From the 1940s well through to the 1960s, westerns were all the rage. Much like superhero movies today, westerns were - relatively speaking - incredibly dependable, largely successful, and quite common. Maybe because they were fairly cheap to make, or maybe because they reflected and purified American values; whatever the reason, you could throw a rock and hit a theater playing a western.
But in the years since, westerns have gone the way of the dodo; with the exception of a few movies and miniseries’ (Django Unchained, The Harder They Fall, and The English, for example), there hasn’t really been a great, true-blue western in some time. But given the right material (and a recognizable name), these movies could make a comeback. Here are ten old western movies that could use a remake (and potentially usher in a new era for the genre).
10 The Wild Bunch
Sam Peckinpah’s The Wild Bunch is a classic in the genre, and purists would probably argue that the transgressive western doesn’t need a shiny new Hollywood remake. And you know what? They’d probably be right. But one can’t help but imagine the possibilities.
The original film - which follows a band of aging outlaws in the waning years of the American West facing off against a brutal Mexican general - turned a lot of heads when it was initially released in 1969, featuring explosive violence, gratuitous gore, and protagonists that were (to put it kindly) largely amoral. But the opportunity to assemble an eclectic cast of characters - much like the 2016 remake of The Magnificent Seven - is perhaps the biggest draw for the film, since the more controversial aspects of the film aren’t so controversial in this day-and-age.
For a while, there was a proposed remake set up at Warner Bros: Mel Gibson was attached to direct and star in the film, alongside Michael Fassbender, Jamie Foxx, and Peter Dinklage. It currently appears to be trapped in development hell, but here’s hoping that movement on the remake picks up again soon.
9 The Professionals (1966)
Richard Brooks’ 1966 western The Professionals - which is based on Frank O’Rourke’s novel A Mule for Marquesa - is one of those classic (and simple) Hollywood action-westerns that don’t get made much anymore.
The film stars Burt Lancaster, Lee Marvin, Robert Ryan, and Woody Strode as a quartet of uniquely-specialized mercenaries hired by millionaire JW Grant to rescue his wife Maria, who was abducted and taken to Mexico by the notorious bandit Raza (played by Jack Palance). However, upon finding Maria, the team realize that Grant may have ulterior motives.
Much like The Wild Bunch, The Professionals may not be the most groundbreaking film (story-wise, at least), but at the heart of the movie is a great cast of characters with an interesting dynamic. One could easily see this playing out like a western-style Ocean’s Eleven.
8 The Ox-Bow Incident
The classic 1943 western The Ox-Bow Incident is one of those really simple premises, told incredibly well. The William Wellman-directed film stars Henry Fonda and Dana Andrews as Art and Gil, two cowboys who arrive in a small Nevada town in the hours following the murder of a local rancher and the theft of his cows. While the two men are initially suspected as the perpetrators, they eventually clear their name by joining the posse formed to search for the actual criminals.
The posse eventually finds three men who they believe are responsible for the murder. But their guilt isn’t so obvious. The question then becomes what to do with them - either take them into town for proper justice, or have them lynched then and there.
There is an uncommon thoughtfulness to the film’s proceedings, exploring themes of toxic masculinity (way before there was even a term for such a thing) and dissecting the problematic virtues often associated with the American West. A story like this is timeless, and the themes could be easily updated to fit our modern era.
7 The Treasure of Sierra Madre
The Treasure of Sierra Madre is classic adventure-western film that could make for an incredibly fun modern remake. The John Huston-directed movie - which is based on a 1925 novel of the same name - stars Humphrey Bogart and Tim Holt as Fred and Bob, two down-and-out men looking for their big break. Luckily, they meet Howard (played by the director’s own father, Walter), a rough-around-the-edges prospector who tells the men about unimaginable riches deep in the heart of Mexico. The three men band together and cross the border in search of the treasure of Sierra Madre.
Although Sierra Madre is a certifiable classic (many consider it to be John Huston’s best movie - even better than The Maltese Falcon) - there’s a timeless story of human nature and greed that would translate well in today’s society. The film is action-packed and laced with humor, and who doesn’t love a good ol’-fashioned treasure hunt?
6 The Naked Spur
Much like The Ox-Bow Incident, there is underlying simplicity to the events that unfold in Anthony Mann’s 1953 western The Naked Spur. Notable at the time for having only five speaking roles, the movie stars James Stewart as Howard Kemp, a bitter rancher-turned-bounty hunter searching the Rocky Mountains for Ben Vandergoat (Robert Ryan), a ruthless killer with a $5,000 bounty over his head for the murder of a town marshall. Along the way, Kemp teams up with two untrustworthy strangers and - as was common in these movies - falls in love with a woman who may very well be Vandergoat’s lover.
Although this is far from an original story (variations of it have been told time and time again, especially on western serials that were hugely popular in the 50s and 60s), the small-but-juicy cast of characters could be appealing to stars looking to flex their acting muscles.
