INSP is rolling out the red carpet in anticipation of the Academy Awards with an Oscar-Acclaimed Western movie event, so we’re counting down the top moments from these legendary Western films.
It’s not a surprise that the classic Western films, Friendly Persuasion, Shane, How the West Was Won, Stagecoach, and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre were Academy Award nominees upon their releases.
Standing out for their artistry, innovativeness, and precise technicality, these films have significantly contributed to the evolution of the Western genre as we know it today. While every minute of their runtime is brilliant, here are our top five favorite scenes from these award-worthy films.
Bringing warmth to the West, Friendly Persuasion charmed audiences with its heart, humor, and captivating story, using every element of film making to strengthen the viewers’ emotional connection.
Shane was a ground-breaking film for the time, launching Westerns into a new forefront of cinema, from its visually intriguing landscape shots to its ingenious camera angles and direction.
Bringing the history of American settlers in the West to the big screen was no easy feat. With a complex story at the center, How the West was Won’s brilliant storytelling, and perfectly executed editing made it a simply enjoyable viewing experience.
Elevating Westerns as a genre to take seriously, Stagecoach set the bar and was a trailblazer for the future of Western films, putting them on the map for the decades to come.
One of the first movies in Hollywood history to film outside of the United States, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre has received recognition for its cultural significance and was added to the National Film Registry in 1990. John Huston’s gritty direction brought out the dark side of humanity with a sense of realism not often seen on the big screen.