10 Western Movies That Are Accurate To Real-Life History

Movies can be cited as the best mediums to portray, be it art, emotions, drama, history, or even a fantasy world. As the technology advancements take place every year, so does the movie making and its ability to give a better experience. Movies are the best way to show the imaginary world, as it combines both audio and video. However, it is equally important to note that, movies prove time-to-time its accuracy in showing the history of humans. Whether it is about a war between two countries or a love story between a king and a queen, filmmakers strive their best to give a greater and more accurate visual experience. In this article, we are going to look into 10 such Western movies based on a true story. We will also see about the cast, crew, and more important details of those movies.

10 Western Movies Based on True Stories

Western movies take the audience to the authentic America from the 19th Century. Not only they are good at making, locations and costumes to romanticize the Old West, but some of the movies portray historic events perfectly. Here are a few Western movies that are, in a great sense, historically accurate and are based on a true story –

1. Cimarron (1931)

Cimarron (1931) is considered one of the greatest Western movies based on true story ever made. It was based on the novel of the same name and was directed by Wesley Ruggles. The movie stars Richard Dix and Irene Dunne in lead roles. Even though the movie didn’t receive a box-office success, it was critically acclaimed and won numerous accolades, including three Academy Awards, for Best Picture, Best Production Design, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

The movie is set during the Oklahoma Land Rush 1889, where a young couple Yancey (Richard Dix) and Sabina (Irene Dunne) go to Oklahoma to claim the free land. Yancey leaves Sabina and their daughter, Donna, as he is feeling guilty for killing a gang leader. The movie then takes various turns, reflecting the lives and changes that place in Oklahoma. The movie accurately portrayed the change in the lifestyle of the West, as Oklahoma transformed into an official state.

2. Brigham Young (1940)

Brigham Young (1940) is a Western Biopic, describing the life of Brigham Young, the former president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The movie was directed by Henry Hathaway and was written by Louis Bromfield. The movie stars Dean Jagger in the title role, and Tyrone Power, Linda Darnell, and others in lead roles.

The movie revolves around the life of Young, who was elected as the new leader of the Church after its leader was assassinated, and how he rallies Mormons to begin a new life in the land of Utah. The movie shows the life of Mormon followers in the 1800s realistically, with authentic clothes, sets, wagons, and props.

3. The Covered Wagon (1923)

The Covered Wagon (1923) is a silent film, based on the novel of the same name by Emerson Hough, and was directed by James Cruze. The movie stars J. Warren Kerrigan and Lois Wilson in lead roles. The movie was a box-office success and was critically acclaimed. Also, it was in the American FIM Institute’s 100 Years.. 100 Thrills list of 2001.

The movie shows two gangs traveling from Kansas to Oregon to start a new life. As the journey goes on, they suffer from heat and hunger, making them desperate for the end. The movie portrays the tension between cowboys and Native Americans, and the struggle for survival in Old West, during the 1800s.

4. The Culpepper Cattle Co. (1972)

The Culpepper Cattle Co. is a revisionist Western movie based on true stoy, a sub-genre of Western, co-written by David Richards, Eric Bercovici, and Gregory Prentiss, and directed by David Richards. The movie stars Gary Grimes and Billy Green Bush in lead roles. Coming with a tagline ‘How many men do you have to kill before you become the great American cowboy?’, the film is of “hyper-realism“.

The movie revolves around Ben Mockridge, who thinks of becoming a cowboy as his life in Wild West Farm has nothing to offer. The movie shows what it is to become a cowboy, a life that has endless work and witnessing unpunished crimes. The movie was praised for historical accuracy in people’s clothing, body maintenance, language, acts of making decisions, etc.

5. The Iron Horse (1924)

The Iron Horse (1924) is a silent western movie, directed and produced by John Ford. Apart from its box-office success, the movie was regarded as one of the classics, and credited for paving the way for many subsequent Western movies. The movie stars George O’Brien and Madge Bellamy in lead roles.

