The allure of the Wild West has always captivated audiences, but what happens when tourists from different eras and backgrounds step into this untamed landscape? This curated list of 10 Western films focuses on the unique perspective of tourists, offering a fresh take on the genre. These films not only entertain but also provide a cultural commentary on the clash between the old and new worlds, making them invaluable for those interested in exploring the West through a different lens.
The Big Country (1958)
Description: A sea captain, James McKay, arrives in the West to marry his fiancée but finds himself embroiled in a land feud, experiencing the West as a tourist would.
Fact: The film's score was composed by Jerome Moross and is considered one of the greatest Western film scores ever written.
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The Sundowners (1960)
Description: An Australian family travels through the outback, experiencing life as tourists in their own country, paralleling the Western theme of exploration and survival.
Fact: The film was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture.
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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
Description: This film explores the myth-making of the West through the eyes of a tenderfoot lawyer, Ransom Stoddard, who becomes a tourist in the lawless town of Shinbone.
Fact: The film was shot in black and white to give it an authentic, old-time feel, despite being made in the 1960s.
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The Ballad of Cable Hogue (1970)
Description: Cable Hogue, left for dead in the desert, finds water and turns it into a way station, attracting tourists and travelers, highlighting the entrepreneurial spirit of the West.
Fact: The film was directed by Sam Peckinpah, known for his revisionist Westerns.
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The Cowboys (1972)
Description: When his regular crew abandons him, a rancher hires schoolboys to drive his cattle, turning them into tourists of the harsh realities of the cattle drive.
Fact: John Wayne, in one of his last roles, plays the tough rancher Wil Andersen.
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The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (1972)
Description: Judge Roy Bean, a self-appointed judge, turns his saloon into a tourist attraction, showcasing the West's lawlessness and the allure of frontier justice.
Fact: Paul Newman played the titular character, and the film features a cameo by Ava Gardner.
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The Missouri Breaks (1976)
Description: A British aristocrat, Robert E. Lee Clayton, comes to Montana as a tourist and becomes a notorious horse thief, showcasing the West's allure and dangers to outsiders.
Fact: This was one of the last films for both Marlon Brando and Jack Nicholson, who starred together.
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The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
Description: While not strictly about tourists, this film features a Union soldier who becomes a tourist in his own land, navigating the post-Civil War West. His journey reflects the outsider's perspective, making it a fitting inclusion.
Fact: Clint Eastwood directed and starred in this film, which was his first directorial effort in the Western genre.
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The Great Train Robbery (1903)
Description: While not a tourist in the traditional sense, the film's narrative involves a group of outlaws who disrupt the journey of passengers, offering a unique perspective on the West's lawlessness.
Fact: This film is considered one of the first narrative films in cinema history, pioneering many techniques still used today.
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The Electric Horseman (1979)
Description: A former rodeo star turned advertising icon, Sonny Steele, becomes a tourist in his own life, seeking redemption through a cross-country journey with a stolen horse.
Fact: Robert Redford and Jane Fonda star in this film, which was a critical and commercial success.
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