Still in the Saddle: The Hollywood Western from 1969 to 1980

The Golden Age of the Western

The Western genre has always been a staple of Hollywood cinema, with its roots stretching back to the silent film era. In the 1950s and 1960s, the Western experienced a golden age, with classic films like Stagecoach (1939),The Searchers (1956),and The Magnificent Seven (1960) capturing the imagination of audiences worldwide.

Still in the Saddle: The Hollywood Western, 1969–1980

by Andrew Patrick Nelson

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These films often featured larger-than-life heroes, epic battles, and expansive landscapes, and they helped to solidify the Western as a genre that celebrated American values and ideals.

The Spaghetti Western

In the late 1960s, a new wave of Westerns emerged from Italy, known as Spaghetti Westerns. These films were often low-budget and featured more violent and gritty storylines than their Hollywood counterparts.

Spaghetti Westerns were also known for their unique visual style, with sweeping vistas and close-up shots that emphasized the harshness of the American frontier. Sergio Leone's Dollars Trilogy (1964-1966),starring Clint Eastwood, is one of the most famous examples of the Spaghetti Western.

The Revisionist Western

The late 1960s and early 1970s saw the rise of the Revisionist Western, which challenged the traditional portrayal of the American West. These films often focused on the darker side of the frontier, depicting the violence, racism, and exploitation that was rampant in the 19th century.

Sam Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch (1969) is considered one of the most important Revisionist Westerns, as it graphically depicted the brutality of the Old West. Other notable Revisionist Westerns include Little Big Man (1970),McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971),and Dead Man (1995).

The Anti-Western

The Anti-Western emerged in the 1970s as a reaction to the Revisionist Western. These films satirized the traditional Western genre, often depicting it as a form of escapism and fantasy.

Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles (1974) is one of the most famous examples of the Anti-Western. The film is a hilarious send-up of the Western genre, with its over-the-top characters and slapstick humor. Other notable Anti-Westerns include The Great Train Robbery (1979) and Cat Ballou (1965).

The Revival of the Classic Western

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, there was a revival of the Classic Western. These films harked back to the golden age of the Western, with their heroic characters and epic stories.

Kevin Costner's Dances with Wolves (1990) is one of the most famous examples of the Classic Western revival. The film is a sweeping epic that tells the story of a Civil War soldier who befriends a group of Lakota Indians. Other notable Classic Westerns from this period include The Shootist (1976),Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969),and True Grit (1969).

The Legacy of the Hollywood Western

The Hollywood Western has had a profound impact on American culture. The genre has helped to shape our understanding of the American West, and it continues to be a source of inspiration for filmmakers and audiences alike.

Westerns have also played a significant role in the development of other film genres, such as the action film and the adventure film.

The Hollywood Western is a diverse and ever-evolving genre that has captured the imagination of audiences for decades. From the classic Westerns of the 1950s and 1960s to the Revisionist Westerns of the 1970s and the Anti-Westerns of the 1970s and 1980s, the Western has continued to reinvent itself and reflect the changing social and cultural landscape of America.

The Western is a genre that is still in the saddle, and it is likely to continue to be a popular form of entertainment for many years to come.