The 1950s has a strong case for being the best decade ever for the Western genre. Hollywood and other industries have been making quality Westerns for the better part of a century, but it’s hard to ignore with the notion that their golden age has long since passed. The vast majority of the greatest Westerns of all time were made between the 1930s and the 1960s.
Each decade produced many memorable hits. The ’30s, particularly the final years of the decade, were foundational to the success it would find later, thanks in large to movies like Stagecoach. The ’40s furthered the rise of John Wayne and saw other actors deliver worthwhile Westerns, from My Darling Clementine to The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. The popularity it had accumulated up to this point created a great foundation for the Western medium to really hit its stride in the 1950s.
This era in American cinema led to a significant portion of the Western genre’s best movies, including a film cited by many to be the greatest film in John Wayne’s entire career – The Searchers. Also made during this time were Shane and High Noon, two movies often seen as the cream-of-the-crop when it comes to Westerns. But while these three movies may be the best the decade had to offer, they only scratch the surface of what the 1950s contributed to the history of the genre.
Now, several of the most entertaining Westerns from this decade are available to stream on Prime Video.
6
Winchester ’73
A highlight of this period in Western history is the partnership between director Anthony Mann and James Stewart. In the ’30s and ’40s, Stewart’s Westerns were largely consistent with his standard “nice guy” image, but Mann was able to bring out a darker side of the actor, beginning with Winchester ’73.
The story is essentially a cowboy’s quest for revenge, but it cleverly hides it real premise for much of the movie via a unique narrative structure wherein it follows the various owners of the film’s titular rifle. In this way, Winchester ’73 is able to avoid the standard hero vs. villain formula, but still present a great showdown at the end of the movie where James Stewart’s character finally gets to act on his carefully crafted revenge plan.
Through this film noir-infused take on the Western genre and an unusually cynical role for Stewart, Winchester ’73 effectively redefined the entire concept of a James Stewart Western, as evidenced by the genre outings from the actor that followed.
5
Bend Of The River
Like Winchester ’73, its direct follow-up from James Stewart and Anthony Mann is also available on Prime Video. Released in 1952, Bend of the River is a star-studded Western that sees Stewart share the screen with the likes of Rock Hudson, Julie Adams, and Arthur Kennedy. This time, Stewart gets a more straightforward heroic role compared to the one he held in Winchester ’73. That said, it still contains enough moral nuances to make his character an interesting protagonist befitting a gritty Western film.
In Bend of the River, Stewart plays a reformed outlaw who has found himself the leader of a wagon train on its way to Oregon. The long adventure presents a look at real-world challenges associated with the era and region, including the gold rush and conflicts with the Shosone tribe. All that, plus a betrayal from one of their own, happens in front of a beautiful backdrop, as Bend of the River was clearly shot in a way that would make the most of its breathtaking landscapes.
4
Many Rivers To Cross
Released in 1955, Many Rivers to Cross is a light-hearted and underrated Western that tells the story of a frontiersman (Robert Taylor) who catches the eye of a young woman (Eleanor Parker) who will stop at nothing to marry him – even if he has other plans. Preferring life on his own and having no interest in marrying a woman he barely knows, he flatly refuses, but she pursues relentlessly, inviting all sorts of trouble for the main character (including a shotgun wedding and a fist fight with her jealous suitor.)
A big part of what makes Many Rivers to Cross so enjoyable is the performance of Eleanor Parker. Parker energizes the movie with the quirky personality she brings to her character, with the film offering enough shooting and fist-fighting action on Robert Taylor’s side as well. All things considered, the slapstick aspect of the movie pairs well with its Western setting and cast.
3
The Horse Soldiers
Several John Wayne Westerns are streaming on Prime Video, one of which is The Horse Soldiers, where he stars alongside William Holden. In the 1959 film, Wayne plays Marlowe, who heads a company of Union soldiers tasked with sabotage deep into Confederate territory. William Holden’s character is Kendall, an army doctor who tags along with him. At the heart of The Horse Soldiers is the contentious dynamic between Kendall and Marlowe.
As one may expect, Wayne’s character is the tough-as-nails soldier prepared to do whatever it takes to serve his country well. Although not the action hero type himself, William Holden plays his role with confidence, portraying a greater with strong moral convictions and a willingness to stand up to Marlowe. Wayne and Holden’s chemistry alone makes The Horse Soldiers worth watching. But its 81% score on Rotten Tomatoes goes to show that it’s a solid Western all around.
2
The Indian Fighter
For fans of Kirk Douglas, Prime Video hosts some of the actor’s best Westerns, including The War Wagon and The Indian Fighter. The latter was a 1955 release that put Douglas in the role of Johnny Hawks, a cowboy known for ruthlessly hunting down and killing Native Americans. He has the awkward challenge of having to actually defend the Sioux and stop a conflict between their tribe and the U.S. Cavalry from boiling over.
With his incredible screen presence, Kirk Douglas carries The Indian Fighter up until the grand finale, which features an intense, large-scale final battle.
1
Man With The Gun
Among the many hidden gems in Prime Video’s Western lineup is Man with the Gun, a 1955 headlined by one of the genre’s most reliable stars, Robert Mitchum. Man with the Gun gets off the ground quickly with a compelling premise – its lead character (Robert Mitchum) is introduced as a “town tamer,” a nomadic gunslinger who cleans up towns of all their crime – for a price. Basically, Mitchum’s character is a hero for hire, but the townsfolk in the film don’t take long before they begin to regret tasking him with this job.
Man with the Gun presents Mitchum’s character a strong-willed cowboy dedicated to ensuring the job gets done, without caring much whether people approve of him or not. It’s the sort of Western role that feels tailor-made for the talents of the ever-charistmatic Robert Mitchum, who excels at bringing a certain sense of nonchalance and confidence to his characters, especially when they operate in morally gray areas.
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