By the 1950s, the Western had outgrown its myths. The black-and-white morality of the frontier gave way to dustier truths — guilt, redemption, loneliness. The heroes were no longer invincible; they ...

Throughout his tragically short career, Alan Ladd starred in some of the most popular western movies of the Hollywood Golden age. A mainstay of action, adventure, and noir films throughout the '40s ...

Sitting through an old Western* can sometimes be tougher than a two-dollar steak. After all, historical myths — often glorifying lawlessness and gunfire — get baked right into the storytelling. But ...