Long before the MCU provided us with a batch of heroes we neither needed nor deserved, another kind of good guy ruled the silver screen — the kind-hearted, gun-slinging cowboy. Throughout the first half and change of the 20th century, western films served as a cinema staple, ruling Hollywood and captivating audiences with tales of the once-wild frontier.
From Clint Eastwood relaxing between takes to Henry Fonda getting into character, here are 26 behind-the-scenes photos of classic westerns that will have you putting them up.
1
“Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen play cards during the filming of The Magnificent Seven, 1960. Charles Bronson looks on.”
2
“My grandfather with Hollywood greats: Steve McQueen (Left) and Charles Bronson (Right) on the set of Magnificent Seven 1960.”
3
“The Magnificent Seven, 1960.”
4
“On the set of The Magnificent Seven, 1960”
5
“Behind the scenes shot on set of The Magnificent Seven (1960). Yul Brynner front and centre, effortlessly cool.”
6
“Sergio Leone directing Margarita Lozano and Clint Eastwood in 'A Fistful of Dollars' (1964)”
7
“Robert Redford and Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid in 1969. Definitely old school cool.”
8
“Robert Redford And Paul Newman On The Set Of Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, 1969.”
9
“Paul Newman and Robert Redford playing Ping Pong during the film of Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, 1969.”
10
“Sergio Leone, Lee Van Cleef and Clint Eastwood behind the scenes in ‘For a Few Dollars More’, 1964.”
11
“Ernest Borgnine during the filming of The Wild Bunch , 1969.”
12
“Claudia Cardinale, Jason Robards and Henry Fonda on the set of ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’ (1967)”
13
“Henry Fonda and Sergio Leone behind the scenes on Once Upon A Time in the West (1968).”
14
“Claudia Cardinale on the set of Once Upon A Time in the West (1968).”
15
“Angie Dickinson bagging some rays between takes while filming 'Rio Bravo': 1958 photo by Allan Grant.”
16
“Claudia Cardinale, 1968, on the set of Once Upon a Time in the West.”
17
“Dean Martin & Angie Dickinson on the set of Rio Bravo, 1959.”
18
“Howard Hawks and Angie Dickinson on the set of ‘Rio Bravo’, 1959.”
19
“Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach and Lee Van Cleef on the set of The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, 1966.”
20
”Clint Eastwood relaxing on the set of "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" 1966.”
21
“Robert Redford, Katharine Ross and Paul Newman on the set of ‘Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid’ (1969).”
22
“Ricky Nelson and Angie Dickinson on set of RIO BRAVO (1959) directed by Howard Hawks.”
23
“Clint Eastwood, Eli Wallach, Lee Van Cleef and Sergio Leone on the set of THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY (1966).”
24
“Clint Eastwood with Sergio Leone and his daughters on the set of The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, 1966.”
25
“Lee Van Cleef (left) on the set with Clint Eastwood (Right) in the Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966).”
26
“Eli Wallace, Sergio Leone, Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef dining during the filming of the Good the Bad and the Ugly (1966).”