The movie is about the construction of the first transcontinental railroad in America. In the movie, Davy Brandon (George O’Brien) returns to his hometown, Illinois, to fulfill his father’s dream of building a railway to the west. The movie depicts that Irish, Chinese, Italian, and African Americans did a tremendous job in achieving the feat. Ford was credited for using expansive backgrounds to realistically show the landscape of that time.

6. Young Guns (1988)

Young Gun (1988) is a Western action movie, written by John Fusco and directed by Christopher Cain. Coming with a tagline ‘six reasons why the West was wild’, the movie was a box-office hit. There was a sequel for this movie, with the title ‘Young Guns – II’. The movie stars Emilio Estevez, Keifer Sutherland, and Lou Diamond Phillips in lead roles.

The movie was about the adventures of Henry McCarty, popularly known as Billy the Kid, during the Lincoln Country War, taking place in New Mexico in 1877-78. The movie shows the joining of Billy(Emilio Estevez) in ‘Regulators’, and their rivalry with another gang led by Lawrence Murphy. The movie was regarded as the most historically accurate tale of Billy the Kid and was stated the same by historian Pual Hutton.

7. Heavens Gate (1980)

Heaven’s Gate (1980) is an epic western film, written and directed by Micheal Cimino, made about the disputes between landlords and European immigrants in Wyoming. The movie stars Kris Kristofferson, Christopher Walken, and John Hurt in leading roles. The movie received a mixed review from critics and became a box-office failure.

Taking place during the Johnson County War of 1889-93, the movie shows the journey of Sheriff Averill (Kris Kristofferson) finds himself in the middle of the war between rich cattle farmers and immigrant farmers. The movie received a good welcome after its re-edit 2012, for its insights on the Johnson Couty War.

8. The Big Trail (1930)

The Big Trail (1930) is a pre-code Western movie based on true story, written by Hal G. Evarts and directed by Raoul Walsh. The movie stars John Wayne, Marguerite Churchill, and El Brendel in the leading roles. This movie was one of the first widescreen cinemas produced in American movie history. This was cited as ‘culturally and historically significant’ by the US Library of Congress in the year 2006.

The movie was set in the 1840s, where Breck Coleman (John Wayne) leads a wagon train across the Oregon Trail. He leads the group through the wild conditions of the West and the attacks of the Indians. It was said that Director Walsh went to large extents to make it accurate and he took more than 4000 animals, 700 natives from all five tribes, and nearly 185 different wagons.

9. Arizona (1940)

Arizona (1940) is a Western film, written by Claude Binyon and directed by Wesley Ruggles, about the life in Arizona Territory of the United States. The movie was based on the novel of the same name written by Clarence Kelland. The movie stars Jean Arthur, William Holden, and Warren William in the lead roles.

The movie revolves around Phoebe Titus (Jean Arthur), who wants to succeed in her cattle business. She falls in love with Peter Muncie (William Holden), who helps her in running the business. The movie takes turns when Jefferson Carteret (Warren William) plans to keep her out of her business. The movie was credited for its extra care in clothing, locations, and set up, which made the audience believe it was set in the 1860s. The movie was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Sound Design.

10. The Assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford (2007)

The Assassination of Jesse James by the coward Robert Ford (2007), considered a modern-day classic, is a revisionist western film, written and directed by Andrew Dominik. The movie was based on the novel of the same name written by Ron Hansen, which shows the relationship between Jesse James, an outlaw, and Robert Ford. The movie stars Brad Pitt and Ben Affleck in the lead roles, and Ben Affleck was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Role.

The movie is set in the early 1880s, when Robert Ford (Ben Affleck) seeks to join the James Gang, led by outlaws Jesse James (Brad Pitt) and his brother Frank James (Sam Shepard). As time went by Robert became reluctant with James and plans to kill him. This movie was considered one of the best Westerns and was credited for its set up of the locations.

Conclusion

The West has always been popular for its portrayal of the Western lifestyle. Many filmmakers experimented in this genre, by creating multiple sub-genres to make it look more realistic appeal. With a history of gunfights and codes of honor, western culture has so many stories to say.

As the filmmakers try to show the reality of this culture through their lens, they have transcended many boundaries. These films will help people to learn about the history of the American Frontier and how it has shaped the modern world.