Few weeks back, I posted about Almost Heroes, the Chris Farley-driven explorer comedy set during the 1800s. When I browsing Prime for that movie, Wagons East! was suggested right along with it, and I softly marveled at the similarities between the two. Beyond the similar setting, both starred comedic giants in their final acting role, featured foppish co-leads, and are generally considered failures, both financially and critically.

That said, this movie has a 0% on Rotten Tomatoes. I know that review aggregators isn’t gospel, but jeez, its a deal better than Almost Heroes.

Richard Lewis stars as Phil, a former war doc who, with others, are flat exhausted by the West and the turmoil it brings. He, along with other characters played by (the Doctor) Robert Picardo and (Dr. Cox) John C. McGinley, decide to take the unconventional route of going against the flow of traffic and returning to civilization. The move is presented as ironic, which it is in the context of Western films, but you have to think that sort of thing happened all the time.

The group hires the drunken and disheveled James Harlow (John Candy) to lead them back to Saint Louis. That’s sort of contrived impetus for the plot, I’m not saying the roads are clearly marked but you’d think going back to civilization wouldn’t require a whole ass guide. Predictably, Harlow, much like Bartholomew Hunt from Almost Heroes, is far from a competent leader and hijinks ensue.

The movie suffers from a lot of the same ills of it’s cousin-movie. The jokes are often too stupid to solicit more than a chuckle and it deals too heavily in tropes and typecasts to be considered daring. Still, it works way better than its counterpart, actually attempting to deliver on character arcs and even giving us a capable antagonist or two to impede the protagonists from time to time.

I didn’t hate Wagons East!, it’s got a good cast and is earnest in it’s attempt to entertain, but given that Candy died in the throes of production there’s a wisp of melancholy in the cinematic ether. Fire this one up if you’re bored and looking for some that mid-90s vibe, but be warned of the tinge of sadness it may produce between the quips and arrows.

Sorry if this reddit is western movies only.

A question about the First Mountain Man book series. I've read the first book and the prequel called Preacher. I know that Art gets this nickname while being tortured by some Natives as they mention it in the first book. Is there a book in the series where we actually read about this happening?

I really admire the western genre, but I’m young and I have trouble watching old movies in the Western genre is such an old genre and has a lot of old classics so what are some recommendations to get me into the genre and ready for those old classics?

https://www.deviantart.com/nimzo2345/art/SLAVE-HUNTER-1239114469

I watched and enjoyed both of the above. I’m no expert on Westerns so I’m not sure where to go next. I prefer limited run TV shows.

Has anyone seen “The English”? I tried the first episode but it wasn’t landing for me.

I don't care if I'm an old man, I STILL want that lever-action Mare's Leg that Steve McQueen carried in Wanted: Dead or Alive. I promise to use it responsibly. Just rustlers and wanted criminals.

His performance as the Schofield Kid in Unforgiven was, IMO, very good, so I was surprised to see that he barely acted in many films after that. You'd think having a breakout performance in an Oscar winning film, headlining it with Clint Eastwood and Morgan Freeman of all people, would open the doors of Hollywood at least for the rest of the decade.

After doing some research, I found out he's Canadian. So, after Unforgiven, he basically focussed on either Canadian or American TV for the rest of his career. Still, it's odd. At the time, TV acting was considered (at least financially) to be a big step down from Hollywood. So, I just wonder, why didn't he immediately take off as a consistent presence in films at the time?

by the way: yeah i know the same pilot is actually the first episode of The Rifleman however in Zane Grey Theatre there was originally music of the show instead of The Rifleman (the most recognizable is from Wanted Dead or Alive TV show), unseen shots, the house doesn’t appear in the pilot since the the first episode was officially created etc

I knows this is super old but I like John Ford and Henry Hathaway. Also I think the 50s were the best years for Westerns. I know I sound like an old person right now, but 1950s westerns are just nostalgic.

I hope this post is ok to share here. The Outlaw Josey Wales is one of my favorite westerns, and I wanted to show a new figure in my collection. I am blown away at the head sculpt.

Hey so I need to write a Western story for my creative writing club and I wanted more inspiration. If I'm being honest most of my western knowledge comes from Read dead redemption and blood meridian. So anything that you think is essential for me to read or watch so I can get a better grasp on what to write amazing. I actually just picked up Dead man's walk and I hope it's good, but yeah any book, movie, show anything recommendations would be greatly appreciated👍👍

The Jigawatts were there, but problem with speed.

https://www.deviantart.com/nimzo2345/art/SLAVE-HUNTER-1238787309#image-2

My grandfather was a massive John Wayne fan so I saw a lot of them when I was young. Sadly I can't remember much of them. The one I'm looking for, I have very little memory of, is black and white. John Wayne looked somewhat young and 2 women where fighting for his attention. At least I think so. One was a normal woman of the time (for a lack of a better term) and the other was more like a cowgirl, rough and tough. and that's all I can really remember. I want to say the movie had a dark circle around the edges but I'm not sure if that was maybe the copy he had or if it was the film that had a dark vignette. I know it's a long shot but any help would be great!

I mentioned this in a comment in another thread but could not add the photo.

Note that Taka the eagle is included.

I had this as a kid but do not have it now.

Picture found on web.

Just watched this last evening. 1973. British director, two American actors and shot in Spain. Definitely has a spaghetti western feel to it. A wanted black man encounters a crippled Indian. They bond over their hatred of the white man. Starts a but slow but pays off as it develops. Unique story. A bit brutal at times but a good film and one that deserves a second watch.

This really is western masterpiece, just glorious storytelling, deep, subtle, grounded in reality. Incredible.

You guys love it?