10 Best Westerns 90 Minutes Long

Ordinarily, Westerns have long-running times. The Good, the Bad & the Ugly clocks in at 161 minutes, whereas the mayhem in Unforgiven doesn’t end until the 131-minute mark. Many other great Westerns have similar running times, requiring fans to spare plenty of time for entertainment. As barren as the lands of the Old West may seem, there are usually plenty of stories to explore in these films, so filmmakers and screenwriters take their time to touch on them.

Long-running times might discourage some viewers, but there is no need to fret. There are a few recommendations for those who don’t have much time on their hands. These Westerns are precise and fast-paced, avoiding lengthy elucidations. Despite not dedicating too much time to world-building, their plots make total sense. Most importantly, they have some of the most intriguing characters ever seen on screen. So, sit back and lap up these amazing Western gems.

10 Wild Bill Hickok Rides (1942)

82 minutes

Many stories have been told about Old West folk hero James “Wild Bill” Hickok, and historians have proven that some are pure exaggerations. Well, Wild Bill Hickok Rides takes the ‘exaggeration’ route. The film covers the woes of proprietress Belle Andrews (Constance Bennett) who teams up with a cutthroat venture capitalist to open a casino only to learn that the man is allergic to ethics. She then enlists the services of Wild Bill to stop him.

Key Business Lessons

Director Ray Enright’s provocative take on capitalism and crime in the late 1800s is laudable. The movie serves as a cautionary tale for entrepreneurs, showing how easy it is for one to put a signature on a flawed contract. Constance Bennett also beats the rest of the cast members in effort and talent. When she was hired for the lead role, she was one of the few women to be given such an honor at the time, and she proved why there was a need for 50:50 recruitment.

9 Old Yeller (1957)

84 Minutes

Based on Fred Gispon’s children’s novel of the same name, Old Yeller features no outlaws and dirty sheriffs. It’s about Travis (Tommy Kirk), a young boy who encounters a Black Mouth Cur in post-Civil War Texas and falls in love with it. Throughout the film, various misfortunes emerge, threatening to separate Travis and the dog, which he names Old Yeller. Despite their severity, he keeps working around the challenges.

A Heartwarming Boy-and-His-Dog Film

Old Yeller is for kids, yet still enjoyable for adults. The film overflows with heartwarming moments and life lessons. Among the key reminders is that tragic things happen, but life has to move on. In the third act, the dog dies, leaving Travis devastated. Even though he struggles to get over the grief, he moves on, especially after seeing how similar the dog’s puppy is to the original Old Yeller.

By turns doleful, witty, and piteous, Old Yeller rises high on the shoulders of both boy and animal, making it one of the greatest dog movies ever made. The thin script could have been dull, but the chemistry compensates for any shortcomings.

8 The Ox-Bow Incident (1943)

75 Minutes

In The Ox-Bow Incident, the wandering cowboys Gil Carter (Henry Fonda) and Art Croft (Henry Morgan) find themselves in a small Nevada town bedeviled by cattle thieves. At first, they are mistaken for the criminals themselves, but they convince the residents that they mean no home.

Soon, Carter and Croft form a posse to hunt down the outlaws. When the posse closes in on a group that could be the fugitives, they must decide on a course of action, with numerous lives hanging in the balance. Despite their skills, the job proves harder than they ever imagined.

One of Clint Eastwood’s Favorites

Set in the late 1800s, The Ox-Bow Incident is a stabbing indictment of the rustling crisis and its soulless profiteers. Consumed by gluttony and devoid of compassion, the villains ooze cold-eyed nastiness as they take what doesn’t belong to them. Beyond that, Fonda, portraying the determined gunslinger, turns in a memorable performance as usual. The film was nominated for Best Picture, and in what counts as a major endorsement, Clint Eastwood named it one of his favorite Westerns.

7 Three Hours to Kill (1954)

77 Minutes

In the first few minutes of Three Hours to Kill, the residents of a tiny town expel Jim Guthrie (Dana Andrews) when he gets accused of murder. Eager to prove his innocence, he returns after a few years. Relying on his fists, his wits, and a kindhearted resident named Chris, he engages in a detective-like mission to find the real culprit and clear his name.

A Race Against Time

Movies about innocent suspects always thrive on emotion and so does Three Hours to Kill. Dana’s dejected face and miserable eyes speak to the protagonist’s undesired fate before he has the opportunity to redeem his nobility by solving the homicide he’s being accused of.

There is an overall sense of urgency because Jim only has three hours to find the killer or else his life remains doomed forever. And he sure does make good use of his time. According to According to Senses of Cinema, the film inspired Roger Corman’s Gunslinger.

6 Bad Day At Block Rock (1955)

81 Minutes

Set shortly after World War II, Bad Day at Black Rock follows John J. Macreedy (Spencer Tracy), a one-armed veteran, as he searches for a Japanese-American man named Komoko. He arrives at the tiny town of Black Rock, where he suspects Komoko lived. There, he is greeted with hostility, making him wonder whether the residents and the sheriff are hiding a major secret.

Thought-Provoking Western With Traces of Film Noir

Echoing the pace and rhythm of a film noir, the Western excels by highlighting Macreedy’s curiosity and situational awareness. Spencer Tracy (the first man to win two consecutive Oscars for Best Actor) conveys the character’s emotions and mannerisms perfectly. The general performance is also great because the cast is packed with former Academy Award nominees, notably Dean Jagger, Robert Ryan, and Lee Marvin.

