5. The Quick and the Dead (1987)
Wait, “The Quick and the Dead” is not underrated much anymore. Sam Raimi fans are celebrating it too often as they should but here we talk about another film with the same title, not the Raimi. It’s not as wild as Raimi’s film and doesn’t have much in common other than the title and the genre but still a very gripping tale of redemption. Sam Elliott has done a couple of Louis L’Amour adaptations on television. In the era when western was becoming a dying genre for the theatrical, these TV films were getting viewed and celebrated by many.
“The Quick and the Dead” is one of those and gives Elliott another compelling western lead performance as a man who has to deal with a gang of outlaws, whose leader is played by Tom Conti who recently introduced himself to a new generation with “Oppenheimer” performance. The film plays out like a traditional Western with themes around the family’s struggle to survive and protect each other, but it also works well as a character-driven movie because the relationship between all characters is very well realized and you can see the complexities and humanity between your typical “good vs. bad” western formula, thanks to how mature it is when it comes to how it deals with its character.
4. The Rainmaker (1956)
It’s not easy to call a film that got two Oscar nominations and a Golden Globe starring two great stars of the era Burt Lancaster and Katharine Hepburn an “underrated” film but in this day and age, it feels like it. A few years later Lancaster will end up appearing in “Elmer Gantry”, a great film about a con man/salesman while this one is not the same masterpiece as that one and some of its sexual politics could be dated, it’s still a terrific film.
Once again Lancaster plays a con man, this time playing a man who claims to be a rainmaker. He arrives in yet another town after being chased out of town after town. Here, a lonely woman suffering from unrequited love for the local town sheriff falls under his spell. It’s based on a play but the film feels cinematic enough that you don’t really sense that it’s an adaptation.
Again, some of it might be dated but still, it’s a strong glimpse at the look of low self-esteem, how women are limited to their traditional roles in family and the self-doubts Hepburn’s character have is something many women go through today. The script has such a great focus on emotional depth and it also has a unique premise that sets it apart from typical westerns of the era. This is an engaging, emotional and unusual story set against the backdrop of the American West.
3. The Ride Back (1957)
Sheriff Chris Hamish (William Conrad) has been after the double murderer Bob Kallen (Anthony Quinn) for some time. He finds him in a Mexican village. He wants to bring the outlaw back to America. But Kallen claims his innocence: he says he killed the two men in self-defense. This is an intense, character-driven film that turns into a psychological duel between two talented actors and two great characters. As their relationship evolves, the film gets more interesting and involving. The tension and the mutual respect between them turns the film into a worthwhile experience.
It is produced by Robert Aldrich who obviously cared about the medium and he was particularly attracted by the psychological aspects of the script. Unfortunately, despite some great names involved, the film is still rarely discussed anywhere which is a shame because everything here; from the acting to the technical details are all impressive. The pacing is good and almost gripping, the script is full of thought-provoking examination of the moral complexities of law and justice in the Old West and maybe even in our modern world. If you like your westerns with more psychological depth, this is the one you should check out.
2. Purgatory (1999)
As it’s been mentioned at the intro, the list aims to explore various kinds of films in the western genre, to show that while there are great traditional westerns, there are also lots of unusual kind of films that goes to places you’d never expect. Now this is truly a unique one, amazingly blends western with supernatural elements.
The story is about a gang of outlaws attacking a bank. They flee after killing couple of people and then through a kind of tunnel they reach the town of Refuge. They think they’re safe here but soon they realize this town is actually a purgatory. Then of course, our characters will need to redeem themselves to get into Heaven. One of the many things that make this movie work so well is that even though it has a subject that is so tricky, so open to get over-the-top with, it treats the subject matter with a thoughtful approach and hence why the film gets deeper than expected. Its premiered on television which is probably why it didn’t get more popular than it is.
For those who love classic type of westerns shouldn’t back away. Even if it’s not a traditional kind, it still deals with themes of past sins and redemption which many westerns love to do. This is an inventive film with lots of imagination and shows that one can do so many original things within the genre and it’s possible to have a blend of traditional Western formula with elements of other genres.
1. Blood on the Moon (1948)
Speaking of “psychological” westerns, here’s one of the best ones, directed by Robert Wise and shot by cinematographer Nicholas Musuraca who was best known as the director of photography of horror and noir pictures such as “Cat People” and “Out of the Past”. His influence shows itself in the film’s tone as well which one might call noir-ish and it stars Robert Mitchum in the leading role who has done great work in both noir and Western films. He plays Jim Garry, a drifter who willingly works on the ranch of his old friend after the cattle plague has wiped out his herd. The one thing he doesn’t know is that with Jim’s help, he wants to grab other people’s herds for himself. After learning that his friend plays a double game, he finds himself caught up in a war between a cattle baron and homesteaders.
This is not your average western, thanks to its moody cinematography and morally ambiguous take on the genre but still, it gives you enough of the thrills you’d want from a classic western as well. All these make it a very satisfying watching experience. Mitchum is remarkable in the leading role, bringing his usual nuanced delivery and remarkable charisma. He also has excellent chemistry with Bel Geddes and their romantic subplot doesn’t feel unnecessary but instead adds more layers to his characters and the story. The score is also excellent. Long story short, it has so many things you’d want from a western and it manages to deliver them all in every way.