From the article by James White | Posted 10 03 2021 for Empire
https://www.empireonline.com/movies/news/best-western-movies/
From the original article: "The Western genre is supremely adaptable – in the hands of such great directors as Ford, Hawks, Peckinpah and Leone, it has transcended simple stories of gunslingers, homesteaders and bandits, holding a mirror up to the present...
If you've always wanted to dive in, but just weren't sure where to start, allow us to offer some prime choices from among the six-shooters, ten-gallon hats, 12 gauges and five-card tricks. And to make it clear, these are our essential picks to get you fully briefed on what the Western genre (one of the oldest and most prevalent of Hollywood narratives) is all about. Let this serve as guide and inspiration for your own expansive journey into the Old West... Horse operas await!"
