Includes bibliographical references (p. 301-309) and index.
Contents:
Diverse perspectives in silent western: landscape, morality, and the Native American -- Not at home on the range: women against the frontier in The Wind -- "He went that-away": the comic western and Ruggles of Red Gap -- Landscape and standard-setting in the 1930s western: The Big Trail and Stagecoach -- Indian-fighting, nation-building, and homesteading in the A-western: Northwest Passage and The Westerner -- Howard Hawks and John Wayne: Red River and El Dorado -- The postwar psychological western (1946-1956): My Darling Clementine to Jubal -- John Ford's later masterpieces: The Searchers and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance -- The existential and revisionist western: Comanche Station to The Wild Bunch and beyond -- Eastwood and the American western: High Plains Drifter, The Outlaw Josey Wales and Unforgiven -- Coda: from Lonesome Dove (1989) to Cowboys and Aliens (2011).
Summary:
"This comprehensive study of the Western covers its history from the early silent era to recent spins on the genre in films such as No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood, True Grit, and Cowboys & Aliens. While providing fresh perspectives on landmarks such as Stagecoach, Red River, The Searchers, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and The Wild Bunch, the authors also pay tribute to many under-appreciated Westerns. Ride, Boldly Ride explores major phases of the Western's development, including silent era oaters, A-production classics of the 1930s and early 1940s, and the more psychologically complex portrayals of the Westerner that emerged after World War II. The authors also examine various forms of genre-revival and genre-revisionism that have recurred over the past half-century, culminating especially in the masterworks of Clint Eastwood. They consider themes such as the inner life of the Western hero, the importance of the natural landscape, the roles played by women, the tension between myth and history, the depiction of the Native American, and the juxtaposing of comedy and tragedy. Written in clear, engaging prose, this is the only survey that encompasses the entire history of this long-lived and much-loved genre"--Provided by publisher. "This book is a survey of the movie Western that covers its history from the early silent era to recent spins on the genre in films such as No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood, True Grit, and Cowboys & Aliens. The authors provide fresh perspectives on landmark films such Stagecoach, Red River, The Searchers, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, and The Wild Bunch, and they also pay tribute to many underappreciated Westerns including 3 Bad Men, The Wind, The Big Trail, Ruggles of Red Gap, Northwest Passage, The Westerner, The Furies, Jubal, and Comanche Station. The book explores major phases of the Western's development--silent era oaters, A-production classics of the 1930s and early 1940s, and the more psychologically complex presentations of the Westerner that emerged in the post-World War II period.. They examine various forms of genre-revival and genre-revisionism that have recurred over the past half-century, culminating especially in the masterworks of Clint Eastwood. Central themes of the book include the inner life of the Western hero, the importance of the natural landscape, the tension between myth and history, the depiction of the Native American, and the juxtaposing of comedy and tragedy"--Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.