The popularity of the Western genre has endured for decades, with some of the greatest films in the genre having literary roots. Authors like Lauran Paine and Ron Hansen have successfully captured the gritty landscape and character types of the Western genre in their writing and directors have elevated their work with the use of their film knowledge. The Old West provides an ideal setting for themes of conflict and individualism. Directors like John Ford and the Coen brothers use their skills to actualize such factors in the visual medium.
Oftentimes, it's books that have already attempted to expand the Western genre that inspire innovative directors because of their added components of other genres like comedy and crime. Unlike some of the worst book-to-film adaptations, many of those in the Western genre are faithful to the original text. There are countless examples of Western films inspired by books, but a few stand out more from the rest.
10 The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford (2007)
Based on a novel of the same name by Ron Hansen
In the early '80s, Ron Hansen, known for his stories about the Old West, wrote the book that The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford is based on. The film and the book are about the relationship between the titular characters, and the events that led to Jesse's death.
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Andrew Dominik's film earned high levels of praise from critics, but when adapting a popular book for the big screen, one of the toughest critics can be the author of the original text. When reflecting on his career and relationship with the Old West, Hansen spoke positively of the detail and thoroughness in Dominik's script, saying "Andrew Dominik’s gorgeous script was completely faithful to the novel." (via True West).
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
- Release Date
- October 19, 2007
- Runtime
- 160 minutes
- Director
- Andrew Dominik
WHERE TO WATCH
Considering his knowledge of the time in history, Hansen was a crucial figure to have on set. While on set, Hansen provided input about the film's accuracy and even had a cameo in the film as a news reporter.
9 Appaloosa (2008)
Based on Appaloosa by Robert B. Parker
Robert B. Parker, known for writing novels in the mystery genre, infused elements of crime into his 2005 book, Appaloosa. Impressed with Parker's ability to write a classic Western story with added themes of crime, Ed Harris purchased the rights to the book and asked Parker to translate his work into a screenplay for the actor's second directing endeavor. Harris acts in the film as well and is ed by Viggo Mortensen, Renée Zellweger, and Jeremy Irons.
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Differentiating itself from other Western films, Appaloosa picks apart the psychology of characters in the Old West, minimizing the number of gunfights and action scenes typically associated with the genre. Zellweger's character too, a widow and love interest, has more depth than most female characters in Westerns. Still, Appaloosa entertains the whole way through, partially because of its cast's performances.
8 Open Range (2003)
Based on The Open Range Men by Lauran Paine
Specializing in Western fiction, Lauran Paine wrote numerous books throughout his career and two of them earned film adaptations. Paine's Law Man and The Open Range Men were made into the films The Quiet Gun and Open Range, respectively. The story of the latter follows cattle drivers who find themselves in a confrontation with corrupt law officials. Kevin Costner both directed and led Open Range alongside Robert Duvall, and the two neatly complimented one another on screen.
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Open Range
- Release Date
- August 15, 2003
- Runtime
- 139 Minutes
- Director
- Kevin Costner
Cast
Charley Waite
Boss Spearman
WHERE TO WATCH
Open Range isn't as action-packed as other Western films, but there is a notable gunfight that has been consistently pointed out by critics as one of the best in the genre. Though gunfights are nothing new in Western films, the skillfully crafted scene stands out. Costner sought to avoid as much slow motion during the sequence to achieve a realistic appearance and made a point to have the people in the town evacuate the area, as most Westerns show the town gathering around to see the action.
7 The Revenant (2015)
Based on The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge by Michael Punke
Hugh Glass is a famous American frontiersman who was left for dead by others while on an expedition after it was assumed he had been killed as the result of a vicious bear attack. Glass' story is the inspiration for Michael Punke's The Revenant: A Novel of Revenge, which depicts the events of the expedition. The book was eventually adapted into a film directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, which took years to start filming after multiple delays.
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The Revenant
- Release Date
- December 25, 2015
- Runtime
- 156 minutes
- Director
- Alejandro González Iñárritu
WHERE TO WATCH
Eventually, The Revenant went on to earn praise and numerous award nominations, including Best Actor at the Academy Awards for Leonardo DiCaprio as Glass. The book and film have achieved similar recognition for their depiction of the human spirit and Glass' determination. Punke's writing is descriptive and effective and Iñárritu brings this to life, showcasing how the frigid and unforgiving weather acts as an obstacle for Glass to overcome to achieve his goals.
6 Little Big Man (1970)
Based on Little Big Man by Thomas Berger
After years of Marlon Brando's unsuccessful attempts to secure backing for a film adaptation of Thomas Berger's Little Big Man, the film wound up in the hands of director Arthur Penn. Berger's book is about a 111-year-old man named Jack Crabb who is raised by the Cheyenne nation and spends much of the novel going back and forth between white and Indigenous society. Through his travels, themes of alienation and identity are introduced in a way that satirizes what audiences know about the Western genre.
