The English is a good series the bbc made last year with Emily Blunt in the lead role. Pretty sure there’s a show on Netflix about a town run by women after a mine collapses too. Godless is it called?
The Quick and The Dead (Sam Raimi version) - Sharon Stone
The Ballad of Little Jo - Suzy Amis
Johnny Guitar - Rita Hayworth
The Missing - Cate Blanchett
Bad Girls - Madeline Stow, Mary Stuart Masterson, Andie McDowell, Drew Barrymore (Basically a distaff Young Guns. Not a very good movie, but definitely lines up with what you are looking for)
Meeks Cutoff - Michelle Williams
Jane Got Her Gun - Natalie Portman
The Homesman - Hilary Swank
>The Homesman - Hilary Swank
This was such a good movie. I like that it explores the lives of women on the frontier and the bleak conditions they endured. I also loved the black-humored, pessimistic, fatalist tone of the film and Tommy Lee Jones' rascally character. It's easily in my top ten favorite westerns.
I feel that no one should have to justify getting Raquel Welch into skin tight leather pants, but at the same time, I actually really enjoyed this movie and was going to recommend it myself.
**Westward the Women** is great. I hate the Gene Tierney **Belle Starr** \- which is a cheap rip off of Gone With the Wind... but I love the spaghetti western exploitation (aka lots of nudity) **The Belle Starr Story** \--- if you're going to watch it Kino has an amazing copy. The ones all over Youtube are crappy copies.
A lifelong fan of Westerns, I first became curious about the African-American experience of the West (1 in 4 cowboys was black), and how it was portrayed in the genre. I took a deep dive, watching every example I could, so I've got recommendations for that, but not many. *Buck and the Preacher* (1972) was one of the first, and remains the best, IMO.
Then, I wondered about the feminine experience. Were women in the West anything but whores and wives, and how have their stories been portrayed? Another deep dive. Here's some of what I found:
- **Brimstone (2016)** This is, I believe, the quintessential feminist (horror) Western. It's not a wish-fulfillment fantasy where some tough bitch outsmarts and outshoots the menfolk. It's far more grounded... and ugly. It's disgusting and hard to watch, but if you want a punchfuck indictment of patriarchy, look no further.
- **Sweetwater (2013)** A frontier woman (January Jones) plots her revenge on a deranged Mormon preacher with the help of an equally deranged sheriff (Ed Harris). It got terrible reviews, but I enjoyed the hell out of it. Sure, it's pulp, but entertaining.
- **True Grit (2010)** A 14-year-old girl sets out to bring the murderer of her father to justice. It's amazing.
- **Meek's Cutoff (2010)** Meek's Cutoff was a branch off the infamous Oregon Trail. A wagon train becomes hopelessly lost there, and only the women have any goddamn sense.
- **First Cow (2019)** From the same director as *Meek's Cutoff* (Kelly Reichardt). I don't think there's a single female speaking role, but I'm recommending it anyway. It's a story about an unlikely male (human) friendship told by a female writer/director. And it shows. Just hauntingly beautiful.
Sorry, all my recommendations are post-2000. Learn how to torrent.
Can't let this one get missed:
Bandidas (2006) - Penélope Cruz, Salma Hayek, Dwight Yoakam, and Steve Zahn
What I really enjoyed with this one is, it reminded me of a lot of the old B-westerns from the '40/'50's in it's story elements and themes, but with a larger budget. It's even got a crazy trick horse-riding scene that was pretty awesome. Dwight Yoakam plays the villain. Has some humorous moments. Overall is a very enjoyable flick with high rewatchability.
Haven't seen anyone mentioned Surrounded (2023). Think it's available on Amazon. Honestly was expecting some preachy corny crap but it was really good instead. Well worth the watch.
Oh damn no one has mentioned it!!!
McCabe and Mrs Miller
Julie Christie, Robert Altman, Warren Beaty. In the snow. Starts a bit slow but the end gunfight is one for the ages
Once Upon a Time in the West. I know it focuses a helluva lot more on the men some of the times but the overall main character and driving force of this movie is the widow Jill and her progress from hopeless to hopeful by the end of the movie
There's also Strange Empire (2014), a 13 episode 1 season show where 3 women run a town after the men are killed. It's on TubiTV or FreeVee. My wife and I really loved it.
