1959 saw America on the cusp of its second feminist movement of the 1960’s. Prior to this movement, women were seen largely as secondary in society. This notion is often reflected in the Western film. However, Andre De Toth’s 1959 film, Day of the Outlaw, Presents a unique view of women in the West that is largely reflective of the events occurring during the time period that led up to the film. Women in the film, while nowhere near the same level of men, are shown respect by the men who posses power in the film.
When the outlaws invade the town, the men of the town’s first reaction is to protect the women. However, it is clear through the character of Jack Bruhn, the leader of the bunch, that the women will be respected. Bruhn’s men represent Americans before the second feminist movement, whereas Bruhn is representative of the wave of change that is about to sweep the country. This movement could have been brought on by the 1957 agreement by the Alliance of TV Film Producers to adopt the ethical code of the National Association of Radio and Television Broadcasting (Layman 147). The dedication to a new ethical standard ultimately had a ripple effect that was beneficial to women as well as men.
There are two specific characters that represent the transitional view of women perfectly in the film. Helen, the farmer’s wife, is a traditional Western woman. She is viewed as weak, and only useful to keep a clean house and satisfy a man. At one point, she even admits this weakness to Blaise, begging him not to kill her husband, and offering herself to him in any way in an effort to prevent the impeding bloodshed. This view of women is representative of the view of women after the conclusion of World War II. After the war, women were expected to stay home and take care of their husbands who were returning from the front. On the other hand, Ernine is representative of the changing view towards women. While she plays an insignificant role at the films beginning, she becomes increasingly important as the film progresses. In falling for Gene, one of Bruhn’s men, Ernine nearly ruins the entire plan to save the town devised by Blaise. Ernine exercises her relative power over Gene by begging him to stay and making him realize what he really wants out of life, a good woman. She also shows her strength in the scenes when she ventures into the saloon to save her brother from the rest of Bruhn’s men, who toss women around like ragdolls. Ernine’s character is representative of the change that was about to boil over in America in regards to women.
Works cited
American Decades 1950-1959. Ed. Richard Layman. Gale Resources: Detroit, 1994. Print.
1959 saw America on the cusp of its second feminist movement of the 1960’s. Prior to this movement, women were seen largely as secondary in society. This notion is often reflected in the Western film. However, Andre De Toth’s 1959 film, Day of the Outlaw, Presents a unique view of women in the West that is largely reflective of the events occurring during the time period that led up to the film. Women in the film, while nowhere near the same level of men, are shown respect by the men who posses power in the film.
ReplyDeleteWhen the outlaws invade the town, the men’s first reaction is to protect the women. However, it is clear through the character of Jack Bruhn, the leader of the bunch, that the women will be respected. Bruhn’s men represent Americans before the second feminist movement, whereas Bruhn is representative of the wave of change that is about to sweep the country. This movement could have been brought on by the 1957 agreement by the Alliance of TV Film Producers to adopt the ethical code of the National Association of Radio and Television Broadcasting (Layman 147). The dedication to a new ethical standard ultimately had a ripple effect that was beneficial to women as well as men.
There are two specific characters that represent the transitional view of women perfectly in the film. Helen, the farmer’s wife, is a traditional Western woman. She is viewed as weak, and only useful to keep a clean house and satisfy a man. At one point, she even admits this weakness to Blaise, begging him not to kill her husband, and offering herself to him in any way in an effort to prevent the impeding bloodshed. This view of women is representative of the view of women after the conclusion of World War II. After the war, women were expected to return home from the jobs they had taken and take care of their husbands who were returning from the front. On the other hand, Ernine is representative of the changing view towards women. While she plays an insignificant role at the films beginning, she becomes increasingly important as the film progresses. In falling for Gene, one of Bruhn’s men, Ernine nearly ruins the entire plan to save the town devised by Blaise. Ernine exercises her relative power over Gene by begging him to stay and making him realize what he really wants out of life, a good woman. She also shows her strength when she ventures into the saloon to save her brother from the rest of Bruhn’s men, who toss women around like ragdolls. Ernine’s character is representative of the change that was about to boil over in America in regards to women.
Works cited
American Decades 1950-1959. Ed. Richard Layman. Gale Resources: Detroit, 1994. Print.