Howdy Partners. Don’t stand so far away, come closer to the campfire, grab some beans and coffee while its still hot and settle back as the At The Flicks team talk Westerns.
Welcome to the first in a series of podshorts from the At The Flicks western team. While you help yourself to the food, we’ll introduce ourselves. There’s Jeff the Kid, Itchy Trigger Finger Graham and Snake Eyes Neil (don’t stare – he doesn’t like that). We have selected 20 films between the years 1960 – 2020 to talk about, which we consider great movies of the genre. Why those dates? Two reasons
1) Many say the great Westerns had all been made by 1960 – we beg to differ. Here are 20 which are worth anyone’s time. If you disagree we will see you on Main Street at noon, and you had better have your colt six shooter with you (that’s COLT Neil).
2) All the films come from within the team’s lifetime. We have grown up and become saddle sore with many of the films we are proud to talk about.
So, where do we start? Why not with a fun Western? El Dorado was made in 1966, however it is also a throwback to the films of the 1950s. In many ways the plot resembles the classic Rio Bravo, which was also directed by the man behind El Dorado, Howard Hawks. Is it a remake – listen to our tale, the answer to the question is not as simple as you might think.
This old fashioned and fun Western, starring John Wayne and Robert Mitchum, found itself in competition with the newer tougher West, as portrayed in such movies as Nevada Smith and A Fistful Of Dollars. Both films which had a newer, tougher breed of Western hero as portrayed by Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood respectively. How could this film compete? Again, ol’ timer Graham has the answer.
So if you have 20 minutes to spare, join us for the tale of El Dorado.
Have you seen it? Do you think it should be classed as one of the great Westerns? Let us know and we may let you ride the trail with us for future episodes of Rustlers’ Roundup.
See you next time amigos. Until then stay safe.
Links
Trailer
Main Title Sequence
Movies referenced in this show:
- A Fistful Of Dollars
- El Dorado
- Nevada Smith
- Rio Bravo
- Rio Lobo
- Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
