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 a 300-400 word paper that you submit on Canvas

Step 1. Pre-viewing 

Title of film and Year.

1st Paragraph:  What do you think you will see in this western? Explain three concepts or ideas that you might expect to see based on the title of the film and your knowledge of the West. List any stereotypes of the West you expect to see.

After watching, highlight the things that you listed that were validated in the motion picture.

Step 2. Post-viewing 

2nd Paragraph:

Briefly summarize the plot of the movie. 

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

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

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

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

What information do you gain about this event that would not be conveyed by a written source? Be specific.

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 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)

The Homesman (2014)

Jane Got a Gun (2016)

The Magnificent Seven (2016)

Hostiles (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)