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Little Big Man
- Release Date
- December 23, 1970
- Runtime
- 147 Minutes
- Director
- Arthur Penn
Cast
Martin Balsam-
Jeff Corey
-
Chief Dan George
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Calder Willingham
Because of its comedic elements, Little Big Man works extremely well as a film. Little Big Man is considered a revisionist Western film but includes elements from various genres, such as comedy and adventure. Dustin Hoffman leads the film as an aged-up Jack Crabb and is ed by actors like Chief Dan George and Faye Dunaway. For its ability to seamlessly fuse comedic elements into its overall sympathetic message, Little Big Man has continued to earn widespread acclaim over the years.
5 Shane (1953)
Based on Shane by Jack Schaefer
Often considered to be one of the best endings in a Western film.
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- Writers
- A.B. Guthrie Jr., Jack Sher, Jack Schaefer
Shane is full of common Western tropes, including the desire to leave behind one's violent past and the clear distinction between good and evil characters in the story. It's these comprehensible ideas and the film's powerful performances that have allowed Shane to become a beloved Western. Much like the film version of Shane, the book written by Jack Schaefer has been given similar recognition. Though he had pictured Shane as a more brooding character, Schaefer was still pleased with the film.
4 The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976)
Based on The Rebel Outlaw: Josey Wales by Asa Carter
The titular role in The Outlaw Josey Wales is often considered one of films directed by Eastwood, shows the star was guaranteed a promising career not only as a leading man but as a filmmaker as well.
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The Outlaw Josey Wales
- Release Date
- July 14, 1976
- Runtime
- 135 minutes
- Director
- Clint Eastwood
Cast
-
Chief Dan George
WHERE TO WATCH
The revisionist Western film is based on The Rebel Outlaw: Josey Wales by Asa Earl Carter, who went by the name Forrest Carter at the time of its release. Though there is much controversy surrounding Carter's career and false identity, the story within The Outlaw Josey Wales continues to be praised. Factors that play into such praise include Eastwood's strong performance as the anti-hero and The Outlaw Josey Wales' themes about the effects of war, particularly the Civil War.
3 True Grit (2010)
Based on True Grit by Charles Portis
Adapted into two films, Charles Portis' True Grit is a story about a young girl on the hunt for her father's killer. Before being adapted into a film, True Grit was already seen as an exemplary American novel. The first film was released in 1969 and starred Kim Darby as the young girl Mattie Ross and John Wayne as Reuben Cogburn, a U.S. marshal who helps her out.
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True Grit
- Release Date
- December 22, 2010
- Runtime
- 110 minutes
- Director
- Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
Cast
Barry Pepper
WHERE TO WATCH
Though the film was a success, the Coen brothers' remake of True Grit in 2010 is thought to be the better of the two. The remake of True Grit is closer to Portis's story, both in the fact that it centers more on the character of Mattie (played effectively by a young Hailee Steinfeld) and has a bleak, realistic tone like the book. Though it didn't win any awards at the ceremony, True Grit had 10 Academy Award nominations and continues to be thought of as one of the best films by the Coens.
2 No Country For Old Men (2007)
Based on No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy
Initially receiving mixed reviews when it was first published, the story in Cormac McCarthy's No Country for Old Men would soon become a massive success when it was adapted into a highly faithful film. The Coen brothers directed No Country for Old Men, which follows Llewelyn (Josh Brolin), a man who comes across a large amount of money, Anton (Javier Bardem), a hitman after the money, and Ed (Tommy Lee Jones), a sheriff in charge with investigating the crime.
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No Country for Old Men
- Release Date
- November 21, 2007
- Runtime
- 122 minutes
- Director
- Joel Coen, Ethan Coen
Cast
Kelly Macdonald
Woody Harrelson
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
The Coen brothers have said they were immediately interested in directing the film when it was brought to them. In No Country for Old Men, McCarthy doesn't have a formulaic narrative and the subverting of the genre is what spoke to the directors. The best example of this is in No Country for Old Men's ending. There is no grand final confrontation or traditional winners seen in other Western films.
1 The Searchers (1956)
Based on The Searchers by Alan Le May
Alan Le May was a novelist and screenplay writer who had two of his most notable works adapted into film. One of the books was The Searchers, which was made into a film directed by John Ford and stars John Wayne. The Searchers centers around a search conducted by a Civil War veteran looking for his abducted niece. Bound to happen with film adaptations of books, there are a few differences between Le May's book and Ford's film, most notably its ending.
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The Searchers
- Release Date
- May 26, 1956
- Runtime
- 119 minutes
- Director
- John Ford
Cast
John WayneEthan Edwards-
Jeffrey HunterMartin Pawley
WHERE TO WATCH
Still, The Searchers is a quintessential Western film because of its cinematography, which helped change how Westerns were filmed moving forward. Additionally, The Searchers tells a story that highlights the mistreatment of Indigenous people, as recorded in history and depicted in other Western films. Ford wasn't the first to address the topic in a film, but it wasn't common to see at the time. Years after The Searchers' success, fellow acclaimed directors have paid homage to Ford's work, including Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg.
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