Image credit: Brighton Pictures, Paramount Pictures, MGM, Euro International Films, Rialto Film, The Malpaso Company, Cinema Center Films, Universal Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox, Dino De Laurentiis Company, Devon/Persky-Bright, The Mirisch Corporation, Embassy Pictures, Warner Bros., First Artists
The 1970s were a goldmine for Westerns, but some gems never quite got the shine they deserved, hidden in the shadow of the big gunslingers of cinema.
We're dusting off the old film reels to bring you a list of 25 underrated Westerns from the 70s, movies that didn't just gallop through the box office but trotted straight into the hearts of true genre fans.
These are the flicks where the tumbleweeds roll a bit slower, the saloon brawls are a touch grittier, and the standoffs aren't just about the quick draw, but about stories that stick to your ribs like a good plate of beans by the campfire.
24. "The White Buffalo" (1977) Rotten Tomatoes score: 17% Wild Bill Hickok, haunted by visions of a white buffalo, and Crazy Horse, seeking revenge for the death of his child, converge in the Black Hills, each on a quest to find the mythical creature.
23. "The Hunting Party" (1971) Rotten Tomatoes score: 20% A wealthy rancher and his friends hunt down a gang of outlaws who kidnapped his wife, leading to a brutal and relentless chase through the desert, marked by violence and moral ambiguity.
22. "Butch and Sundance: The Early Days" (1979) Rotten Tomatoes score: 33% This prequel to "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" explores the early relationship between the two legendary outlaws, detailing their initial partnership and adventures prior to their infamous criminal careers.
21. "Soldier Blue" (1970) Rotten Tomatoes score: 38% After surviving a brutal massacre by the Cheyenne, a young private and a woman who lived with the Cheyenne for two years journey through dangerous terrain and confront the atrocities committed against Native Americans.
20. "The Spikes Gang" (1974) Rotten Tomatoes score: 47% Three young boys, inspired by an outlaw, decide to become bandits themselves. Their naiveté and inexperience lead them into a world of trouble and a confrontation with the realities of crime and violence.
19. "The Frisco Kid" (1979) Rotten Tomatoes score: 54% A Polish rabbi travels across the United States to lead a San Francisco synagogue. Along the way, he encounters various characters, including a bank robber, and faces challenges that test his faith and adaptability.
18. "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" (1973) Rotten Tomatoes score: 56% An account of the friendship turned rivalry between Pat Garrett, a lawman, and Billy the Kid, a notorious outlaw, culminating in Garrett's determination to bring Billy to justice in the Old West.
17. "The Culpepper Cattle Co." (1972) Rotten Tomatoes score: 63% A young farm boy joins a cattle drive and experiences the harsh realities of cowboy life, facing dangers and learning tough lessons on the journey, which challenges his idealized view of the West.
16. "Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson" (1976) Rotten Tomatoes score: 65% A satirical look at the legend of Buffalo Bill Cody, whose Wild West show exaggerates his heroism. The arrival of Sitting Bull, who refuses to comply with the distorted version of history, creates conflict and comedy.
15. "Missouri Breaks" (1976) Rotten Tomatoes score: 79% A rancher hires a "regulator" to hunt down horse thieves led by Tom Logan. The regulator's unconventional and ruthless tactics lead to a dramatic confrontation in this tale of justice and morality in the Wild West.
14. "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean" (1972) Rotten Tomatoes score: 80% Outlaw Roy Bean appoints himself the judge for the region of West Texas, dispensing his own brand of justice while admiring the actress Lillie Langtry, leading to a legendary and often comedic tale of the Old West.
13. "The Shootist" (1976) Rotten Tomatoes score: 83% An aging gunfighter, John Bernard Books, discovers he has cancer and decides to spend his final days in a quiet town, but his presence brings old conflicts to the surface, leading to a final showdown.
12. "McCabe & Mrs. Miller" (1971) Rotten Tomatoes score: 85% A gambler, John McCabe, builds a brothel in a Northwestern mining town, partnering with a madam, Constance Miller. As the town grows, they face threats from wealthy miners and must protect their investment.
11. "A Man Called Horse" (1970) Rotten Tomatoes score: 86% An English aristocrat, John Morgan, is captured by a Sioux tribe. Initially enslaved, he gradually earns the respect of the tribe and assimilates their culture, becoming a warrior and ultimately their leader.
10. "Monte Walsh" (1970) Rotten Tomatoes score: 89% Monte Walsh and Chet Rollins are aging cowboys at the end of the Old West era. As their traditional way of life disappears, they struggle to find their place in a changing world, with Monte facing a choice between adapting or maintaining his cowboy ways.
9. "Ulzana's Raid" (1972) Rotten Tomatoes score: 90% A seasoned scout and a green lieutenant are tasked with tracking down Apache leader Ulzana, who has led a raiding party off the reservation, leading to a violent and morally complex pursuit.
8. "Jeremiah Johnson" (1972) Rotten Tomatoes score: 91% A Mexican War veteran, Jeremiah Johnson, turns to the life of a mountain man, facing the harsh wilderness, making friends and enemies among Native American tribes, and seeking solitude amidst the beauty and danger of the Rockies.
7. "The Outlaw Josey Wales" (1976) Rotten Tomatoes score: 91% Josey Wales, a Missouri farmer, becomes a fugitive and a folk hero after a brutal attack by Union soldiers. His quest for revenge turns into a journey towards redemption as he accumulates a diverse group of companions.
6. "Little Big Man" (1970) Rotten Tomatoes score: 91% Jack Crabb, looking back from extreme old age, recounts his life being raised by Native Americans and fighting with General Custer. His story is one of survival and identity, navigating the changing American frontier.
5. "Duck, You Sucker" (also known as "A Fistful of Dynamite", 1971) Rotten Tomatoes score: 92% In Mexico during the revolution, an Irish explosives expert and a Mexican bandit form an unlikely friendship as they become involved in the struggle against the government, leading to explosive and tragic consequences.
4. "Days of Heaven" (1978) Rotten Tomatoes score: 93% In the early 20th century, a laborer persuades his lover to marry their wealthy boss to secure their future. The plan leads to unexpected consequences, driven by jealousy and desire, set against the stunning backdrop of the Texas Panhandle.
3. "The Ballad of Cable Hogue" (1970) Rotten Tomatoes score: 94% Cable Hogue, after being left to die in the desert, discovers water and sets up a profitable waystation. His life changes when he falls for a woman and encounters the men who abandoned him.
2. "High Plains Drifter" (1973) Rotten Tomatoes score: 94% A mysterious stranger arrives in a small town and is hired to protect it from three outlaws. His brutal tactics and supernatural elements reveal a personal vendetta and a quest for justice.
1. "My Name is Nobody" (1973) Rotten Tomatoes score: 100% A young, ambitious gunman seeks to become a legend by forcing a famous gunslinger into a final duel. The film blends comedy and western elements, exploring themes of heroism and the end of the Wild West era.
