The 1950s were perhaps the high point of the Western movie genre. Many excellent westerns were made and they dominated the cinema. Below is a list of the top 6 Western movies of the 1950’s.
Number 6: “Rio Grande” (1950). This John Ford western stars John Wayne as a cavalry officer in the American Southwest. He must not only fight off the local rampaging Indians, he must also keep the peace in his family at the same time.
Number 5: “Gunfight at the OK Corral” (1957). A romanticized version of the gunfight, this version of the events stars Burt Lancaster as Marshal Wyatt Earp and Kirk Douglas as Doc Holliday. Earp and Holliday must battle a local gang of cowboys led by the Clantons and McLoureys.
Number 4: “Winchester ’73” (1950). Jimmy Stewart plays McAdam. He just came into possession of a fine Winchester rifle. The movie follows the rifle as it changes hands from person to person, until eventually, it is returned to its rightful owner.
Number 3: “Rio Bravo” (1959). This film is classic John Wayne. Wayne plays Sheriff John Chance. Chance has just arrested a man for murder. Unfortunately, the man is the brother of a powerful local rancher. The rancher hires dozens of mercenaries and bounty hunters to break out the prisoner. Chance and his three deputies (played by Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson and Walter Brennan) are hopelessly outnumbered.
Number 2: “The Searchers” (1956). John Wayne stars as Texas Ranger, Ethan Edwards. His brother and family had just been killed by a band of marauding Indians. Also, the band had kidnapped his niece. Edwards spends the next years searching for his kidnapped niece and fights for her freedom.
Number 1: “High Noon” (1952). Gary Cooper is at his best in this classic Western. He plays Marshal Will Caine, who has just gotten married. He and his new wife plan on leaving town and opening a store in a nearby town. Unfortunately, Caine has just received word that a band of outlaws is riding into town to seek revenge on him and kill him. No problem, Caine will simply organize a posse to challenge the gunfighters. Unfortunately, things do not go as planned and he must face the killers alone. Listen for the classic cowboy song “Do Not Forsake Me, Oh My Darling” as a backdrop for this film.
The 1950’s and 1960’s were the high point for Western movies. Not only were Western movies popular, the Western series also dominated television at the same time. The movies listed above are among the best Westerns ever made.