Western Writers


Critics and movie buffs have a habit of idolizing directors and actors and ignoring other key pieces of the puzzle. In the same vein as my earlier article on cinematographers, here is a list of some writers who have written great westerns, plus some great writers who took a shot at a western, maybe just so they could say they did.

Dudley Nichols is best known for his work with John Ford, including a little film called Stagecoach. His other contributions to the western genre include The Hangman, The Big Sky, and the vastly underrated The Tin Star, featuring Henry Fonda and Anthony Perkins. Atremendously gifted, versatile writer, Nichols also scripted the racial drama Pinky, Steamboat 'Round the Bend, and Bringing Up Baby, one of the great screwball comedies of all-time.

Another classic John Ford collaborator, Frank S. Nugent scripted 3 Godfathers, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, The Quiet Man, Mister Roberts, and Steven Spielberg's candidate for best movie of all time, The Searchers.

The same man had a hand in bringing us Red River, Bend of the River, Winchester '73, Lone Star (Gable, Gardner), and Ride a Crooked Trail: Borden Chase.

Leigh Brackett seems almost as fascinating as the characters she brought to the screen. A science fiction writer and mentor to Ray Bradbury, Brackett co-wrote El Dorado and Rio Lobo. Outside of the western genre she also contributed to The Big Sleep, Hatari, The Long Goodbye, and was in the process of writing The Empire Strikes Back when cancer claimed her life. Lucas hired Lawrence Kasdan to finish it, and the rest is history.

Here are a few examples of writers better known for other styles of work, who managed to leave their mark on the western genre. David Webb Peoples wrote Blade Runner and Twelve Monkeys, but he also wrote Unforgiven. Before writing The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Willis Goldbeck scripted the entire Dr. Kildare series of films, plus Tod Browning's controversial and completely wonderful Freaks.

Before going on to force feed the world garbage like Robocop 2, The Crow, Eraser, and The Island of Dr. Moreau, Walon Green wrote The Wild Bunch. Go figure. Noted horror maven Dario Argento is given story credit for Once Upon a Time in the West.

A blacklisted writer, Carl Foreman wrote The Men, The Guns of Navarone, and Bridge on the River Kwai. As for westerns, how does High Noon sound? Foreman is indisputably one of Hollywood's all time greats.

The copyright of the article Western Writers in Westerns is owned by Bob Stenbaugh. Permission to republish Western Writers in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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