Regarded as one of the finest Westerns ever crafted, the iconic film is set to grace BBC screens tonight.

The 1992 cinematic gem, ‘Unforgiven’, both directed by and starring Clint Eastwood, spins the tale of a retired gunslinger in the Wild West who takes on one last mission to rectify what he perceives as an injustice.

When Delilah, a prostitute played by Anna Thomson, is assaulted by cowboys in the secluded town of Big Whisky, Wyoming, a bounty is placed on their heads.

This drastic response incites the wrath of town sheriff Little Bill Daggett, played by the late Gene Hackman, who has banned vigilantism in his jurisdiction. However, retired gunslinger William Munny (Eastwood) cannot ignore the situation and spearheads a group of gunslingers in pursuit of justice.

A competing faction, led by English Bob (Bob Harris), is also vying for the reward.

‘Unforgiven’ was met with resounding commercial and critical acclaim. It garnered nine Academy Award nominations and clinched four, including Best Picture and Best Director for Clint Eastwood, reports the Mirror.

Gene Hackman also bagged the Best Supporting Actor award for his performance. Eastwood declared at the time that this would be his final appearance in a Western.

Critics were utterly captivated by the film and it continues to be hailed as one of cinema’s finest achievements. The movie boasts a remarkable 96 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film review aggregator platform.

One reviewer said: “This unflinching drama definitively strips the West of its idealized romanticism and presents it as a savage hellhole in which there are no clear-cut heroes or villains, only morally ambiguous survivalists.”

Another wrote: “It’s stunning cinematography by Jack N. Green is breathtaking, with the brilliant use of wide-shots and placing characters in the foreground in order to capture the epic scale and power of the wide-screen.”

A third added: “A better modern western has yet to be made.”

Eastwood’s commanding portrayal received particular acclaim, with one critic noting: “Eloquent and expansive, Unforgiven is arguably the best film of Eastwood’s career-a movie that could well serve as the last word on the western.”

Another said: “As great as the script and cinematography are (they are both unassailable), the real magic of Unforgiven is in the performances.”

Audiences were equally enamoured with the raw Western, with one enthusiast saying: “Arguably the greatest western of all time, with Eastwood, Freeman, Harris and Hackman at their best. Gritty and hard hitting. Munny releases his old demons in a great climax. I always want to see more of what happened to him after I watch this.”

Another said: “The best western I have ever seen as a fan of them. Well deserved Oscars and the great performances of all the actors, its truly a film.”

Meanwhile, a third added: “Classic movie one of the best westerns.”

Unforgiven is on BBC2 at 9pm on December 27.

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