery without Crosses
My Name is Nobody
Django kill... If You Live, Shoot!
Run, Man, Run

Raymond Walker5 said:If you're calling it trash, then it probably is. I'm not even gonna bother watching it.

Did you even read what I wrote? 😁

This scene says it all.

https://bplusmovieblog.files.wordpre...he-west-48.png

Does anyone remember the name of that Classic Western where the movie kicks off with four outlaws riding up to a ranch and wiping out a family? There’s this one kid who manages to hide under a stagecoach and witnesses the whole thing—he memorizes their faces and specific tattoos, then grows up to hunt them down one by one for revenge. I saw this back in the 80s when I was just a kid, and it really stuck with me, but the title has completely slipped my mind. Any leads would be appreciated.🍿

Hmm, it feels a bit like Once Upon a Time in America or maybe The Searchers, but I honestly don't think it's either of those two.

Kenneth Jackson30 said:Does anyone remember that one Classic Western where it all kicks off with four outlaws riding up to a ranch and slaughtering an entire family? There’s this one boy who manages to hide under a stagecoach just in time—he witnesses the whole thing, obviously—and he memorizes the specific details about the killers, like their distinct tattoos or certain physical traits. He spends years stewing on it until he's grown, eventually setting out on this calculated path of vengeance to hunt them down one by one. I watched this back in the 80s when I was just a kid, and it left a massive impression on me, but the title has completely slipped my mind. Any leads would be greatly appreciated.🍿

Man, I remember that movie. I know exactly what you're talking about—it's burned into my brain—but damn it, the title is just slipping through my fingers right now. I can see that specific scene as clearly as if I watched it yesterday, and it’s driving me crazy that I can't wrap my head around the name.

Kenneth Jackson30 said:Anyone remember that Classic Western where four outlaws ride up to a ranch and slaughter the whole family? There’s this kid who manages to hide under a stagecoach—watches the whole thing go down—and memorizes their faces and tattoos. He grows up, hunts them one by one, and gets his revenge. I saw this back in the 80s when I was just a kid and it stuck with me like crazy, but the title is totally slipping my mind. Anyone got a lead?🍿

Man to man.
Luigi Pastilli is just incredible here. Honestly, the guy was such a badass playing supporting roles in some of the best Classic Westerns out there—this role is easily his peak.

We seriously need to make a Classic Western and call it Meat sauce.

Because honestly, Once Upon a Time in America is just the absolute best.

Casey Cox2 said:Man to man,
I think Luigi Pastilli is just incredible here. He was always a solid supporting actor in those top-tier Classic Westerns—this role is easily his best work.

Pastilli? Yeah, he was one of the better character actors from that era. Remember how Tucov played the monk's brother in DLZ?

The film is also basically a precursor to Death Rides a Horse—you can see the influence in that animation sequence in Kill Bill. Personally, it’s not at the very top of my list, even if Clint Eastwood absolutely crushes it (though that Batman guy is about as wooden as a plank).

Casey Cox2 said:Man to man,
I think Luigi Pastilli is just top-tier. He was always such a solid character actor in those classic Westerns—usually playing the supporting roles—but this performance? This is his absolute best work.

That’s the one! Thanks a million!🙂

I think The Searchers is the best one..

Anyway, besides Sergio Leone, who’s obviously a legend, I guess Sergio Sollima and Corbucac have some of their best stuff too..

There are plenty of options out there, but I guess I have a soft spot for those Classic Western style ones!