Mixing authenticity and entertainment…

[Zane Smith]

Westerns will always be my favorite movie genre, but, the problem I have is, the ones that I find entertaining, normally lack authenticity, and many of the ones that try to be realistic, I find very boring! (Examples: “The Assassination of Jesse James…”, “McCabe and Mrs. Miller”, “Heaven’s Gate”). 

So, my question is what are some of your favorite movies that successfully mix realism and entertainment?

(By authentic, I don’t necessarily mean a true story- you’re never going to get that in a movie! I’m talking about a realistic portrayal of the time period)

Some that I’ve found,

“Lonesome Dove”, The Cohen Brother’s “True Grit” "Tombstone" (as I said, I'mnot talking about a completely true story!), and "Appaloosa",

Looking forward to your favorites.

ZS

[C. F. 'Charley' Eckhardt]

The Sacketts & The Shadow Riders.  Both Sam Elliot/Tom Selleck movies.  Very authentic costuming, true to period.  Some firearms lack of authenticity--'92 Winchesters & '73 Colts before they existed in The Sacketts.  The Long Riders.  Good costuming, good weaponry, even authentic saddlery for the period.  Of course, they made Belle Starr a beauty.  That woman could have walked down a railroad track & made a freight train take a dirt road.

[Buck Grizzly]

You're probably asking too much.

[Zane Smith]

Most likely!

Just wanted to see what others thought, and if there were any movies that I had forgotten about or had missed and might want to check out.

 

A couple of others that I thought about were Eastwood's "Unforgiven" and "The Legend of Hell's Gate: An American Conspiracy". That one, and independent film that I saw a couple of months ago, I thought was done well.

[Buck Grizzly]

Unforgiven was a good one.

　

I remember when I was young I thought Culpepper Cattle Company came closest to giving you the true feel of a cattle drive. Gritty, dirty, and all attitude. The authenticity not so good but not Roy Rogers or Lone Ranger either.

　

As already mentioned;

The Coen's True Grit, also had the feel. Brad Pitts Jesse was good too but way to long and drawn out for the average modern audiences. Lonesome Dove about as close as your gonna get when Hollywood controls the market.

　

For artistry to return to the art form, of true movie making, Hollywood needs to be removed from the equation or at least be given some competition.

[Dave McGowan]

Charley,

I'm with you on Sacketts and Shadow Riders. I also liked Conager, although I'd have to see it again to remember the equipment. I seem to recall some saddles that were a little too low in the cantle but I can't remember.

[C. F. 'Charley' Eckhardt]

Too much modern slang in Conager, as I recall.  Was nice seeing ol' Festus once more, tho.  Somehow the younger Taylor as a villain sorta jangled.  In The Long Riders the saddles were mostly McClellans, which were at least authentic to the period, if not necessarily to the story.

[Vito Fashoda]

My favorites,

Tombstone

Lonesome Dove

El Dorado