I usually dodge questions about the 50 Westerns to be covered in 50 Westerns From The 50s. The reason I’ve avoided the issue is that the list changes so often. Or it used to change often. Lately, it’s settled down quite a bit.
I’ve been really excited about some of the recent progress on the thing (and some recent back-and-forth on Dragoon Well Massacre), so I felt like sharing the list, with the disclaimer that it could still fluctuate some.
1950
Wagon Master
The Gunfighter
Trail Of Robin Hood
Rocky Mountain
1951
Man In The Saddle
Apache Drums
Saddle Legion
Westward The Women
1952
Son Of Paleface
Bend Of The River
Rancho Notorious
Fargo
The Duel At Silver Creek
Lawless Breed
1953
Jack Slade
Last Of The Pony Riders
The Lone Hand
1954
Hondo
Masterson Of Kansas
Vera Cruz
Phantom Stallion
Johnny Guitar
Silver Lode
1955
A Lawless Street
Stranger On Horseback
1956
Reprisal!
Seven Men From Now
Red Sundown
Stagecoach To Fury
Gunslinger
A Day Of Fury
Fury At Gunsight Pass
The Fastest Gun Alive
1957
Hell Canyon Outlaws
Quantez
The True Story Of Jesse James
Fury At Showdown
Night Passage
Forty Guns
1958
Dragoon Wells Massacre
The Lone Ranger And The Lost City Of Gold
Frontier Gun
Fort Dobbs
Gunman’s Walk
The Left-Handed Gun
1959
Curse Of The Undead
Rio Bravo
Last Train From Gun Hill
Face Of A Fugitive
The Horse Soldiers
You might notice that things are skewed a bit toward smaller pictures — and that some “key” titles are missing, namely, High Noon, Shane and The Searchers. A few pre-1950 and post-’59 films will also be included (One-Eyed Jacks was gonna be one of those, but it ended up with its own book).
Hopefully, you’re as stoked about these films as I am. (Thanks to a few of you who’ve helped shape this list over the years.) Looking forward to hearing what you think — and to a winter spent wrapping this thing up.