Howard Hawkes directed probably the best Western ever: “Red River”.
When John Ford saw it he said to Hawks about John Wayne: “I didn’t know that big sonofabitch could act.”
Agreed Howard Hawkes was a great director and so was John Ford, between them they made a lot of great westerns.
Here is one for you, Richard Brooks, he only made one western, but it was highly regarded and nominated for three Oscars. It was, “The Professionals” with Burt Lancaster, Lee Marvin, Jack Palance, Claudia Cardinale, and the Woody Strode. Watch that one. It is Fantastic!