JM Day of the Outlaw

The role of women in cinematic movie roles changed over the years from the typical “other” to a more progressive and alpha male style depiction during the late 1950’s and 1960’s. The second wave of feminism was present throughout this time period and was one of the driving factors behind this change in the portrayal of women. In movies like the late 1959 classic Day of the Outlaw, the women of the film presented a shift in what was normally thought to be acceptable of the time.
Throughout the film the women were treated with respect and dignity by the other characters, and this treatment of women was a key value that everyone tried to uphold. In one particular scene when Captain Bruhn’s crew began to badger the women and force themselves upon them, the captain steps in to defend the honor of the women, and make his men back down from their pursuit of the women. This depiction of male/female interaction is very different from many earlier films in the sense that earlier in the decade women would have been looked at as if they were possessions that were there to satisfy the needs of the men, as opposed to viewing them as valued members of society who should be respected. This respect for women is also very apparently shown in the relationships that were between the characters themselves. One example of this can be seen in the relationship between Blaise and Helen. Blaise and Helen in the film are former lovers and upon Blaise’s return to the town they are forced to interact with one another once again. The interaction between them is one of the upmost respect, and shows the level of respect Blaise has for Helen’s marital status even though he clearly dislikes the circumstances of Helen being off the market. It is Blaise’s actions toward Helen that we see the male characters change in attitude toward women from the earlier western films.
In the film while many women such as Helen portrayed the typical timid and reserved women, there were characters like Ernine who were much more dominant. Throughout the movie we see Ernine’s very aggressive disposition clash with many of the male characters in the film. Ernine in many instances was very similar to the alpha males because of her no nonsense attitude, and her tendency to accomplish things through action. Although she shows signs of being similar to the alpha male, she falls short in the sense that she both settles down in the end of the film in addition to the amount of language she uses to portray her thoughts and opinions.
It is very evident that this movie was in a time of transition because although it gives women a different view then in earlier films of the time period, it still casts a weak image to certain women of the film who have not adopted the attitude of the alpha male.