Robert Mitchum’s 10 Best Western Movies, Ranked

Although he is best known for his work on the film noir Robert Mitchum starred in more than 30 films in Western
gender too. Called “soul of film noir” by Roger Ebert, Mitchum is famous for his iconic villain roles in the ’50s and ’60s. His noir work as the classic antihero laid the groundwork for many of the genre’s famous modern antagonistic characters. However, Mitchum’s reach Superior acting skills helped him make a smooth transition from the smooth, stylized villain roles of film noir to rougher, more dramatized roles.

As seen in western films like El Doradowhich is one of the actor’s most famous films of all time, and The tombstones, where Mitchum serves as the off-screen narrator. Mitchum appears alongside John Wayne in El Doradothe latter having replaced the former in an older film after Mitchum was fired from the Blood Alley. Mitchum often adopts a likable and charismatic personality in his Western films, often playing soft-spoken characters who can command situations. yet they are as morally gray as his noir characters.

10

Man with the Gun (1955)

Directed by Richard Wilson

Mitchum plays a notorious city tamer in Man with the gun. His character, Clint Tollinger, goes to Sheridan City in search of a woman and is inevitably hired by the locals to take care of their problems, seeing his experience with guns. The townspeople are being tormented by a local farmer’s gunmen and pay Tollinger a considerable amount of money to deal with this farmer because the local police do not want to antagonize him.

Thematically, Man with the gun explores the idea of ​​how violence begets violence; at some point, Tollinger himself becomes a problem for the residents. He considers himself above the law, and thanks to Mitchum’s penchant for playing immoral protagonists, Tollinger’s narrative role reversal is not only believable but also an important device for the film to emphasize its message. Being a fairly formulaic Western, however, there is a distinct lack of self-awareness despite the film’s themes, as it creates spectacle out of violence.

9

The Wrath of God (1972)

Directed by Ralph Nelson

The Wrath of God features Mitchum as an armed priest who fights corrupt state officials after being spared in the process of trying to protect a woman in danger. For fans of the western genre who enjoy stylized violent sequences, it’s a fun film. Mitchum is joined by other acting icons like Frank Langella and Rita Hayworth, portraying a character who is again not the picture of absolute integrity.

However, if violence and lawlessness are not attractive to the viewer, The Wrath of God it’s not an engaging watch because it’s set in a period of American history that isn’t contextualized in the film itself. Because of this, the first half especially suffers from an almost incoherent plot progression. Its saving grace, which makes the film worth watching, is Mitchum’s performance, especially his elegant dialogue delivery.

8

The Wonderful Country (1959)

Directed by Robert Parrish

In The wonderful countryMitchum has a nasty Mexican accent that’s hard to ignore. However, if one is willing to accept the flaw and dedicate time to the film, one is in for a wild ride between Mexico and the United States. Loosely based on the novel of the same name by Tom Lea The wonderful country follows gunslinger Brady as he searches for a gun deal in the US, his first time in the country since fleeing to Mexico after becoming a fugitive from the law to avenge his father’s murder.

A classic western, The wonderful country has a good mix of romance, emotion and action, presenting an illicit affair and a series of unfair accusations launched against the protagonist that make him an outlaw in both countries. The film’s final 15 minutes are an action-packed chase sequence that ends with a melancholic walk across the horizon as Mitchum returns to the US, with hopes for the future.

7

Bandit! (1956)

Directed by Richard Fleischer

Also known as Bandit!, Bandit! is set in the timescape of the Mexican Revolution. Mitchum’s character, Wilson, is an American mercenary who seeks to profit from the revolution by working for a rebel leader to hijack an arms deal. Despite a romance subplot buoyed by the graceful presence of Ursula Theiss as Wilson’s love interest, Bandit! it often meanders between action sequences, which are the film’s highlights.

A thrilling prison escape sequence and a thrilling climactic showdown between the rebels and the “Regulars“stand out from the rest of the pieces set in Bandit! However, the film’s strong point is the despicable charisma of Mitchum’s personality, who nonchalantly throws grenades and operates heavy machinery in fights to survive the action. Bandit! almost seems to rely on Mitchum’s charms as an actor to engage the audience, as the plot is quite predictable.

6

Rachel and the Stranger (1948)

Directed byNorman Foster

Starring alongside Loretta Young who plays the titular Rachel, Mitchum delivers a performance of pure laid-back charisma in Rachel and the Stranger. Mixed between romance and western, the film strengthens itself by borrowing traits from both genres. Although it has a typical resolution, Rachel and the Stranger it initially subverts romantic traditions by using the cynicism of westerns to challenge the romanticization of servile femininity in marriage that can be found in romantic films released even five decades after its release.

