#2 – Dances with Wolves
Dances with Wolves is an epic Western first released in 1990. It stars Kevin Costner, Mary McDonnell, Graham Green, and Tantoo Cardinal. Three prominent directors were offered the project, but each one turned it down. Finally, Costner decided to direct the film himself in his directorial debut.
Costner plays Army lieutenant John Dunbar, who, through a heroic act during the Civil War, is offered his choice of a duty post, and surprises his superiors by choosing a remote post on the Western frontier. Through an unusual set of circumstances, Dunbar finds himself the sole member of the detachment to the remote outpost of Fort Sedgwick. He enjoys the solitude and goes about repairing and restocking the outpost. During his time there, he gets to know his neighbors—a tribe of Lakota Sioux—and grows to appreciate and respect their lives and culture. Eventually, Dunbar leaves his old life behind and joins the Lakota. This will cause problems for Dunbar when the army learns about him.
The film was based on a novel by Michael Blake, who was a friend of Costner’s. Blake wrote Dances with Wolves as a novel after Kevin Costner convinced him to do so. Blake originally tried to sell the idea as a screenplay, but Costner believed that it would generate more studio interest as a novel.
The cinematography and the musical score for the film were both outstanding and accounted for two of the seven Academy Awards that the film won in 1991. It also won the Oscar for Best Picture, becoming only the second Western film to earn that honor—the first being Cimarron (1931). In total, the film was nominated for 88 awards, winning 51, including seven Academy Awards and three Golden Globes.
Mike,
It is an interesting list. I have only seen 2 of these. You make them sound pretty good. I am ready to start the popcorn and settle in for a while. 🙂 Thank you for sharing!
Cami, I’m glad you enjoyed the list, and I’m especially glad that I could steer you on to some movies you weren’t familiar with. Pop a lot of popcorn; you’ve got quite a night of great Western movie watching ahead of you.
Yes, you are quite right good Sir! Lol.
Interesting list, Michael. It’s notable that only 4 of your choices are from the ‘classic’ western era, which I would define as 1939-1976. You like the post 1976 stuff better than me, and mini-series. And its obvious ROBERT DUVALL is your man!
Thanks for checking out my list, Andrew, and for commenting. You’ve got me figured out. I think Duvall is the quintessential cowboy. His characterization of Gus McCrae is probably the best performance in all of movie history.
1.Unforgiven
2.The Good the Bad and the Ugly
3.The man who shot Liberty Valance
4.Rio Bravo
5.The Searchers
6.red River
7.Stagecoach
8.Once Upon a Time in the West
9.Highnoon
10.My Darling Clementine
11.Hell or High Water
12.No country for Old Men
You have a couple of interesting choices on there. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is one that I’ve watched multiple times, as is Rio Bravo. As a modern Western, No Country for Old Men would be a good choice. Maybe I should do another list for modern Westerns. Thanks for your comment.
1. Once upon a Time in the West
2. The Searchers
3. The Magnificent Seven ( 1960)
4.Open Range
5. Tombstone
6. Red River (1948)
7. The Man from Laramie
8. Unforgiven
9. How the West was won
10. Hang ’em High
Thanks, Karim. Another great list. I’m beginning to think I should have found room for Tombstone. Maybe I should have made it the 13 Best Western Movies.
1. Unforgiven
2. Once Upon a Time in the West
3.good Bad and the Ugly
4. For a few Dollars more
5. Hang em high
6. Tombstone
7. Shane
8. The Searchers
9. Nevada Smith
10. Outlaw Josie Wales
These are all good ones, Lynn. I actually thought about expanding my list so I could include a few of these, but once I start doing that, there’ll be no end to it. Thanks for your comment.