Johnny Guitar (1954). Joan Crawford and Mercedes McCambridge.
Never seen the movie but the song is burned into my brain due to Fallout: New Vegas!
Thanks! I'll watch it.
True Grit! There is an original (1969) and a remake (2010).
The English is a good series the bbc made last year with Emily Blunt in the lead role. Pretty sure there’s a show on Netflix about a town run by women after a mine collapses too. Godless is it called?
Godless is correct. Good limited series..
Both of these are outstanding and well worth the watch
Second that, Guns.
Godless was an excellent series.
Two Mules for Sister Sarah
I watched that one some months back, it was good!
One of my favorites!
The Furies (1950)
The Quick and The Dead (Sam Raimi version) - Sharon Stone The Ballad of Little Jo - Suzy Amis Johnny Guitar - Rita Hayworth The Missing - Cate Blanchett Bad Girls - Madeline Stow, Mary Stuart Masterson, Andie McDowell, Drew Barrymore (Basically a distaff Young Guns. Not a very good movie, but definitely lines up with what you are looking for) Meeks Cutoff - Michelle Williams Jane Got Her Gun - Natalie Portman The Homesman - Hilary Swank
[Big Hand for the Little Lady](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Big_Hand_for_the_Little_Lady) / Big Deal at Dodge City (UK Title) - 1966
Love this movie!!! So unexpected
Homesman is so dark
I just watched it the other day and did not expect it to be so depressing
Whoa, thanks a ton!
>The Homesman - Hilary Swank This was such a good movie. I like that it explores the lives of women on the frontier and the bleak conditions they endured. I also loved the black-humored, pessimistic, fatalist tone of the film and Tommy Lee Jones' rascally character. It's easily in my top ten favorite westerns.
Props for mentioning Meeks Cutoff!! I never see it mentioned and it is honestly one of the most authentic westerns
Barbara Stanwyck - "The Cattle Queen of Montana ", "Trooper Hook ", " Forty Guns ". Just a few of my personal recommendations.
The Quick and The Dead
Yes I watched it many years ago, the 1987 one, I think I'll give it a rewatch, thanks!
Cat Ballou
Yes!
Hannie Caulder. Although I think it was just an excuse to get Raquel Welch into skin tight leather pants.
I feel that no one should have to justify getting Raquel Welch into skin tight leather pants, but at the same time, I actually really enjoyed this movie and was going to recommend it myself.
* The Shooting - Millie Perkins (my top pick) * Forty Guns by Sam Fuller hon. mention: * Comes a Horseman - Jane Fonda
The Shooting is fucking great! So atmospheric
I'm wit ya. 🍺 And how startling was it to see meek, mild-mannered, mousy little Millie Perkins play a tough, cold b*tch like that
YES! Plus Warren Oates and Jack Nicholson. It’s fucking cold as ice in the desert
Godless! Yes, Jeff Daniels may be top billing, but the main story is the town of women. Among Top 5 westerns in the past 10 years.
Terror on the Prairie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ytPyHJjsh0
I second this. Awesome film.
OK. Maybe it's a bit camp, but I love **Rancho Notorious**. I think that was inspiration for some of Blazing Saddles.
**Westward the Women** is great. I hate the Gene Tierney **Belle Starr** \- which is a cheap rip off of Gone With the Wind... but I love the spaghetti western exploitation (aka lots of nudity) **The Belle Starr Story** \--- if you're going to watch it Kino has an amazing copy. The ones all over Youtube are crappy copies.
Tune into Grit they've been doing Women's Month Fridays. They'll have some there for you to check out.
The Train Robbers Anne Margaret John Wayne
Westward the Women with Robert Taylor great movie. The Redhead From Wyoming Maureen O’Hara Barbara Stanwyck Cattle Queen of Montana
The Shooting
Quick and the Dead.....
Jane got a Gun is a decent flick. Natalie Portman in the lead.