Mitchum isn’t often seen doing this in his films, so when he sings in Rachel and the StrangerIt is a sight to behold and a delight to the ears. Her beautiful voice brings to life the melancholic and hopeful lyrics of her songs. The love triangle is completed by William Holden, playing one of his least likable characters ever. His antagonistic personality contrasts well with the casualness that Mitchum brings to the film, as they both compete for the love of the woman, who unfortunately ends up being marginalized in a disappointingly conventional ending.

5

Cat’s Clue (1954)

Directed by William A. Welman

Walter Van Tilburg Clark’s novel of the same name was adapted by director William A. Welman for his film Cat’s Lane, in which Mitchum plays the middle brother of a trio of children in a family of bitter people who can’t stop verbally abusing each other out of suspicion of their intentions. Meanwhile, Mitchum’s character leaves the family in their safe place to hunt a panther that appears to be terrorizing the area and poses a danger to them all.

Cat Tracking is a unique western as it is divided into two parts – an adventurous hunt and a melodramatic family fight. However, although the hunt for the dangerous black panther is exciting in its own way, Mitchum feels underutilized, as his acting skills would really shine in the scenes of family tension.

4

Blood on the Moon (1948)

Directed by Robert Wise

Blood on the Moon constitutes another mix of genres, allowing Mitchum to bring his A-game when this western has noir sensibilities in its narrative. Like a classic Western, the backdrop of Blood on the Moon it is of vast expanses with no life in sight, dotted with settlements where humanity is not thriving, just surviving, motivated by personal desires and needs.

Westerns often focus on the darker sides of humanity, highlighting how greed gets in the way of creating a community. However, Blood on the Moon is particularly cynical towards people, with its complex dramatic twists based on people’s cunning. Unlike the roles Mitchum became famous for playing in film noirs, he plays the most straightforward and morally upright man of all time. Blood on the Moon. The reactions he provokes in people demonstrate how unforgiving conditions make humans suspicious and selfish.

3

Pursued (1947)

Directed by Raoul Walsh

Raoul Walsh created another melodramatic western with noir elements in Persecuted. The plot is somewhat complicated, with many twists and turns. However, due to the pacing and Mitchum’s masterful performance as a protagonist haunted by a forgotten past, he profits from the complexity of the plot. Broadly covering the events of Mitchum’s character’s life, Persecuted paints a portrait of a man whose fortune often betrays him, although it favors him in one-on-one confrontations which he always survives.

Mitchum’s presence as the misunderstood and mistreated man who just wants to marry the love of his life is the main emotional hook of Persecuted. Everything else is just reactions he provokes by inheriting a dark past that he had no part in creating. The moral obscurity of everyone around them drives the film to its action-heavy climax that ultimately comes down to the emotional states of the characters in its resolution.

2

The Lusty Men (1952)

Directed by Nicholas Ray

The typical macho attitude associated with rodeos, who are often the heroes of westerns, is severely challenged in The lustful menadapted from the novel of the same name by Claude Stanush. Mitchum does a retired rodeo in The lustful menwho decides to train another willing man in the art of rodeo as a way to make money.

The lustful men never deviates from his path of exposing the fallibility of a person who is driven by fame and pride, employing melodramatic themes of family anguish, growing distrust of people, and illicit proclamations of love. Mitchum’s personality is equal parts pitiful and charismatic, a fine line he walks superiorly, bringing the plot to a violent end with his nuanced performance that is antithetical to the young man his character is training.

1

El Dorado (1966)

Directed by Howard Hawks

One of Mitchum’s most famous films and his first appearance alongside John Wayne El Dorado is as formulaic as an action-packed Western can be – but that’s its greatest strength. The masterful use of oft-seen Western elements such as jaded protagonists, hard-to-subdue unruly criminals, gunfights, and a wounded but charismatic Wayne ensures it’s a fun ride from start to finish. Mitchum and Wayne have a rather amusing fight, where the former’s character is drunk and is persuaded by the latter’s character to sober up.

Robert Mitchum plays a supporting role El Dorado with significantly less screen time than Wayne, but whenever he’s on screen, his ability to mix charm with dysfunction shines through. Playing a considerably incompetent sheriff, Mitchum creates space for Wayne to shine as the savior hero. Even so, Mitchum’s performance still makes him an unforgettable element of one of the best westerns of the 60s.