The 1950's had over 50 very good to great westerns and is the best decade for westerns in my opinion.
Here's a top 50, and every movie is rated out of 5 stars.
I don't feel like doing mini write-ups for each movie, but I'd love to answer any questions.
Just missed the cut:
- The Tin Star (1957) ****
- Rancho Notorious (1952) ****
- The Ride Back (1957) ****
The top 50:
50-41:
- The Proud Ones (1956) ****
- Decision at Sundown (1957) ****
- Rio Grande (1950) ****
- The Furies (1950) ****
- Bend of the River (1952) ****
- Westward the Women (1951) ****
- Run for Cover (1955) ****
- The Big Sky (1952) ****
- Ride Clear of Diablo (1954) ****
- Track of the Cat (1954) ****
40-31:
- The Far Country (1954) ****
- The Gunfighter (1950) ****
- The Law and Jake Wade (1958) ****
- Broken Arrow (1950) ****
- The Tall Men (1955) ****
- The Big Country (1958) ****
- The Wonderful Country (1959) ****
- Bandido (1956) ****
- No Name on the Bullet (1959) ****
- Backlash (1956) ****½
30-21:
- Winchester '73 (1950) ****½
- Warlock (1959) ****½
- Buchanan Rides Alone (1958) ****½
- The Violent Men (1955) *****½
- Vera Cruz (1954) ****½
- Terror in a Texas Town (1958) ****½
- Devil's Doorway (1950) ****½
- Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) ****½
- Last Train From Gun Hill (1959) ****½
- The Sheepman (1958) ****½
20-11:
- Cowboy (1958) ****½
- Run of the Arrow (1957) ****½
- High Noon (1952) ****½
- Hondo (1953) ****½
- Jubal (1956) ****½
- Wagon Master (1950) ****½
- The Naked Spur (1953) ****½
- The Bravados (1958) ****½
- Ride Lonesome (1959) ****½
- Day of the Outlaw (1959) *****
10-1:
- The Man From Laramie (1955) *****
- Forty Guns (1957) *****
- The Tall T (1957) *****
- Man of the West (1958) *****
- Seven Men From Now (1956) *****
- Johnny Guitar (1954) *****
- 3:10 to Yuma (1957) *****
- Rio Bravo (1959) *****
- Shane (1953) *****
- The Searchers (1956) *****