Wild West aesthetics are trending nowadays if we’re talking about closet. What about the movies? All westerns are made up of clichés, but that’s the beauty of them. Now it will be sorted out what is a must-see in every western, what they are and what you need to watch to make sense of an already classic genre
Tumbleweeds, hot afternoons, a good sheriff who stands up for his town, and a bad guy who crossed the road… Almost any quality western fits this description, and there are so many of them in the US that it’s hard to ignore. The first movie about the adventures of cowboys in the land of the Indians filmed as early as 1899! And since then, directors are still turning to this genre.
For more than a hundred years, the western has attracted viewers. Of course, it had its ups when all the little boys begged their parents for cowboy hats and built a lasso from improvised materials, and downs when the guest at the next session of the movie became only tumbleweeds, which made the focus of the operator of the picture.
The birth of westerns
If you think it all started with a movie, but I hasten to surprise you. Back in the 1860s in the stores of America appeared tabloid novels, the conquest of the Wild West in which became the central theme of the plot. The basis for the works became American folklore, and the main heroes (and villains) became real people who existed at the time. So by the time the stories decided to screen and the birth of cinema, the population was already excited about cowboy stories. All that remained was to create a beautiful picture, because any movie was able to “sell itself” on its own.
Of course, what came out in 1899, it is difficult to call a real movie. They were short sketches, nothing more. But in 1903, the screens were released almost a full-fledged picture “The Great Train Robbery” directed by Edwin Porter. Viewers were delighted, because it used the first special effects (for example, threw a mannequin man from the train) and even turned to the first stuntmen. In general, it turned out to be very impressive. Since that time, westerns began to capture the minds and hearts of viewers.
What are westerns like?
1. Spaghetti Western
This is a subgenre of movie westerns, which originated in Italy. Such pictures became especially popular in the 60s and 70s of the XX century. For some time they were treated with disdain, believing that compared to the American “original” such films are second-rate. Spaghetti Westerns were distinguished from the classics by the abundance of violent scenes, the emphasis on action rather than dialog, and a certain stereotypicality of images.
2. Classic Western
In a classic western, the main storyline is the confrontation between civilization and “savagery”. The good guys are cowboys, sheriffs and the local population, and the bad guys are Indians, a gang of bandits and all those who “prevent” the inhabitants from developing the wilderness.
3. Revisionist Western
Here the characters of the protagonists finally cease to be exclusively positive. They are often tormented by internal contradictions, and their thinking becomes more complex. In addition, the native population of America is no longer just savages, but people who are desperately trying to preserve their way of life and protect their freedom. So the villains become the representatives of power, not the Indians, which of course is different from the good old classics.
4. Western comedy
Everything is clear here. This is the same classic western, but diluted with humor. At that time in the United States tried to reformat the genre, because the classics began to seem too boring and ordinary. As a result, on the screens appeared the picture “Destry again in the saddle”, which still has quite high ratings.
5. Neo-Western
Neo-Western borrowed from classic westerns the place of action (most often a town far from civilization) and the search for justice, which is most often done by the hands of the people living in a particular place. It is considered a “revival” of westerns, because the heroes cease to be only cowboys and bandits, but the concept of the genre is still preserved. The main problem that such films cover is social inequality, injustice towards migrants, drug and weapons trafficking.
6. Sex Western
And there was such a thing too. Of course, no too provocative scenes in the movies did not appear, but the abundance of cleavage and other “charms of life” became very obvious. For example, in the movie “Outlaw” (1943), some scenes were recognized as too explicit for that time, so that the release date was postponed. And from the picture “Duel in the Sun” (1946) and had to cut ah ten (!) minutes, so that it could be shown in theaters.
Clint Eastwood’s movie Unforgiven
won four Oscars and became one of the most atypical westerns filmed in the United States. In the center of the plot – a grim and harsh protagonist, who decided to stop with the dark past and live an ordinary life on the outskirts, farming. However, his plans are disturbed, because he barely makes ends meet, and the job that he “planted”, literally forces him to return to the slippery slope.
It all starts with the fact that in the town of Big Whiskey one of the cowboys brutally cut the face of a whore from the local brothel. The local sheriff limited himself to taking a horse ransom from the offender. And then the offended women decided to spend their hard-earned money to hire murderers…..
