Every Western movie needs a good monologue. Whether it was John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, or Gary Cooper starring in the film, a classic Western speech was imperative. And some of the top Western movies in cinematic history had those memorable monologues to help make those films some of the best ever made in any genre.
Here are five of the most memorable monologues in classic Western movies:
Vote Now: Who Is Your Favorite Actor of All Time?
1. Thomas Mitchell in "High Noon" (1952)
When you need somebody to convince Gary Cooper's character to leave town in order for its citizens to avoid trouble with the bad guy, you couldn't do much better than the monologue performed by Thomas Mitchell as the town's mayor. Mitchell is better known for other movies – "Gone With the Wind" and "It's a Wonderful Life," for instance – but he shines in this moment as well.
2. John Wayne in "The Alamo" (1960)
As Scott Eyman wrote in "John Wayne: The Life and Legend," Wayne – who directed this movie – had a "real feel for epic compositions, even if he's oblivious to emotional reality." Thus after the character, Flaca, expresses her love for Wayne's character, he goes into a speech about what it is right and what is wrong. Extra credit goes to Wayne for not tripping over the tongue-twisting phrase, "Now I may sound like a Bible beater yelling up a revival at a river crossing camp meeting."
3. Katharine Ross in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (1969)
While Etta Place, the girlfriend of the Sundance Kid, was trying to decide whether to accompany Cassidy (Paul Newman) and the Kid (Robert Redford) to escape to Bolivia, Ross' character lays down her law. "I'm 26, and I'm single, and a school teacher, and that's the bottom of the pit. And the only excitement I've known is here with me now," she said. "I'll go with you, and I won't whine, and I'll sew your socks, and I'll stitch you when you're wounded, and I'll do anything you ask of me except one thing. I won't watch you die. I'll miss that scene if you don't mind."
4. Clint Eastwood in "The Outlaw Josey Wales" (1976)
Thirty-six years before Eastwood addressed an empty chair at the 2012 Republican National Convention, the actor, playing the title character Josey Wales, made a no-nonsense speech to the character of Ten Bears that the two men could live on the same land in peace. Many years later,
Eastwood told the Wall Street Journal that he considered the movie an anti-war statement.
Vote Now: Which of These Actors Stands the Test of Time?
5. Lou Diamond Phillips in "Young Guns" (1988)
As Billy the Kid tried to convince his gang to continue fighting a war against those who had wronged the posse, Phillips' character, Chavez, let loose a passionate tirade about the murder of his people and how he was the only one left of his tribe.
"I love those films," Phillips, referring to this movie and its sequel, told the A.V. Club in 2012. "And they’re films that have stood the test of time. They’re still entertaining, they’re still good, and people still watch them. There’s a whole generation that … well, it’s one of their favorites."
© 2026 Newsmax. All rights reserved.