10 Best Performances In Western Movies

Gordon Douglas' Rio Conchos released alongside a sea of exception western films in the mid-1960s, and though its critical success was noticeable, the film was unable to break box office records amidst such a collection of exceptional films in the genre. Rio Conchos released just one month after Leone's A Fistful of Dollars, and was largely overlooked because of it.

Taking place after the bloody American Civil War and focusing on former Confederate officer Jim Lassiter taking revenge on Native Americans who slayed his family in events prior, Rio Conchos reiterates one of the western genre's oldest tropes - that of 'Cowboys vs Indians'.

Though the eclectic cast of Rio Conchos included the film debut of Cleveland Browns royalty running back Jim Brown, it's Richard Boone's portrayal of the Confederate General that's fondly remembered for the right reasons. Boone's injection of humour into a largely dramatic performance was seamless, and it's clear to see through the film's 107 minute runtime that Boone has a blast seeing the world through Lassiter's eyes.

Rugged good looks and endless charisma is nothing new for a western protagonist, and though Major Jim Lassiter is a link in the chain of a long line of American anti-heroes, he's a thoroughly well acted one.