Once Upon a Time in the Wild West
A young widow inherited lands and a farm from her husband, but it is in them that some dangerous personalities are interested. Through the ranch of the heroine should be laid a brand new railroad, and her losses are of little interest to anyone. Fortunately, to protect the interests of Jill McBain will be called at once two characters: a visiting stranger nicknamed Harmonica and a local outlaw Cheyenne, who are trying to be accused of the murder of the young widow’s husband.
One of Quentin Tarantino’s best films in the Wild West setting. There are two main characters – a dangerous and bloodthirsty bounty hunter nicknamed Dentist and a freed slave named Django. The year is 1858, and the place of action is Texas. This picture is inspired by the spaghetti western “Django” directed by Sergio Corbucci. According to the plot, Django and King Schultz (that’s the Dentist’s name) become partners, but each of them pursues his own goal.
The Good, the Bad, the Evil
A classic spaghetti western starring Clint Eastwood. This time the actor appears before the audience in the image of a free seeker nicknamed Blondin. The American Civil War in America in full swing, in 1862. By fate he meets two more men under different circumstances, and the three of them go in search of stolen gold. Only soon enough everyone realizes that it is unreasonable to trust each other. And in a war-torn country, one must always keep a gun at the ready.
At exactly noon
A classic that every fan of westerns must appreciate. Let the plot of the story is quite typical, yet it is not without its charm. The main character Sheriff Will Kane marries his beloved Amy. It would seem that nothing will no longer overshadow the tranquility of the young family, but on the horizon appears a bandit and murderer Frank Miller, whom the man sent to jail many years ago. It is clear that the main goal of the antagonist will be revenge. Will the protagonist be able to withstand the battle? Or exactly at noon he will die at the hands of the villain?
The American Civil War ended three years ago, so the protagonist Ethan Edwards returns to his native Texas. Only here in the place where his home was, the storm of battles has not yet subsided. Comanches ruthlessly killed his entire family, burned the ranch to the ground and kidnapped his nine-year-old niece Debbie. Now the man has to go in search of the girl, let the trail of kidnappers and lost in the desert sands. Hope to find Debbie alive melts as quickly as the forces. But Ethan does not give up and intends to fight to the end.
Wild Gang
It’s the beginning of XX century, so even in the Wild West times of daring robberies are a thing of the past. However, outlaws led by Pike Bishop do not give up and make another attempt at robbery. However, everything ends in failure, because in an ambush they are waiting for bounty hunter Dick Thornton. Almost all die in the crossfire, but Pike and his five comrades manage to escape to Mexico. The lawmen give Dick exactly 30 days to catch the remaining bandits. Otherwise, he will end up behind bars.
Dances With Wolves
The main character Lt. John Dunbar is wounded and asks to be transferred closer to the western border of the United States. It would seem that everything is in order. However, the commander in the new place ends his life by suicide, and the traveling companion who was carrying John dies in a skirmish with Indians. No one who knows that the lieutenant was left alone with the wildlife and inhospitable indigenous inhabitants of North America, there is simply no one left. And a way out of this situation must be found.
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The central character of this story becomes a girl named Mattie Ross. She does not want to put up with the death of her father, who was killed by a vagrant Tom Chaney. Especially since the robber not only took her father’s life, but also dared to steal the money set aside to buy horses. The intruder’s trail gets lost in Indian Territory. So Mattie has to hire the formidable bounty hunter Reuben Cogburn. On the way they are joined by a ranger who is looking for Chaney for the murder of a senator. Now on the dangerous road the heroes will have to go to the three of them.
Disgusting Eight
And to close this list, I decided to close with another Quentin Tarantino movie. Not everyone has praised “The Abominable Eight,” but trust me, it has its charm. Viewers are introduced to bounty hunter John Root, who is also known as the Executioner. He accompanies the imprisoned Daisy Domergue to Red Rock. They are soon joined by hunter Major Warren and one Chris Mannix. It would seem that even the distrust that has prevailed between the heroes would not prevent them from reaching their destination. However, a snowstorm makes adjustments to their plans. So, they all find themselves in a tavern, where they… are waiting for four more strangers.
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