During the time periods of 1950s-1980s the United States found itself in a second wave of the women’s movement. This was a widely debated topic and grew much attention throughout the country. Films during these time periods incorporated the movement in their work. In the western films “Two Mules for Sister Sara,” by Don Siegal and “Johnny Guitar,” by Philip Yordan, woman considered the “others” show their growing power. This is a relatively a new ideology in westerns because women in the past are other characters who play little role and serve little to no purpose.
The film “Two Mules for Sister Sara” starts off with a woman named Sara who appears to be weak and endanger before the cowboy Hogan saves. Hogan is surprised when he learns she is a nun which is the complete opposite from what he is being a cowboy. She appears to be nothing like the Hogan. She has never slept on the ground before and when Hogan gets up early she wants to sleep longer after she says her body is sore from riding so long. Hogan similarly cannot relate to her Christian ways. She wants to bury the men Hogan killed and refuses to eat their food, she also constantly has to pray and speak holy which upsets Hogan. Though they are completely different and exact opposites they need each other to survive. This is a new situation for the cowboy because it is usually him on his own. Hogan saves Sara from the soldiers and he also saves her from a rattle snake. Without Sara, Hogan would have died from the Indians who had shot him with an arrow, he would have not been able to get the arrow out of himself, nor would he have been able to blow up the bridge. Though they are so different in who they are they are similar, both are brave, drink, swear, and smoke. As the movie goes on we see Sara grow she becomes stronger, she becomes quick thinking, and stands up for herself. The turn comes in their relationship when she reveals that she is actually is not a nun and works in a whore house. This explains for much of the vulgar and un nun like things she does. Sara, the other, has to play Hogan so he can protect her, this making her a mentally strong character that plays a big role for not only her, but for Hogan as well.
In another example of female otherness Vienna is a strong willed character who has built success in creating her own establishment and making money after having her heart broken in “Johnny Guitar.” Vienna has hired her old lover for protection after things get tight and she believe he has changed. Johnny the cowboy tries to play off that he is just a man who plays guitar and lives a simple life. However, he still has the quickest draw, the most accurate shot, and strongest around. Johnny still loves Vienna after 5 years being apart and wants to get back with her after he left her because he did not want to settle down, typical of the cowboy. Vienna is involved in a love triangle and is being targeted by her enemy Emma who is very similar to her in strength. Vienna has much control over everyone and this includes Johnny. This is not typical for a cowboy to be control by a woman. Johnny is madly in love with her and will make sure nothing will happen to her, and to earn her back he understands he needs to be around and listen to everything she has to say. Similar to Johnny she can shoot a gun well and for being a woman she carries a gun. Vienna does not back down from a challenge and knows the laws well and uses them to her advantage to prove her innocence when accused of a crime, thus making her very smart and quick thinking. In the end Vienna ends up killing Emma and goes back to Johnny to start a new life. In this film, the other, Vienna is one of the most powerful characters. No one wants to go against her, kill her (other than Emma), characters will protect her, and they will do what she tells them. Vienna is strong willed and very well can be considered a cowgirl herself.
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