"Western Movies, THE American Cinematic Creation" Topic

So, I have always liked Westerns, but lately I've become almost obsessed with them. I am a great Jazz fan, which is the only truly American musical form. So to I am seeing that the Western is the only truly American cinematic form, aside. Sergi Leone's "Spaghetti Westerns" Some are almost poetic in nature.

I find it hard to disagree. Probably my favourite genre of film.

Yeah, I love Westerns too. Some really great stories and action.

Thanks,

John

The John Ford movies are absolutely gorgeous, like paintings. The themes in Westerns are archetypal. I love them.

Well, there certainly are a lot of them

While there have been some terrible Westerns, a good one is awfully hard to beat – True Grit (both versions) are among my favourite films, for different reasons for each one

When it comes to Clint, I like 'em all – Josey Wales is probably my favourite

When it comes to Clint – I kind of liked Paint Your Wagon.

I love Westerns, too. But, the Delta Blues is an American music form. Sorry Nic, I hate Jazz.

Blues and Jazz are very American art forms but have their roots in African and European folk traditions. But yes very much American. And yes with the exception of Mr. Leone who made Clint a household word the Western is all American just as the Samurai film is strictly a Japanese film art form. One of my favorite Westerns actually managed to combine the two and make it work, I am of course, speaking of Red Sun which was originally released as Under a Red Sun, staring Charles Bronson, Toshiro Mifune and Ursula Undress.

Speaking of the Western and Samurai films it is interesting how the two are very similar in scope and archetypes.

Other favorite Westerns in no particular order:

The Outlaw Josey Wales

Unforgiven

The Man that shot Liberty Valance

High Noon

Silverado

She Wore a Yellow Ribbon

For a Fist Full of Dollars (A retelling of the Japanese film Yojimbo)

The Searchers

For a Fist Full of Dollars (A retelling of the Japanese film Yojimbo)

Given that I've been bringing this up a lot lately, I'll do it again:

Yojimbo was loosely based on Red Harvest, one of Dashiell Hammett's Continental Op novels.

I agree with the premise that the Western genre is largely American in that it is centered on the cultural mythology of independence and self reliance. However, I'd argue that many of the tropes have precedent in the romantic chivalrous myths, the picaresque novel, and the idea of the Meiji era wandering swordsman. I also submit that early westerns placed too much emphasis on an idealized version of the west, and our modern westerns owe much to the influence of Italian and Spanish movies that revolutionized the genre in the 60's and 70's.

I like a good western. The DVD with 30 B westerns for $5.00 USD in the Walmart DVD bin, no thanks, I'll pass.

>>Yojimbo was loosely based on Red Harvest, one of Dashiell Hammett's Continental Op novels.<<

I've read "Red Harvest" and I disagree. The only similarity is that there are two factions in conflict in a town. Kurosawa, the director of "Yojimbo", says that part of it is based on the film "The Glass Key", which was also a originally a novel by Hammett.

>>I am a great Jazz fan, which is the only truly American musical form.<<

So are Country & Western, Rhythm & Blues, Swing, Ragtime and Rock & Roll.

Great list, but don't forget "Winchester '73"(even though Rock Hudson plays an Indian).

I'd add "The Shootist" and "The Cowboys" to the list.

Tombstone and El Dorado

>>Rock Hudson plays an Indian<<

How about Burt Lancaster and Chuck Connors as Apaches. (-:

How about the Magnificent Seven.

Eli Wallach, from Brooklyn playing a Mexican, Yul Brenner, a Russian, playing a Cajun, and Horst Buchholz, a German, playing a Mexican.

>>Eli Wallach, from Brooklyn playing a Mexican<<

…and he did it again in "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" and "How the West Was Won". Also a couple of spaghetti westerns beside TGTBATU. He's the best Jewish Mexican bandido that I've ever seen! LOL

oooo…wait…I forgot Humphrey Bogart and James Cagney as cowboys in "The Oklahoma Kid"

3.10 to Yuma glen ford playing a baddy

What about Carry On Cowboy?…………

Lonesome Dove is my favorite.

--John Ford's 1939 "Stagecoach" (the only acceptable version).
--"Red River", the epitome of cattle drive films.
-"Open Range", with Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall
--"Last Man Standing", which felt like more of a Western film than a gangster theme, Bruce Willis as the lone upstanding man in between two rival factions.
--"Cat Ballou", with a Greek-chorus duo of Nat King Cole and Stubby Kaye!

Isn't 'Last Man Standing' just a take on Yojimbo?