Westerns

The Western is a movie genre that had its golden age decades ago, and today the genre holds an “old movie” image. Westerns are still made today (and we have some fine, recent Westerns), but they are made only occasionally. Generally, if you are watching a Western it is the product of an older generation—made to suit the styles and interests of that time.

Still from Stagecoach (1939)


The classic Western, once a prolific genre for film and television, has much to offer. Most of all, they’re exciting. Westerns are full of horse chases, gun fights, heroes, villains and thrilling stunts. They are filled with beautifully-filmed scenic wildernesses such as Monument Valley in John Ford’s films Stagecoach and The Searchers (a rarity: a truly beautiful color film).


Scenic still from The Searchers (1956) starring John Wayne

 Historically, the Western genre is also filled with exciting, epic musical scores and theme songs. High Noon; The Magnificent Seven (my favorite shoot-em up); Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid; and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (my favorite spaghetti western) are all fine examples of excellent and unforgettable movie scores.



John Ford's The Searchers (1956): Every frame a masterpiece


But most importantly, Westerns are uniquely and characteristically American. They are set in the American West, they depict moments in American history and they deal with American themes and concerns. Even The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, a spaghetti Western made in Italy by Italians, is set in the American West during the Civil War.

I often prefer the classic Westerns because they are more likely instilled with the American brand of optimism. Dark themes, desperate times and violent acts all occur in the films, but the optimistic drive to create prosperity and security out of cruel lawlessness and order out of dangerous frontier is always present in the Old West.

In classic Westerns the liberty and security of town populations are often threatened and oppressed by cruelty and lawlessness as the film centers on its protagonist finding the courage and ability to defend against such enemies. And the good guy always wins. The modern movie watcher might call this cliché and unrealistic but during the golden age you hoped for, fought for and expected the good and righteous to win out. It’s a refreshing difference from today’s overly pessimistic frame of mind.



High Noon (1952) starring Gary Cooper and Grace Kelly occurs in real time, and the ever-present clock is used as a highly effective device to build suspense for the shootout 

 I would like to also mention The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance as yet another fine classic western.  This noirish Western stars John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart as two conflicting protagonists and Lee Marvin as a most vicious villian.