Monday, 7 May 2018

Western Genre Research

Films of Note:
The Great Train Robbery )1903) - first western
Fistful of Dollars (1964) - made Clint Eastwood famous
The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966) - Clint Eastwood

Tropes:
Protecting land
Conflicting with Native Americans
Showdown at high noon
Demsel in distress
Building an 'empire'

Themes:
Revenge/retribution]Redemption
Nomadic lifestyle
Lawlessness
Honour
Justice - personal

Influences:
Medieval knights
Samurai
Film noir

Influenced:
Star Wars
Mad Max
Eastern Bloc - Red Western
Film noir

Actors:
John Wayne
Clint Eastwood
James Stewart
Gary Cooper
Charles Branson
Lee van Cleef
James Coburn

Costume:
Stetson
Revolver/6 Gun
Winchester Rifle
Bandana
Buckskins
Poncho
Spurs

Moden Revisionist Subgenre
Typically made post WW2 - 60s/60s
Had a more morally ambiguous protagonist ie bank robbers
Right/wrong is less clear
Often made to criticise American values, capitalism etc

Clint Eastwood known for using this to criticise the classic western
Ie The Outlaw Josey Wales (1976) women and Native Americans are shown positively

Westerns as a whole become more gritty and realistic as time went on

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