5 Vera Cruz
Considered by some to be the first “spaghetti western,” the influence that Vera Cruzhas had on the genre is undeniable. Robert Aldrich’s 1954 film is set during the Franco-Mexican War; Ben Trane (Gary Cooper) is an ex-Confederate soldier who travels to Mexico seeking a job as a gun-for-hire. He joins Joe Erin (Burt Lancaster) and his small gang of mercenaries, and is recruited by Emperor Maximilian to escort Countess Marie Duvarre (Denise Darcel) to the Mexican city of Veracruz. However, along the way, the men discover that Duvarre and Maximilian are smuggling $3 million worth of gold in order to support the French war effort. Duvarre and the men agree to steal the money and split it among themselves, but as is usually the case in these situations, things quickly go south for everyone involved.
Like the works of Peckinpah, Vera Cruz was revered (and rejected) for its slimier-than-usual characters and inclination towards violence. While not as graphic as, say, The Wild Bunch, the movie nonetheless pushed a lot of buttons when it was released. One could argue that a modern retelling of Vera Cruz is unnecessary (an argument that could probably be made about most of the movies on this list), but it would nevertheless make for some good cinema; the climactic battle alone would be worth the price of admission.
4 The Great Silence
Featuring a killer score from Ennio Morricone and starring famed-madman Klaus Kinski as a brutal killer, there’s a lot to love about The Great Silence, Sergio Corbucci’s well-regarded western. The film - which was conceived as an allegory inspired by the deaths of revolutionaries and political activists like Malcolm X and Che Guevara - takes place in Utah circa 1898, and stars Jean-Loius Trintignant as “Silence,” a mute gunslinger who must defend a group of outlaws from a band of ruthless bounty hunters, led by Loco (Kinski).
When the film was initially released, it was - largely speaking - unsuccessful, both critically and commercially. Unlike many westerns that were released during this era, The Great Silence was incredibly subversive, culminating in a climax whereby the bad guys actually win. Despite the beautiful cinematography, wonderful acting, and memorable score, audiences just couldn’t get their minds around the cynical and unapologetically bleak nature of the movie.
In recent years, The Great Silence has garnered a bit of a cult following. But in many ways, this movie was ahead of its time, serving as a commentary on the growing trend of violence across the world. The film’s themes are timeless, and can be easily adapted for a modern retelling. Though Quentin Tarantino took a lot of inspiration from this film (and spaghetti westerns in general) when filming Django Unchained and The Hateful Eight, a proper remake could be a lot of fun, especially in the hands of someone with a sure hand and stylish taste, such as Jeymes Samuel (The Harder They Fall).
3 Shenandoah
Set during the Civil War, Shenandoahstars the incomparable James Stewart as Charlie Anderson, the God-fearing Virginian patriarch of a large family. Although living in the south, Anderson refuses to get himself or his family involved in the war - that is until his youngest son is ambushed by the Union army and taken prisoner. Charlie and his remaining sons leave their farm and go off to rescue their imprisoned family member.
There aren’t many Civil War movies these days, but a Shenandoah remake would be a welcomed addition to the niche genre. While it’s a perfectly decent movie, it isn’t as well-regarded as the other movies on this list, leaving a lot of room to improve or - at the very least - expand on the original. Better still, the movie’s antiwar and humanitarian themes would translate very well in today’s political and cinematic climate.
2 Major Dundee
Not to be confused with Crocodile Dundee, Sam Peckinpah’s Major Dundee stars Charlton Heston as Major Amos Dundee. Set during the final winter of the Civil War, Dundee leads a combative group of Union soldiers, Confederate prisoners of war, and scouts on a mission to Mexico in order to kill a band of Apaches who have been attacking and pillaging army bases in Texas.
Much like Peckinpah’s other films, Major Dundee is a cynical and grim western that features Heston in a powerful, larger-than-life role. Dundee is another movie that, upon release, was universally panned, especially after poor test-screenings led to thirteen minutes being cut from the film, which resulted in crater-sized plot holes. In the years since, the movie has been restored to its original version and has received better reviews as a result. But that isn’t to say this movie can’t be improved upon (especially the anti-war themes) with a remake.
1 How the West Was Won
How the West Was Won is - by all accounts - a true epic. The ensemble picture is broken up into five chapters and directed by three different filmmakers: Henry Hathaway, George Marshall, and John Ford. It was filmed in three-lens Cinerama (a super widescreen format that could be compared to today’s IMAX in regard to scope and grandeur) and required three projectors to run. Simply put, this was a major event production.
The movie - which features a who's-who of actors such as John Wayne, Debbie Reynolds, Henry Fonda, James Stewart, Lee J. Cobb, and Gregory Peck - spans several decades of Westward expansion, covering the Gold Rush, the Civil War, the Railroad Boom, and everything in between.
Although the film was nominated for a legion of awards when it was first released, critics were actually relatively unkind to it. Despite recognizing the film’s potential and admiring the spectacle, many critics believed it was a rather lifeless affair. In other words - there’s room for improvement.
The structure and audacious scale of How the West Was Won would be a perfect fit for an epic miniseries or even a television series; given the original film spanned over fifty years, there is a lot of material to cover and work with.
Comments
Post a Comment