Westerns Film Analysis 

You need to choose a Western film to view and analyze.  This can be a "spaghetti" western, a John Wayne western, a Clint Eastwood western, or any movie of this genre.  The purpose of this assignment is for you to watch a film you haven't seen and analyze it with your new understanding of the West.  You need to watch it with a critical eye towards what the West really was like, and not its romanticized interpretation by filmmakers.

Usually, the central plot of the western film is the classic, simple goal of maintaining law and order on the frontier in a fast-paced action story. It is normally rooted in archetypal conflict - good vs. bad, white hat vs. black hat. Often the hero of a western meets his opposite "double," a mirror of his own evil side that he has to destroy.

Complete the following questions about the movie you watch in an one to two page typed paper that you hand in.

Step 1. Pre-viewing 

A.   Title of film: ________________________________________________ 

B.   What do you think you will see in this motion picture? List Three concepts or ideas that you might expect to see based on the title of the film and your knowledge of the West. List some people you might expect to see based on the title of the film.  What stereotypes of the West do you expect to see?

Step 2. Post-viewing 

C.   Circle the things that you listed in the previewing activity that were validated by your viewing of the motion picture.

D.   What is the central message(s) of this motion picture?

E.   Consider the effectiveness of the film in communicating its message. As a tool of communication, what are its strengths and weaknesses?

F.   What stereotypes of the West do you see?  How accurate was the film at showing the Old West?  Why, be specific and provide examples.

G.   How do you think the filmmakers wanted the audience to respond?

H.   Does this film appeal to the viewer's reason or emotion? How does it make you feel? Provide examples to support your views.

I.   List two things this motion picture tells you about life in the United States during the Old West.

J.   What information do you gain about this event that would not be conveyed by a written source? Be specific and explain at least 4.

Suggested Films- This is only a partial list, there are many films in this genre.  Many films made after 1975 or so, are called anti-westerns because they have heroes who are not typical, or there is not that clear line between right and wrong that is typical in a classic western.

These movies have an array of ratings, choose one that you are comfortable watching, that is why there are a variety of films listed.

High Noon (1952) 

Shane (1953)
The Searchers (1956)

Rio Bravo (1959) 

The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly (1966)

Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)

The Wild Bunch (1969) 
Outlaw Josey Wales, The (1976)
The Sacketts (1979)

The Shadow Riders (1982)

Young Guns (1988)
Conagher (1991) 

Unforgiven (1992) 
Tombstone (1993) 

Wyatt Earp (1994)
Crossfire Trail (2001)

Appaloosa (2008)

True Grit (1969 or 2010)

Jane Got a Gun (2016)

The Magnificent Seven (2016)

Hickok (2017)

NOT ELIGIBLE TO WATCH:  These films are not westerns, they are simply set in the West.

Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) - this is not a typical western, it is a social commentary on 1960s culture and violence.

Blazing Saddles (1974)
Back to the Future 3 (1990)

Wild Wild West (1999)
Shanghai Noon (2000)

3:10 to Yuma (2007)

Cowboys and Aliens (2011)

Rango (2011) - this is not a typical western, it is a cartoon.

Django Unchained (2012) - this is not a typical western, it is a social commentary on racial prejudice.

The Hateful Eight (2015)

The Ridiculous Six (2016)