When discussing the greatest Western movie actors, Paul Newman often stands in the shadows of legends like John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, and Gary Cooper. Yet, his legacy is no less impactful. While he captivated audiences alongside Robert Redford in "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid," it was his brooding portrayals—such as Eddie Felson in "The Hustler" and Luke Jackson in "Cool Hand Luke"—that cemented his place as an icon of American cinema. Throughout his illustrious career, Newman graced the silver screen with memorable performances in Westerns like Arthur Penn's "The Left-Handed Gun," John Huston's "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean," and Robert Altman's "Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson." Among these, two masterpieces directed by the underappreciated Martin Ritt stand out.

Martin Ritt remains one of Hollywood's most unsung filmmakers, crafting films across genres from the late 1950s until his final work, "Stanley