Western FilmsWestern Films

The WesternThe Western

major defining genre of American major defining genre of American film industry film industry

nostaligic eulogy to days of the nostaligic eulogy to days of the untamed American frontier untamed American frontier

one of the oldest, most enduring one of the oldest, most enduring and flexible genres and flexible genres

one of the most characteristically one of the most characteristically American genres in their mythic American genres in their mythic origins origins

PopularityPopularity

Popularity of westerns has waxed and waned.Popularity of westerns has waxed and waned. Most prolific era was in the 1930s -1960s.Most prolific era was in the 1930s -1960s. There was a resurgence of the genre in 1990s.There was a resurgence of the genre in 1990s.

Archetypal ConflictArchetypal Conflict

good vs. badgood vs. bad virtue vs. evilvirtue vs. evil white hat vs. black hatwhite hat vs. black hat man vs. manman vs. man new arrivals vs. Native Americans new arrivals vs. Native Americans settlers vs. Indianssettlers vs. Indians humanity vs. naturehumanity vs. nature civilization vs. wilderness or lawlessnesscivilization vs. wilderness or lawlessness

Archetypes continuedArchetypes continued

schoolteachers vs. saloon dance-hall girlsschoolteachers vs. saloon dance-hall girls villains vs. heroesvillains vs. heroes lawman or sheriff vs. gunslingerlawman or sheriff vs. gunslinger social law and order vs. anarchysocial law and order vs. anarchy the rugged individualist vs. the communitythe rugged individualist vs. the community the cultivated East vs. Westthe cultivated East vs. West settler vs. nomadsettler vs. nomad farmer vs. industrialistfarmer vs. industrialist

Traditional CharacteristicsTraditional Characteristics

Central plot is usually maintaining law and Central plot is usually maintaining law and order on the frontier.order on the frontier.

Fast-paced action story.Fast-paced action story. Often the hero of a western meets his opposite Often the hero of a western meets his opposite

"double," a mirror of his own evil side that he "double," a mirror of his own evil side that he has to destroy. has to destroy.

Typical Traditional ElementsTypical Traditional Elements

hostile elements (often Native Americans)hostile elements (often Native Americans) guns and gun fights (sometimes on horseback), guns and gun fights (sometimes on horseback), violence and human massacresviolence and human massacres horseshorses trains (and train robberies)trains (and train robberies) bank robberies and holdupsbank robberies and holdups runaway stage coachsrunaway stage coachs shoot-outs and showdownsshoot-outs and showdowns

Traditional Elements continuedTraditional Elements continued

outlaws and sheriffsoutlaws and sheriffs cattle drives and cattle rustlingcattle drives and cattle rustling stampedesstampedes posses in pursuitposses in pursuit barroom brawls, barroom brawls, ““search and destroy” plotssearch and destroy” plots breathtaking settings and open landscapes breathtaking settings and open landscapes distinctive western clothing (denim, jeans, boots, etc.). distinctive western clothing (denim, jeans, boots, etc.).

Traditional Western HeroesTraditional Western Heroes

local lawmen local lawmen ranchersranchers army officersarmy officers cowboyscowboys territorial marshalsterritorial marshals skilled, fast-draw skilled, fast-draw

gunfightergunfighter

Traditional Western HeroesTraditional Western Heroes

masculine persons of integrity and principle masculine persons of integrity and principle courageous, moral, tough, solid and self-sufficientcourageous, moral, tough, solid and self-sufficient maverick characters (often with trusty sidekicks)maverick characters (often with trusty sidekicks) independent and honorable attitude (but often independent and honorable attitude (but often

characterized as slow-talking)characterized as slow-talking) could usually stand alone and face danger on his own, could usually stand alone and face danger on his own,

against the forces of lawlessness (outlaws or other against the forces of lawlessness (outlaws or other antagonists)antagonists)

expert display of his physical skills (roping, gun-play, expert display of his physical skills (roping, gun-play, horse-handling, pioneering abilities, etc.)horse-handling, pioneering abilities, etc.)

““Cowboy Code”Cowboy Code” Gene Autry’s Saturday matinee saddle pals wanted to be just like their hero. Gene responded Gene Autry’s Saturday matinee saddle pals wanted to be just like their hero. Gene responded

with the Cowboy Codewith the Cowboy Code

1. The Cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take 1. The Cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair advantage. unfair advantage.

2. He must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him. 2. He must never go back on his word, or a trust confided in him.

3. He must always tell the truth. 3. He must always tell the truth.

4. He must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals. 4. He must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals.

5. He must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant 5. He must not advocate or possess racially or religiously intolerant ideas. ideas.

Cowboy Code continuedCowboy Code continued

6. He must help people in distress. 6. He must help people in distress.

7. He must be a good worker. 7. He must be a good worker.

8. He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, 8. He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action, and personal habits. action, and personal habits.

9. He must respect women, parents, and his 9. He must respect women, parents, and his nation's laws. nation's laws.

10. The Cowboy is a patriot.10. The Cowboy is a patriot.

Western SubgenresWestern Subgenres

the epic Western (i.e., The Big Country (1958)) the epic Western (i.e., The Big Country (1958)) the “singing cowboy” Western (Gene Autry and the “singing cowboy” Western (Gene Autry and

Roy Rogers) Roy Rogers) the "spaghetti" Western (trilogy of films by the "spaghetti" Western (trilogy of films by

Sergio Leone) Sergio Leone) the "noir" Western (Pursued (1947)) the "noir" Western (Pursued (1947)) the "contemporary" Western (Hud (1963)) the "contemporary" Western (Hud (1963))

Subgenres continuedSubgenres continued

the "revisionistic" Western (Little Big Man the "revisionistic" Western (Little Big Man (1970), Dances With Wolves (1990)) (1970), Dances With Wolves (1990))

the "comedy" Western (i.e., Cat Ballou the "comedy" Western (i.e., Cat Ballou (1965), Blazing Saddles (1974) (1965), Blazing Saddles (1974)

the "post-apocalyptic" Western (i.e., Mad the "post-apocalyptic" Western (i.e., Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981-2), The Max 2: The Road Warrior (1981-2), The Postman (1997)) Postman (1997))

the "science-fiction" or "space" Western the "science-fiction" or "space" Western (i.e., Outland (1981))(i.e., Outland (1981))

Revisionist WesternRevisionist Western

Subgenre of Western movieSubgenre of Western movie Traces to late 1960s/early 1970sTraces to late 1960s/early 1970s anti-westernanti-western post World War IIpost World War II questions ideals and style of traditional westernquestions ideals and style of traditional western

New Western ElementsNew Western Elements

Use of the anti-heroUse of the anti-hero Stronger roles for womenStronger roles for women More sympathetic portrayal of American IndiansMore sympathetic portrayal of American Indians Critical views of American government, military, Critical views of American government, military,

and their policiesand their policies Critical views of masculine figuresCritical views of masculine figures Nontraditional sexualityNontraditional sexuality Black humorBlack humor