Top 5 Westerns of the '80s

Do you love the Westerns of the '80s? I don't, but today's blogger is loco for them. Michelle Cunningham, maker of the infamous leg-lamp card, has felt like the nerd crashing the cool kids' party-blog since she started listening to the podcasts last year. That's not stopping the Wisconsin resident from submitting her "Spearsy needs a vacation" blog item, though.

I know big hair wasn't conducive to cowboy hats, and synthesizers overruled swelling string sections, but that doesn't mean the '80s didn't have their fair share of Westerns.

First off, Urban Cowboy (1980) is not a Western, despite the heavy use of Stetsons and rodeo references.

Country music sneaked onto Top 40 pop radio stations in the 1980s with Eddie Rabbitt (I Love a Rainy Night), Dolly Parton (9 to 5) and Kenny Rogers (Lady). Rogers took the opportunity to turn his song The Gambler into a made-for-TV movie with the inspired title of Kenny Rogers as The Gambler (1980). He followed that up with the even more uninspired title Kenny Rogers as The Gambler: The Adventure Continues in 1983.

So here is where I submit a list that Steve wouldn't touch -- Memorable Westerns from the '80s -- and wait for the mockery to begin.

TOP 5 WESTERNS OF THE 1980s:

5. ¡THREE AMIGOS! (1986): John Landis directed the Steve Martin-Lorne Michaels-penned comedy. Back when Chevy Chase was still funny, he teamed up with Martin and Martin Short for the mistaken identity caper. With this much talent on the screen, you would think it would be remembered for more than the trio's hip-thrusting introduction. [Watch it]

4. YOUNG GUNS (1988): The Western version of the Brat Pack featured Emilio Estevez as Billy the Kid, Kiefer Sutherland, Lou Diamond Phillips, Charlie Sheen as well as Dermot Mulroney and Casey Siemaszko. A kind-of The Lost Boys, only during daylight with lots of dust and gunfire. Faces to look for: Terence Stamp, Jack Palance and a pre-Lost Terry O'Quinn. Young Guns is probably best known for its connection to Bon Jovi's Wanted Dead or Alive (supposedly the inspiration for the film). For 1990's Young Guns II, Jon Bon Jovi recorded the theme song, Blaze of Glory, and the rest of the soundtrack. [Watch it]

3. PALE RIDER (1985): Before Clint Eastwood's Academy Award-winning Unforgiven, there was Pale Rider, the story of the mysterious stranger who speaks the words of  God and shoots like an outlaw. Even with its religious overtones, it is a classic Western story of fighting injustice. Faces to look for: Sydney Penny, who played the young Rachel Ward in The Thorn Birds; Michael Moriarty, Chris Penn and Richard Kiel (Jaws from Moonraker).

2. LONESOME DOVE (1989): Back when a TV miniseries could honestly earn the "epic" moniker, CBS televised the four-part, Emmy Award-winning production based on Larry McMurtry's novel. The stellar cast featured Robert Duvall and Tommy Lee Jones as former Texas Rangers leading one last cattle drive. Their barbs belie their deep friendship. If you can watch the ending without sobbing, your heart must be as dried out as a lost steer on the high desert plains. Faces to look for: Our '80s sweetheart Diane Lane; Robert Urich; D.B. Sweeney; and Rick (not Ricky) Schroder in one of his first post-"Silver Spoons" roles. [Watch it]

1. SILVERADO (1985): Lawrence Kasdan directed the star-studded buddy movie that includes the man trying to live down his past (Kevin Kline), the goofball (Kevin Costner), the villainous sheriff (Brian Dennehy) and the saloon keeper with a heart of gold (Linda Hunt). Some of the one-off characters (John Cleese and Jeff Goldblum) provide some of the best comic relief. Costner is fun to watch before he started taking himself so seriously. The role also was payback from Kasdan from cutting Costner from The Big Chill. His silliness is balanced by the tightly wound Scott Glenn, who portrays his brother. The ensemble cast is amazing, but the film becomes a classic with the rousing score by Bruce Broughton (Quincy, The Ice Pirates). [Watch it]

Comments

[FAPORT International]

I love Kenny Rogers, nice post and information...thanks

[Stymie]

Lonesome Dove — before it was ruined with all the sequels, prequels and short-lived TV series — is not only the best Western on this list. It also ranks with Roots, Shogun, The Sopranos, etc. as the Best. Television. Ever.

Silverado is good, but no way is it better than Lonesome Dove. Not even close.

I too would add Barbarosa to the list; would remove both Young Guns films (can't believe I paid money to see either in a theater — pure garbage); would remove Pale Rider (not that it's bad, but it's a Shane ripoff). In their place, I would substitute two superior 1980 Westerns: The Long Riders and Tom Horn (Steve McQueen's last film).

