Letztlich erwies sich dann doch die Sichtung von The Salvation als Geburtshelfer für diese Liste, auch wenn ich die Idee schon sehr lange mit mir herum trage, denn ich bin ein großer Fan von Western, weniger jedoch vom klassischen amerikanischen Western und vielmehr vom Italowestern. Der Western ist das vielleicht größte und am meisten definierte amerikanische Filmgenre überhaupt, ist er doch in seinen handelnden Figuren, erzählenden Elementen, Motiven, Orten und Stilmitteln stark festgelegt und folgt häufig festen Regeln. In dieser heutigen Liste geht es erst einmal nur um den klassischen amerikanischen Western, aber eine zweite mit meinen zehn liebsten Italowestern wird in Kürze folgen, vielleicht sogar auch noch eine mit dem Neo-Western als Thema. Viel Spaß mit dieser Liste voller rauchender Colts und bleihaltiger Luft…..

10.

3:10 to Yuma (2007)
	Rating: 7.8/10 (213,869 votes) Director: James Mangold Writer: Halsted Welles (screenplay), Michael Brandt (screenplay), Derek Haas (screenplay), Elmore Leonard (short story) Stars: Russell Crowe, Christian Bale, Logan Lerman, Dallas Roberts Runtime: 122 min Rated: R Genre: Adventure, Crime, Drama Released: 7 Sep 2007
Plot: A small-time rancher agrees to hold a captured outlaw who's awaiting a train to go to court in Yuma. A battle of wills ensues as the outlaw tries to psych out the rancher.

9.

True Grit (2010)
	Rating: 7.7/10 (207,646 votes) Director: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen Writer: Joel Coen (screenplay), Ethan Coen (screenplay), Charles Portis (novel) Stars: Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin Runtime: 110 min Rated: PG-13 Genre: Adventure, Drama, Western Released: 22 Dec 2010
Plot: A tough U.S. Marshal helps a stubborn young woman track down her father's murderer.

8.

High Noon (1952)
	Rating: 8.1/10 (69,233 votes) Director: Fred Zinnemann Writer: Carl Foreman (screenplay), John W. Cunningham (magazine story "The Tin Star") Stars: Gary Cooper, Thomas Mitchell, Lloyd Bridges, Katy Jurado Runtime: 85 min Rated: PG Genre: Western Released: 30 Jul 1952
Plot: A marshall, personally compelled to face a returning deadly enemy, finds that his own town refuses to help him.

7.

The Searchers (1956)
	Rating: 8.0/10 (55,502 votes) Director: John Ford Writer: Frank S. Nugent (screenplay), Alan Le May (from the novel by) Stars: John Wayne, Jeffrey Hunter, Vera Miles, Ward Bond Runtime: 119 min Rated: APPROVED Genre: Adventure, Drama, Western Released: 13 Mar 1956
Plot: A Civil War veteran embarks on a journey to rescue his niece from an Indian tribe.

6.

Rio Bravo (1959)
	Rating: 8.1/10 (38,152 votes) Director: Howard Hawks Writer: Jules Furthman (screenplay), Leigh Brackett (screenplay), B.H. McCampbell (short story) Stars: John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Angie Dickinson Runtime: 141 min Rated: NOT RATED Genre: Western Released: 4 Apr 1959
Plot: A small-town sheriff in the American West enlists the help of a cripple, a drunk, and a young gunfighter in his efforts to hold in jail the brother of the local bad guy.

5.

The Wild Bunch (1969)
	Rating: 8.1/10 (57,793 votes) Director: Sam Peckinpah Writer: Walon Green (screenplay), Sam Peckinpah (screenplay), Walon Green (story), Roy N. Sickner (story) Stars: William Holden, Ernest Borgnine, Robert Ryan, Edmond O'Brien Runtime: 145 min Rated: R Genre: Action, Adventure, Western Released: 18 Jun 1969
Plot: An aging group of outlaws look for one last big score as the "traditional" American West is disappearing around them.

4.

Open Range (2003)
	Rating: 7.5/10 (49,457 votes) Director: Kevin Costner Writer: Lauran Paine (novel), Craig Storper (screenplay) Stars: Robert Duvall, Kevin Costner, Annette Bening, Michael Gambon Runtime: 139 min Rated: R Genre: Action, Romance, Western Released: 15 Aug 2003
Plot: A former gunslinger is forced to take up arms again when he and his cattle crew are threatened by a corrupt lawman.

3.

The Magnificent Seven (1960)
	Rating: 7.8/10 (57,224 votes) Director: John Sturges Writer: William Roberts (screenplay) Stars: Yul Brynner, Eli Wallach, Steve McQueen, Charles Bronson Runtime: 128 min Rated: NOT RATED Genre: Action, Adventure, Western Released: 23 Oct 1960
Plot: An oppressed Mexican peasant village assembles seven gunfighters to help defend their homes.

2.

Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid (1973)
	Rating: 7.4/10 (11,817 votes) Director: Sam Peckinpah Writer: Rudy Wurlitzer Stars: James Coburn, Kris Kristofferson, Richard Jaeckel, Katy Jurado Runtime: 122 min Rated: R Genre: Drama, History, Western Released: 1973-08-31
Plot: An aging Pat Garrett is hired as a lawman on behalf of a group of wealthy New Mexico cattle barons--his sole purpose being to bring down his old friend Billy the Kid.

1.

Unforgiven (1992)
	Rating: 8.3/10 (238,392 votes) Director: Clint Eastwood Writer: David Webb Peoples Stars: Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, Richard Harris Runtime: 131 min Rated: R Genre: Western Released: 7 Aug 1992
Plot: Retired Old West gunslinger William Munny reluctantly takes on one last job, with the help of his old partner and a young man.