10 Best Performances In Western Movies
6. Marlon Brando As 'The Kid' - One-Eyed Jacks (1961)
As far as Hollywood royalty goes, Marlon Brando's reign as its king lasted decades through the late 20th century. From his cameo as Superman's famed father Jor-El to his flawless performance as an unassuming dockworker in the incredible On the Waterfront, Brando's career was as diverse as he was talented.
With Brando taking on the role of 'The Kid' (loosely based off American outlaw Billy the Kid) in One-Eyed Jacks, the film begins with him and two other accomplices robbing a bank across the Mexican border, only to be pursued on horseback by forces of the Mexican government. The Kid is ultimately betrayed, and a large portion of the film is spent tracking down his former ally.
Brando's talent manifested not only in front of the camera, but also behind it, as the film remains his only credit as a feature film's director. As such, expectations were sky high as the film's production rested entirely on Brando's vision for the story.
He obviously brings his A game for the film and effortlessly out-acts his contemporaries throughout, but knowing that his attention was needed behind the scenes to pull the film together makes his performance all the more impressive.