The Legends of Western Cinema Week 2020 Tag!

Howdy, y'all!

Hamlette at Hamlette's Soliloquy and Heidi of Along the Brandywine are again hosting The Legends of Western Cinema Week! I wasn't able to join last year, so you can bet that I'm going full out now!

They have created a fun tag which I am filling out today! Now, I haven't seen a ton of westerns so I have decided to try to use no movie in more than one answer and therefore make it look like I've seen a lot. We'll see how this works out...

The Questions and Answers:

1. What's the last western you watched?

Big Jake (1971) which I reviewed for this week. I actually really liked it, which I wasn't expecting.

2. A western of any stripe (happy or tragic) where you were highly satisfied by the ending?

It's kind of funny, all the westerns I'm thinking of being really satisfied with the ending I don't clearly remember. I don't even remember the exact ending, I just have a feeling of being satisfied with it. Like Destry Rides Again (1938).

Also, a movie that I saw ages ago and don't even know what it was (I'm 80% sure that it's Night Passage (1957)) had an ending that absolutely destroyed me, but in a good way. And if it's in my favorites then I'm probably pretty content with that end of the story.

3. The funniest western you've seen?

Support Your Local Sheriff (1969)! In fact, this movie is in my top ten all time favorites because it is just so hilarious! If you haven't seen it, you totally should. Any time I watch it it just makes my day!
"Now that's funny, that's real funny."

4. What similar elements/themes show up in your favorite westerns?

Jimmy Stewart. I know that he isn't an element or theme, but he is my favorite part of most westerns that I've seen.

To be serious though, I think sacrifice. People putting others before themselves and making sacrifices, even of their life, to help the cause! This happens in all genres of movies, but it is something that connects quite a few of my favorite westerns.

5. Favorite actress who made 1 or more westerns?

I'm looking at my list here of all the westerns I think I've seen, and there are only a few repeating actresses, but none of them are in more than two (so far as what I've seen). I'm going with the incredible Olivia de Havilland because I've seen her in Dodge City (1939) and The Proud Rebel (1958). She just passed away last month and we will miss her terribly!

6. Favorite western hero/sidekick pairing?

Now I would list different people, but I already used that movie in the funniest question. Shucks, this is hard. But, never fear, I still have another pairing. I saw The Lone Ranger (2013) for the first time this year, and while there were parts I didn't like, the dynamic duo of John Reid and Tonto made the whole movie worth it.

7. Scariest villain/antagonist in a Western?

Liberty Valance from The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962). He's your standard "baddie" but extra mean. That isn't what is scary about him. What's scary is how he affects Ransom Stoddard, a lawyer just trying to do justice. Ransom stays strong for so long, but Liberty's constant cruelness starts to get to him, and that's scary to me. This movie is incredible and one of my favorites!

8. Favorite romance in a western?

This isn't even a question, it's so easy! Jim Craig and Jessica Harrison from The Man From Snowy River (1982). Ack, I love this movie (getting about time for a rewatch...) and these two are the reason!

9. Three of your favorite westerns?

(Note to self: Read through questions before deciding to not use any movies twice.)

If I have said in another question that it is one of my favorites, then it is and you should go watch it. Here are just some more:

The Magnificent Seven (1960)
True Grit (1969)
Home on the Range (2004) (Look, this one is full of nostalgia for me and I'm running out of options...)

10. Share one (or several!) of your favorite quotes from a western.

Well, these are going be from Support Your Local Sheriff (1969) and because we're talking about quotes instead of movies I can do that. I made the rules, I can break them. These are going to be out of context, but I hope that I can get you curious enough to watch this movie!

"I've made it no secret that I'm on my way to Australia."

"60 for who and 40 for who!?"

'"It doesn't sound a little childish to you?"

"No, I told you, I think it sounds mature."' 

(You need to hear that in Prudy's voice!)

"How dare you walk into my office and pull a gun on me."

'"Pa, you been touching up your hair again?"

"What do ya mean again!?"

"Nothing. It looks better in spots, that's all."

"What do ya mean spots!?"

"Nothin'!"'

A huge thank you to Hamlette and Heidi for hosting! Check out HERE or HERE for all things western! You're also free to do this tag, then link up with them so everyone can read it.

Thanks for reading! Anybody else seen Support Your Local Sheriff (1969)? What do you think of my answers?

MovieCritic