Highly advanced visual effects have yielded some amazing action sequences over the last few decades, but Hollywood has been able to deliver some truly thrilling moments since long before the start of the 21st century. In fact, the resources they had available to them in comparison to how things are now have made some of the accomplishments from Hollywood's Golden Age even more impressive.

Asian films – whether it’s samurai movies from Japan or old-school kung fu flicks from Hong Kong – cornered the market for years when it came to action, and they didn’t really find a real rival in Hollywood until the 1980s. However, specific genres of American-made films did lean heavily on action throughout Hollywood’s Golden Age, a term that describes a period that lasted between the 1920s and the early 1960s.

Outside of a few shootouts and fist fights, movies set in modern times rarely headed in this direction, but Westerns, war movies, historical epics, and swashbuckling adventure films were ripe with this sort of entertainment.

Jason And The Argonauts – Skeleton Fight

One of the most influential fantasy movies of all time, Jason and the Argonauts featured a moment that was unforgettable to a large portion of its original audience. In the 1963 mythological adventure classic, the titular protagonist found himself going up against a group of armed skeletons, setting up an intense sword battle.

Created using stop-motion animation devised by Ray Harryhausen, Jason and the Argonauts’ skeleton fight has earned its place in cinematic history as one of the most iconic fantasy movie battles ever put to the screen.

Stagecoach – Stagecoach Chase

There’s a lot to love about the 1939 John Ford-directed Western that launched John Wayne’s rise to stardom, including the chase scene at the end. Stagecoach hits its climax with a seven-minute sequence where the Ringo Kid and the others have to deal with an attacking force of Apaches.

All of the action happened in motion, with all the characters having to shoot from horseback or from the stagecoach. With Apaches falling from their horses one by one and even a moment where John Wayne’s Ringo Kid had to climb on top of a horse running full speed, Stagecoach delivered stuntwork that was way ahead of its time.

Bridge On The River Kwai – Bridge Explosion

Similar to Lawrence of Arabia, Bridge on the River Kwai was a historical war film jointly produced by a British studio and Hollywood. The struggle of the British prisoners of war in the 1957 culminates in a fight to blow up a railway bridge.

The gradual buildup lends itself well to the intensity of the final minutes prior to that pivotal moment, where the main characters stage a desperate attempt to gain an opportunity to destroy the bridge. The explosion, which was intricately crafted and planned by the crew, provided an epic finish to an already-great adventure.

The Adventures Of Robin Hood – Robin Hood vs. Guy Of Gisbourne

An additional classic from the 1930s deserves recognition for groundbreaking action. Released in 1938, The Adventures of Robin Hood set the standard for swashbuckler movies with its extravagant set pieces, costumes, and sword battles. But its best was saved for last, with Errol Flynn’s Robin Hood engaging in an epic sword duel with Basil Rathbone’s Guy of Gisbourne.

Amid a furious battle between rebel forces and English soldiers, Robin Hood and Guy faced off in a well-choreographed fight that took them all over the castle, complete with several moving parts and a great deal of stunt work. The battle amounted to an epic finish.

The Mark Of Zorro – Zorro vs. Esteban Pasquale

The Adventures of Robin Hood is rightfully regarded as the quintessential swashbuckler film of Hollywood’s Golden Age but it’s not alone in its genre with top-tier swordfighting action. Just two years later, it was met byThe Mark Of Zorro, which ended in a duel fought between hero and villain played by Tyrone Power and Basil Rathbone.

Basil Rathbone contributed to two of this period’s greatest action sequences. His real-life fencing championships helped filmmakers coordinate an intense sword battle.

High Noon – Final Shootout

High Noon is best known for its tale of a noble sheriff who stands alone against evil even when no one else will but its action also factors heavily into what makes it so good. It pays off Gary Cooper’s Will Kane journey with a tense standoff against an outlaw gang at its end but goes beyond standard Western shootouts.

The theme of Will Kane being alone against many forces Gary Cooper to strategically pick off enemies adding suspense to this great Western’s final battle.

The Magnificent Seven – The Magnificent Seven Fight Calvera’s Gang

The Magnificent Seven wouldn’t be thought of as one of greatest Westerns without its thrilling ending centering on seven heroes contending with Calvera’s gang. The diverse skillsets translated into unique action blending expert gunslinging knife throwing all rolled into one perfect battle ending movie. Its high-stakes atmosphere whittled down both sides not hesitating to kill both heroes villains.

Spartacus – The Final Battle

One iconic moment came together when Kirk Douglas starred in Spartacus. In this legendary historical epic Kirk Douglas’ gladiator hero leads his band rebels against overwhelming force Romans. It’s losing battle where “good side doomed from start but their resilience commitment noble cause is at heart action sequence.

The way Spartacus successfully coordinates legions combatants both sides creates feel truly massive battle last stand Spartacus’ army lives up grand scale story.

Lawrence Of Arabia – Train Fight

An American-British co-production from1962Lawrence Arabia features handful memorable set pieces best being attack train. Scene question sees Peter O’Toole’s T.E. Lawrence lead assault Turkish train desert.

Unlike situations modern films real explosion needed blow up train allowing impressively realistic depiction real-life event followed gritty violent battle honored historical accounts what befell train1917.

Ben-Hur – Chariot Race

The action sequence that stands atop them all encompassed11 minutes screentime William Wyler’s1959 Biblical epicBen-Hur . In second half movie revenge-seeking Judah Ben-Hur (Charlton Heston) enters deadly chariot race order defeat (kill) archrival Messala (Stephen Boyd).

This no ordinary race made clear there are no rules as expected event controlled ancient Romans. For several minutes Ben-Hur has guide horses through challenging gauntlet surviving collision after collision multiple competitors meeting grisly ends race unfolds.