Definition of Genus Western

In the novel, in the comic and very especially in the movie theater there is a wide range of genres. The western is one of the most popular formats in the history of Hollywood cinema. The English word western refers to a historical context that goes from the conquest of the west to United States from the l decade of 1820 until the full domination of the indigenous tribes at the end of the 19th century.

The films framed in these historical coordinates are logically set in the west of United States, especially in the states of Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Montana or Idaho. East framework does not always hold, as some movies from the gender western place their action in the middle of the 20th century.

Typical elements of the genre

From a geographical point of view, these films highlight the great prairies, the rocky mountains, the semi-desert areas and the border with Mexico. With regard to the setting, the appearance of taverns, lounges, ranches and cities without

law. The most typical characters are the cowboy, the gang of gunmen, the sheriff, the Indians, the bounty hunter and the seventh cavalry.

In most films there is some kind of conflict: the vigilante sheriff against the gunmen, the Indians against the colonists, the military against the Indians or cowboys against the chiefs.

A mythical genre in Hollywood history

The great Hollywood directors played an important role in the consolidation of this genre. Among them we can highlight John Houston, Sam Peckinpah, Howard Hawks, Robert Aldrich or John Sturges. The great actors of the film industry were the protagonists of western films, such as John Wayne, Gary Cooper, James Stewart, Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas or Clint Eastwood.

Among the most prominent titles are "The diligence" (1939), "The outlaw" (1943), "Solo before the danger"(1952)," Rio Bravo "(1958) or the" Conquest of the west "(1962).

Although there was a decline of the genre from 1960 on, they have continued to produce large movies of all ages ("Dancing with Wolves" in 1990, "Unforgiven" in 1992 or "Django Unchained" in 2012).

Historical characters that appear in the western genre

As in other typically American film genres, Western films highlight some episodes of American history. A significant example is the episode of the Battle of El Alamo, which has been brought to the big screen on several occasions.

In this tradition In film, the presence of relevant historical figures is very frequent: Billy the Child, Gerónimo, Buffalo Bill, Wyatt Earp, Seth Bullock, Bast Masterson, Sundance Kid or Sitting Bull. All these figures Legendary characters from the Old West have inspired writers of the western genre.

Fotolia photos: Tomasz Zajda / Anna

Western Genre Topics