A couple of Westerns are being shown this week on Turner Classic. “3:10 to Yuma” is the original of which the recent remake is infinitely better. And the other, “Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid” is a pretty good Western with Kris Kristofferson, most notable for a small part where Bob Dylan resorts to reading can labels in a dry goods store while the outlaws prowl around outside.
A recent poll by AMC lists their “Greatest Westerns.” They are:
-The Searchers; Stagecoach; Winchester ’73?; The Wild Bunch; Johnny Guitar; McCabe & Mrs. Miller; My Darling Clementine; Unforgiven; The Good, the Bad & the Ugly; Shane.
No, no, no, no No! They must be out of their minds, where is Butch Cassidy on that list? Where is The Outlaw Josey Wales? Where is Red River?
I really like The Big Country with Gregory Peck and The Westerner with Gary Cooper. Where is High Noon, for that matter? This list is basically not credible. Anyone who has watched or written about film cannot seriously think that Winchester 73 should be included on a top 10 list that leaves out Butch Cassidy and High Noon.
Six Degrees of Film 