The Western genre has been a staple in the industry for about a century now. With its tales of adventure and exploitation on the legendary frontier, and through the challenges and triumphs of their protagonists, the movies have given new life to the unforgiving spirit of the American West.
Perhaps no cinematic technique has the ability to enhance the genre’s atmosphere quite like the contrasts of black and white. While color films use vivid hues to highlight the rugged realities of the Wild West, monochrome Westerns are more subtle. They use light and shadow to create a mood that’s distinct, evocative, and pioneering.
Many of the most influential works in the Western genre have emerged from the golden age of the 1930s to the 1960s. Directors at the time innovated what would become landmarks and tropes most synonymous with the genre. From John Ford's Stagecoach to Howard Hawks’ Red River, the movies constantly resurrected and reshaped the Western genre’s conventions through the clarity of black and white cinematography. Here are the 20 best B&W Westerns worth revisiting.
20 Blood on the Land (1966)
Blood on the Land is a Greek Western movie directed by Vasilis Georgiadis. It takes place in the early part of the 20th century and centers around the rivalry between the two sons of a wealthy and powerful squire. Both Odysseas and Rigas are volatile and proud men, but their views on sharing the same land that the peasants shed their sweat, tears, and innocent blood to make it thrive, differ greatly. It does not help that they also fall in love with the same woman.
Offers a Glimpse into the Unforgiving West
A largely overlooked film that offers a thought-provoking, ahead-of-its-time perspective at land ownership and frontier conflict, Blood on the Land is a tense movie. It is also violent and dangerously tense in portraying the bitterly silent social turmoil at the center of its narrative. Shot in black-and-white to highlight justice and solidarity, the movie was a commercial success and it was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards. Stream on Pluto TV
19 The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
A darkly comedic masterpiece, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance starts with U.S. Senator Stoddard returning to the frontier town of Shinbone to attend the funeral of Tom Doniphon. However, Stoddard’s arrival also leads to the truth behind his iconic story from the past where he was a famous lawyer who single handedly dunned down the notorious outlaw, Liberty Valance, is also revealed. Turns out it was actually Doniphon, a local rancher who killed him.
Lessons in Politics and Media
John Ford’s entertaining and melodramatic movie sees the director at the peak of his craft. He is aided by the legendary duo of John Wayne and James Stewart, whose contrasting characters represent the film’s core – ambiguity between fact and myth. Into a story that defines its main character’s political trajectory and America’s romanticized image of self, Ford infuses social commentary and an insightful study of media manipulation. Stream on Paramount+
18 The Misfits (1961)
The Misfits tells the story of 30-year-old Roslyn Tabor who, shortly after filing her divorce, meets aging cowboy-turned-gambler Gay Langland and a WWII aviator, Guido Racanelli. After sharing a few cocktails, the three decide to move in together in Guido’s unfinished house. While she finds solace and purpose in their company, another ex-rodeo rider named Perce Howland joins the trio and they make a living out of capturing wild horses.
Features a Trio Like No Other
Director John Huston adapts Authur Miller’s thoughtful script into a marvelous Western. With its bleak frontier setting and an aura of melancholy, The Misfits explores ideas of mortality, lost purpose, and dignity. The characters, played by Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe and Montgomery Clift, are flawed yet proud, sincere yet complex. And the chemistry they share grows increasingly bittersweet. While not received well at the time of its release, The Misfits emerged as a landmark in the genre. Stream on Hoopla
17 3:10 To Yuma (1957)
Another classic black-and-white Western, 3:10 To Yuma is set in the Arizona Territory of the 1880s. It follows a rancher named Dan Evans, who is struggling to support his family. When Evas gets the opportunity to make two hundred dollars by escorting captured outlaw Ben Wade to Contention City to catch a train, he takes it. However, as they set out, Wade tests Evans; conscience using psychological games and puts more than just his life at stake.
Character-Driven Thriller
Expertly directed by Delmer Daves using sharp and striking black-and-white cinematography, which was crucial to bring out the intensity and subtlety of the plot. Filled with suspense and plot twists at every turn, the movie examined the psychology of good versus evil. Glenn Ford and Van Heflin are perfectly cast as adversaries. Moreover, while 3:10 To Yuma was remade by director James Mangold with Russell Crowe and Christian Bale, it was pale in comparison to this unforgettable, character-driven classic. Stream on Prime Video