American Myth: A Series on the American Western

American Myth

America is a young country. Younger, in context, than most of the other storied nations of the world. And, because of that, our nation's mythology is a bit different than other parts of the world. We don't have knights and castles and magic witches. No, the American mythology was formed when our country set its eyes westward. The American mythology was born when men and women set off from their homes and forged a life in untamed wilderness. That wilderness brought out the best in people. And the worst. And it brought out our myths.

We traded knights for cowpokes, magic swords for six shooters, and dragons for deadly outlaws. Our castles were ramshackle towns in the middle of the desert, standing defiantly in the face of the natural order.

A Genre is Born

When the American film industry started, movies based on famous Old West tales were easy: there were no rights to speak of, they were adventurous and entertaining, and they celebrated the American spirit. The backbone of the industry was made on countless cowboy movies. And "the Western" was born. Archetypes were established, common themes were developed, and a country began to become familiar with its own mythology in a way that the old dime novel pioneers could never imagine. Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Daniel Boone: famous American men adventured in front of our very eyes. First in black and white, and then in color. First silently, and then with sound.

Careers were made. American cinema was changed, forever. The Western became America's genre. And, while others would add to it, and change it, and give it new form, it would always be OUR genre.

A Boy Grows Up

I was raised on westerns. I remember grabbing every book about cowboys and pistoleers that I could find at the library. Armfuls for a week or two at a time. I remember snatching every VHS that even vaguely resembled a western at my local Blockbuster Video. I remember when the family bought our first DVD of Tombstone. I remember wanting to own a hat: a proper stetson. I remember playing cowboys and Indians, and how so much more exciting it felt to pretend to be the noble Marshal, or the villainous outlaw.

I remember going on family trips to ghost towns, and doing the old west dress up pictures at Knott's Berry Farm. I got a tin star at Disneyland.

The old west was my first deep dive into escapism.

And, while I grew out of it, The Western has always been one of my favorite film genres. It comes stock with nostalgia, but, in the course of my amateur film studies, it also comes stock with the backbone of American cinema. Our stars and technique were all born here: John Wayne and John Ford, Clint Eastwood, the rugged American landscape.

Now

I've been reviewing movies on Facebook for some time. It was a hobby. I loved movies. I loved to write. It seemed only fair that I write about movies on my social media. This blog was born after I decided that a more permanent place for these reviews was needed.

Last month I, very foolishly, decided to watch and review Hulk Hogan movies.

This month I am going to treat myself a bit.

I am going to sample Westerns. I have compiled a list of what I consider to be essential films, and will be watching and reviewing them here, on Wednesdays and Fridays. I will post the list below. You will almost certainly not agree with it. I will be missing your favorite John Wayne movie, or will have decided on the wrong Leone film, or decided on the wrong Revisionist Western. Try not to be too mad. I wanted a list of movies that A) I had not seen before (there are a few on this list that I'll be revisiting, but mostly, they are all movies I am unfamiliar with) and B) I could reasonably sit and watch ALL MONTH LONG.

Hulk Hogan taught me that, if you are going to commit to a series of movies, you should know what you're getting into. And you should WANT to watch them: it makes writing mini-essays about them easier. And fun.

Anyway, check this space every Wednesday and Friday for a new movie review!

The List

My Darling Clementine (1946) - It's been said that this is one of the best westerns ever made. And it's a John Ford film.

The Searchers (1956) - Gotta have a John Wayne.

Once Upon a Time in the West (1968) - Sergio Leone perfected the Spaghetti Western. Many consider this his opus.

Jeremiah Johnson (1972) - I wanted a dash of something different: Sydney Pollack's survivor man western seemed to fit the bill.

Young Guns (1988) - What's more eighties than Young Guns? I remembered loving this movie. I am a little frightened to review it as an adult.

Unforgiven (1992) - The Revisionist Western is a contentious sub-genre. I figured I would pick one of the best. It's hard to argue with four Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

The 3:10 to Yuma (2007) - James Mangold decided to remake a classic, and knocked it out of the park.

Django Unchained (2012) - Tarantino wouldn't exist without the western. I wanted to revisit his first stab at a true western.