Nashville’s historic Belcourt Theatre will present 26 classic westerns in a series set to kick off Aug. 4.
The folks at Nashville’s historic Belcourt Theatre have rounded up a herd of classic westerns for a program designed as a tip of the Stetson to our favorite movie genre. Essential Westerns is the title of the 26-film series that will run on weekends and Wednesdays starting Aug. 4 and continuing through Sept. 30.
According to a programming note on the Belcourt website, these particular 26 westerns were culled from a list of 130 candidates. Before the selection process began, ground rules were established: “With only a few exceptions, we’d avoid any film played [at the Belcourt] in the last decade… And with the notable exception of John Ford, we’d include no more than two films per director—and no silents.”
Among the classics that made the cut: High Noon (Aug. 4), The Searchers (Aug. 5), Stagecoach (Aug. 26), The Hired Hand (Aug. 29), Unforgiven (Sept.12), and Shane (Sept. 23).
Again, according to the Belcourt crew: “Weekends offer the opportunity to view the stone-cold classics of mid-century westerns — often paired adjacently by lead actor or director —whereas Wednesday nights start off with Peckinpah in the ‘60s, the revisionist ‘70s, and right up to the current decade.
“Alas, these aren’t necessarily THE essential Westerns, but they ARE essential nonetheless. So, saddle up and mosey on over.”
The full Essential Westerns schedule, along with ticket information, is available here.