But I also think there are two 1980s films that, while not set in the Western era, could easily be classified as Westerns:

* Outland (1981) — Essentially takes the "High Noon" plot and places it in outer space. With Sean Connery, Peter Boyle and a scene-stealing Frances Sternhagen.

* The Milagro Beanfield War (1988) — Set in modern-day New Mexico, but with the same lone hero-stands-up-to-land barons machinations that dominate many Westerns.

[Jeff in Cuba]

Yhanks, Doc.

Things have been crazier than usual here in Cuba for the last few months, but I'm hoping to pop up more regularly in the future.

[Dr. Dim]

This is an interesting topic. I agree with Miguel in that the 80s weren't the best decade for Westerns. I would add one more to Miguel's 1969 Westerns that were great. That is 'True Grit', a great Western and a fine performance by John Wayne. (How can we talk about Westerns without mentioning John Wayne?)

Incidentally, 'Pale Rider' is essentially a remake of the (dare I say) classic 1953 Alan Ladd Western, 'Shane'.

I haven't seen 'Young Guns' and 'Silverado', so I don't know about them. And I think 'Three Amigos' is a bit of a stretch. 'Silverado' is in the Netflix queue, so I'll see that one soon.

I have no interest in seeing 'Young Guns', however. It always gave me the impression of a gimmick movie. Can anyone convince me to add it to my Netflix queue?

And, of Michelle's list, I would place 'Lonesome Dove' at number one. It is fantastic, but I haven't seen 'Silverado' yet so...

By the way, nice to see a post from Jeff in Cuba. Haven't seen you around here much lately.

[Crockett]

Young Guns!
Definiately.

I remember when it came out, I was in Ft McClellan, AL. at MP school.
I blew a whole weekend at the movie theater on it, instead of the usual drinking, getting tats, and carousing that we did on our rare weekend pass.

Saw it over and over and over again!

I think im with Bassnot, it wasn't your typical good guy bad guy flick.
Charlie Sheen got blown away early on.
The hero doesn't die that early on! Especially the one with morals.
It was refreshing...

[DerekT]

Good blog, although I never cared for Westerns. There was also Kenny Rodgers in Coward of the County around the same time wasn't he? I did like Young Guns, only because it wasn't your normal old cowboy type of cowboys. I don't think I have ever seen Silverado, even though it was just on TV here not too long ago.

[Bassnote]

Great list Michelle. I love Silverado and Pale Rider. Pale Rider is a great Clint Eastwood movie, and a classic western. The part when Clint pops Richard Kiel with the sledgehammer, then helps him back onto his horse, is pure gold. I agree with Wuenchdog that Barbarosa would have made my list instead of Three Amigos.

[CHAD]

michelle i have to agree with you on the number uno. silverado is a great movie, in fact i was watching the making of documentary on the special edition dvd just yesterday. yeah costner takes himself seriously, but i think he always has. if you watch the making of, he mentions that he wanted the scott glenn role, but he knew a good role when he saw it. he just doesn't get to play comedic roles very often. in the last few years he has done more(upside of anger, and swing vote).

[Wuenchdog]

Well done Michelle. I would put "Pale Rider" # 1 and "Silverado" # 2, but that is quibbling. Also, I would insert "Barbarosa" and "Man From Snowy River" in the Top 5 instead.
Where's the love for "Bronco Billy"? Oh yeah, that stunk.
As long as we're talking westerns, it reminds my of one the great 80's movies quotes from "The Blue Brothers": Q: "What kind of music do you play around here?" A: "Both kinds. Country AND Western."

[Michelle]

Don, that's a failure on my part, especially because Glover was in both "Lonesome Dove" and "Silverado." D'oh!

[Miguel]

Michelle,very interesting to take on Westerns in the 80s.

I think the 80s was not a good decade when it comes to Westerns,neither were the 70s actually.In 1969 there were two masterpieces that made the perfect funeral for the genre.Sam Peckinpah`s "Wild Bunch" and Sergio Leone`s "Once Upon a Time in The West".Since then and until "Unforgiven" in 92 it was a desert when it comes to this movie genre.

It doesn`t mean that there weren`t some interesting movies like "The Outlaw Josey Wales" in the 70s and "Silverado" that i really like.

And when we talk about Westerns in the 80s we have to mention (not for the best reasons),Michael Cimino`s "Heaven`s Gate",one of the biggest flops in the history of cinema.

[don in tulsa]

i can't believe you didn't mention danny glover was also in silverado.

[Jeff in Cuba]

Michelle,

A nicely crafted effort! After my college buddies and I saw "Silverado", we wore cowboy cap pistols around campus for a couple of weeks. Two thoughts:

1) What a different world it was where you could walk around an educational facility with a pistol and not get in trouble, and...

2) How in the world did any of us ever get laid?