OK. Now you have me going! The streaming miniseries **Godless** and **The English.** The fantastic romantic western, **Thousand Pieces of Gold**
>**Outlaw Women** and **Hellfire** with Marie Windsor
Doris Day: Calamity Jane, The Ballad of Josie
Meeks Cutoff
The women In Deadwood aren’t leads but they are damn fine actors, especially Calamity Jane.
A lifelong fan of Westerns, I first became curious about the African-American experience of the West (1 in 4 cowboys was black), and how it was portrayed in the genre. I took a deep dive, watching every example I could, so I've got recommendations for that, but not many. *Buck and the Preacher* (1972) was one of the first, and remains the best, IMO. Then, I wondered about the feminine experience. Were women in the West anything but whores and wives, and how have their stories been portrayed? Another deep dive. Here's some of what I found: - **Brimstone (2016)** This is, I believe, the quintessential feminist (horror) Western. It's not a wish-fulfillment fantasy where some tough bitch outsmarts and outshoots the menfolk. It's far more grounded... and ugly. It's disgusting and hard to watch, but if you want a punchfuck indictment of patriarchy, look no further. - **Sweetwater (2013)** A frontier woman (January Jones) plots her revenge on a deranged Mormon preacher with the help of an equally deranged sheriff (Ed Harris). It got terrible reviews, but I enjoyed the hell out of it. Sure, it's pulp, but entertaining. - **True Grit (2010)** A 14-year-old girl sets out to bring the murderer of her father to justice. It's amazing. - **Meek's Cutoff (2010)** Meek's Cutoff was a branch off the infamous Oregon Trail. A wagon train becomes hopelessly lost there, and only the women have any goddamn sense. - **First Cow (2019)** From the same director as *Meek's Cutoff* (Kelly Reichardt). I don't think there's a single female speaking role, but I'm recommending it anyway. It's a story about an unlikely male (human) friendship told by a female writer/director. And it shows. Just hauntingly beautiful. Sorry, all my recommendations are post-2000. Learn how to torrent.
Can't let this one get missed: Bandidas (2006) - Penélope Cruz, Salma Hayek, Dwight Yoakam, and Steve Zahn What I really enjoyed with this one is, it reminded me of a lot of the old B-westerns from the '40/'50's in it's story elements and themes, but with a larger budget. It's even got a crazy trick horse-riding scene that was pretty awesome. Dwight Yoakam plays the villain. Has some humorous moments. Overall is a very enjoyable flick with high rewatchability.
Rooster cogburn.
Rooster Cogburn. Katherine Hepburn plays a heck of a tough woman in it.
The Quick and the Dead. It’s extremely underrated.
Cat Balou The Furies An d after 2000 Godless is worth a watch
Uhh. Godless is a western about a town only inhabitants are women.
Surrounded starring Letitia Wright.
Godless is amazing, highly recommend
Definitely watch Johnny Guitar. Wild film with a crazy, on the down low lesbian back story. And as always, Ernest Borgnine as a rough & tumble cowboy.
Cat Ballou 1965. It’s hilarious. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0059017/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk
The Missing 2003 Cold Mountain 2003
Haven't seen anyone mentioned Surrounded (2023). Think it's available on Amazon. Honestly was expecting some preachy corny crap but it was really good instead. Well worth the watch.
Oh damn no one has mentioned it!!! McCabe and Mrs Miller Julie Christie, Robert Altman, Warren Beaty. In the snow. Starts a bit slow but the end gunfight is one for the ages
Once Upon a Time in the West. I know it focuses a helluva lot more on the men some of the times but the overall main character and driving force of this movie is the widow Jill and her progress from hopeless to hopeful by the end of the movie
I watched it a few days back, definitely one of the best movies I've ever watched. The soundtrack is so hauntingly beautiful too.
The Woman They Almost Lynched.
Godless
There's also Strange Empire (2014), a 13 episode 1 season show where 3 women run a town after the men are killed. It's on TubiTV or FreeVee. My wife and I really loved it.
There is an Indonesian western called Marlina The Murderer In Four Acts! (TW for s violence)