From an intellectual perspective, Bad Day at Black Rock is satisfying in many ways. It is one of the first films to condemn the discrimination against Japanese Americans in post-WWII America. Additionally, it covers themes like McCarthyism and racism.

5 Westworld (1973)

88 Minutes

The HBO remake might be more popular, but the original MGM production is also a fun ride. In Westworld’s world, there is Delos, a techno-powered adult amusement park featuring three themes: Western World (American Old West), Medieval World (Old Europe), and Roman World. The parks are full of humanlike androids, and, for $1,000 a day, guests may make all their fantasies (including sexual ones) come true.

Infusing Sci-Fi Into a Tired Genre

By the early ‘70s, the Western genre was struggling in the same superhero movies are fairing now. The sci-fi genre, on the other hand, was blossoming. Director Michael Crichton, therefore, did well by combining the two.

Throughout the movie, the filmmaker brilliantly evokes the chaotic, draining hospitality industry environment and the major toll it takes on those who work in it. Even for androids, things get a bit overwhelming, given the high demands of the customs. Still, the amusement park experience is fun to follow. It’s the ultimate Shangri-La, and even though there is plenty of violence, it’s easier to smile than frown while watching the film.

4 The Hired Gun (1957)

64 Minutes

In The Hired Gun, gunslinger Gil McCord (Rory Calhoun) gets a contract to capture a mysterious murderer and take her to the sheriff for trial. To his surprise, the murderer turns out to be the damsel Ellen Beldon (Anne Francis). She is accused of killing her husband, but she insists she took no soul. Initially, McCord vows to take her in, but the more he spends time with her, the more his emotional stability begins to crumble. Eventually, he sides with her and starts hunting the real killer.

Pressure-Cooked Movie with All the Necessary Ingredients

Known as the “10-day picture guy,” director Ray Nazarro was reputed for making budget Westerns on a quick turnaround. In his heyday, he would make over 10 movies a year. However, The Hired Gun doesn’t feel like a C-movie at all. The ambitious feature serves an intimate outlaw and gunslinger friendship that mirrors that of Blondie and Tuco in The Good, the Bad & the Ugly.

The story is placed against an extensive backdrop of economic turmoil. Furthermore, Nazarro uses extensive shots, clever framing techniques, and natural arid lighting to create a beautiful Old West canvas. What results is a memorable motion picture that can be categorized as one of the best of its decade.

3 Smoke Signal (1955)

88 Minutes

Smoke Signal starts on a high and never slows down. The year is 1852 and a replacement cavalry detachment has just been assigned a new post, along the fort on the Colorado River. They look forward to dominating the region, but as soon as they arrive, they come under heavy attack from Ute Indians. Only nine men survive. The rest, fearing the Indians will strike again, flee down the river on boats. Meanwhile, tensions rise between some of the soldiers.

Beautiful and Refreshing

The dash-to-safety Western explores topics like racism and loyalty in the framework of the Civil War. The conflict between military personnel is underscored by the sympathy that some of them have for the Indians. For once, the Apaches are the peacemakers, so the film stands out a bit from other Indian-themed Westerns. Visually, the motion picture also stays strong, mainly because a huge portion was shot on the Grand Canyon side of the Colorado River.

2 Taggart (1964)

85 Minutes

An eye for an eye is the name of the game in Taggart. In it, Kent Taggart’s hitherto tranquil world is suddenly turned upside down when his family is attacked and killed. All their cattle get stampeded too, and in revenge, Kent (Tony Young) kills the son of the man responsible. When he goes on the run, a warrant is issued against him, with a $5000 bounty on his head.

The Fun Side of Revenge

This tense, austere Western is everything revenge — and a revenge movie — should be. And that’s mainly because it isn’t just about revenge. While on the run, Kent gets caught up in all kinds of awkward scenarios, including advances from the wife of a wealthy man.

Besides that, the dialogue is amazing. “I talk too large and think too small,” one character says. “This here is a warrant for Taggart’s arrest. It says dead or alive. You can stop reading after the word dead,” the villain adds. The married woman also has a reason for straying. “A woman like me deserves more than a snoring old man,” she says.

1 High Noon (1952)

85 Minutes

One of the saddest Westerns ever made, High Noon covers the predicament of Will Kane (Gary Cooper), a Marshall forced to put his honeymoon plans on hold after learning that an outlaw he once put behind bars is set to be freed. The tough-as-nails baddie is set to arrive in the town by noon, and Kane knows what that means: more trouble. His bride wants them to run away, but he chooses to stay behind. Sadly, everyone refuses to help him.

The Presidents’ Movie

Assembling a posse is always one of the easiest tasks for a protagonist of a Western movie, but Kane struggles so much that it’s even laughable. One of the men he seeks out tells his wife to lie he isn’t home. A junior officer demands a promotion first, and worse of all, his wife, a pacifist, threatens to leave. Even though everyone acts like this isn’t their problem, Kane doesn’t despair. Better yet, everything happens in real-time.

So good is High Noon that it even became a favorite for the political class. Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan, and Dwight Eisenhower all heaped praise on it.