Cowboy Movies

Those of us who are aged seem to think a cowboy movie has to have John Wayne in it. I think Wayne has done some of the best westerns ever. Some of the best, but not the best. The best one ever made was “Shane” with Alan Ladd. I am not an Alan Ladd fan and think Shane was the only movie I ever saw him in that was worth watching. On Wayne, the only movies he made that I didn’t like are the ones where he wore a suit and tie.

Shane had the perfect plot and the perfect ending. He showed up at the right time, tried to avoid violence, won the female lead’s heart even though she was married and neither of them would cross the line; but when the chips were down, Shane went up against impossible odds in a gunfight and saved the day. He then rode off into the setting sun to end the movie with the viewer wondering just what he may do or whom he might save at a later date. Did he ever find another woman to love? Did he ever lose a draw with pistols? In my mind he is still out there today.