1. Conventions, History and Examples
Western Movies
Conventions, History and Examples

2. An Overview – Key Points
Telling stories set in the American West
Often portray films in a romanticised light
Nostalgic historical feel
Genre has been popular throughout the history of the movies
Has diminished in importance as the United States moves further away from the period depicted in these movies.
Romanticised – not meaning ‘love’, idealised view that all was beautiful, with the appropriate language to describe
Important part of American history, but does not hold the same myth and allure as it used to – America is now more capitalist.

3. Setting and Time Set in the American West
Almost always in the 19th Century
Incorporate the Civil War into the film directly, or the background
May extend further back into the colonial period
Or forward into the mid-twentieth century
May range geographically from Mexico to Canada
Important events in the 19th century: civil war, California Gold Rush, progression of the railroad, migration from the east across the mountains to the west
Some recent films – Desperado etc, have examined the modern day cowboy, who fights against drug barons rather than rustlers

4. The Hero Semi – nomadic characters
Sole possessions consist of clothing, a gun and maybe a horse
Some high technology of the era present, e.g. telegraph, printing press, railroad
Occasionally these referred to as a development just arriving, symbolising the end of frontier lifestyle and the march of civilisation
1. What would your western hero look like?

5. Some general conventions
Each movie is a morality tale
Usually set against stunning American landscapes
In some movies the landscapes are the stars more than the actors
Stress the harshness of the landscape, or juxtapose the beauty of it with the dirtiness of a town

6. Some possible locations
Isolated forts
Ranch houses
Isolated homestead
Saloon
Jail

7. Iconography Stetsons Spurs Colt. 45’s Prostitutes Saloon Sheriff
Faithful Steed
Indians

8. Common themes Conquest of the wilderness
Depicts code of honour rather than law.
Social status through acts of violence, or generosity.

9. Evolution
Structure drawn from 19th Century melodramatic literature involving virtuous hero and a wicked villain who menaces a virginal heroine
Action story, composed of violence, chases and crimes
Introduction of the history of migration westwards and opening of frontier – films like The Covered Wagon (1924)
Revenge structure, present in films like Billy the Kid (1930)

10. Sub-genres Classical Western Epic Western Shoot ‘em up
Singing Cowboy Westerns
Spaghetti Westerns
Revisionist Western

11. Classic Westerns
The Great Train Robbery (1903) was the first narrative film produced in US
Starred Bronco Billy Anderson
He then starred in hundreds of western shorts
Genre epitomised by work of two directors – John Ford who used John Wayne as his lead directed Stagecoach (1939), which is considered one of the best westerns ever made.

12. Spaghetti Westerns Revival of the western genre in Italy
Low budget affairs
Locations chosen for their cheapness, and similarity to mid-West (southern Spain was often chosen)
More action and violence than Hollywood westerns.
Sergio Leone’s contributions were the most notable – Once Upon A Time in the West.
Clint Eastwood started his career in these

13. Revisionist Westerns Questioned the role of native as a savage
Questioned the hero versus villain theme
Some gave women much larger roles

14. Clint Eastwood

15. TRUE GRIT FACTS
ROOSTER COGBURN
JEFF BRIDGES

16. MATTIE ROSS
HAILEE STEINFELD
LA BOEUF
MATT DAMON
TOM CHANEY
JOSH BROLIN

17. AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS
2010 AFI Film Award AFI Movie of the Year
2011 Nominated for Oscar:
Sound Mixing
Cinematography
Costume Design
Directing
Sound Editing
Picture of the Year
Leading Actor – Jeff Bridges
Supporting Actress – Hailee Steinfeld
Writing and Screenplay Adaption – Joel Coen and Ethan Coen
2011 Nominated Critics Choice Awards
2011 Screen Actors Guild Award (SAG) Jeff Bridges and Hailee Stienfeld
2011 Teen Choice Award Hailee Stienfeld

18. And Finally…
‘As far as I’m concerned, Americans don’t have any original art except western movies and jazz…’
Clint Eastwood