The Western film genre provides American directors with the opportunity to showcase the changing culture of their country. Through the years, directors have picked apart issues ranging from manhood, to containment, to the women’s movement. However, when European directors tried their hand at the Western genre, a much different result occurred. Instead of showing the changing culture of America, European directors used the Western as a canvass to show European views of Americans. Two particular spaghetti westerns, Navajo Joe and The Good The Bad and The Ugly, both released in 1966 show America as a land full of violent people who only care about money. This is seen through the development, or lack thereof, of the main characters in each of the films.
Navajo Joe begins with a scene of Duncan and his men brutally massacring an Indian village. Like most of the violent scenes throughout the film, this massacre comes with no explanation. During the 1960s, many Europeans described America as in decline. The actions of the gang and the members of the town of Esperanza are perfect embodiments of the European view of America. Duncan and his men kill Indians only to get money for the scalps. However, when they discover that they will not be paid because they are killing innocent Indians, they run wild and destroy the town. This unjustified violence continues throughout the film as Duncan and his men continue to kill in an effort to steal money from the train. Money is also displayed in an aggrandized light in the film. The people of Esperanza care about nothing more than the $500,000 grant that they have recently received. However, no one in the town is willing or able to fight to defend the money when Duncan and his men ride into town. Instead, they want it handed to them. This shows the view from Europe that America was in decline around the end of the 1960s. It is also strange to note that the ruthless villain rides into town on a white horse, typically symbolic of a king or a hero. The film also lacks a truly discernable alpha male cowboy. Joe may seem like one, but there are many characteristics that he lacks. The fact that he is not white makes it difficult to see him as a true alpha male, since before this time there had not been an alpha male cowboy that was not a white Anglo Saxon. However, the fact that Joe desires to be paid a great deal, and is only fighting Duncan and his men for vengeance make Joe more of an Indian mercenary than an alpha male cowboy. Joe’s desire for vengeance and money only further the European view that America is violent and money hungry.
Another film directed by a European that showcases America’s lust for violence and money is The Good The Bad and The Ugly. Released in 1966, the film stars American icon Clint Eastwood in the role of Blondie or The Good. The film showcases the journey of three men in an effort to find $200,000 buried in a cemetery. Like Navajo Joe, the film features a large amount of seemingly meaningless violence. Scenes with Angel Eyes, Tuco, and in some cases even Blondie killing for no reason does little to add to the overall story of the film. Even Eastwood himself recognizes that the film had little story behind it: “take those things I did with Sergio [Leone]; if you analyze the stories, there wasn’t a whole lot said in them. They were great fun but more or less operas you know? They had a lot of shooting and crazy one-upmanship” (Tibbets 15). Like Eastwood says, the film showcases little more than the efforts of three men desperately trying to get to the treasure before the other. The only bonds of friendship in the film are fake. “Friends” try to keep one another alive only to gain the valuable information as to the location of the treasure. The film again lacks an alpha male cowboy hero. The three men are ruthless, but act out of no duty, and are not guided by a moral compass. They are just violent men out to find the money and they do not care who they have to kill in order to get it. This film, like Navajo Joe shows a strong European view that all Americans care about is money, and they will resort to any means necessary in order to get it.
Work cited
Tibbets, John C. “Clint Eastwood and the Machinery of Violence.” Literature/Film Quarterly. 21, 1, 1993. Proquest. Web. 14 November 2010.
The Western film genre provides American directors with the opportunity to showcase the changing culture of their country. Through the years, directors have picked apart issues ranging from manhood, to containment, to the women’s movement. However, when European directors tried their hand at the Western genre, a much different result occurred. Instead of showing the changing culture of America, European directors used the Western as a canvass to show European views of Americans. Two particular spaghetti westerns, Navajo Joe and The Good The Bad and The Ugly, both released in 1966 show America as a land full of violent people who only care about money. This is seen through the development, or lack thereof, of the main characters in each of the films.
ReplyDeleteNavajo Joe begins with a scene of Duncan and his men brutally massacring an Indian village. Like most of the violent scenes throughout the film, this massacre comes with no explanation. During the 1960s, many Europeans described America as in decline. The actions of the gang and the members of the town of Esperanza are perfect embodiments of the European view of America. Duncan and his men kill Indians only to get money for the scalps. However, when they discover that they will not be paid because they are killing innocent Indians, they run wild and destroy the town. This unjustified violence continues throughout the film as Duncan and his men continue to kill in an effort to steal money from the train. Money is also displayed in an aggrandized light in the film. The people of Esperanza care about nothing more than the $500,000 grant that they have recently received. However, no one in the town is willing or able to fight to defend the money from Duncan and his men. Instead, they want it handed to them. This shows the view from Europe that America was in decline around the end of the 1960s. It is also strange to note that the ruthless villain rides into town on a white horse, typically symbolic of a king or a hero. The film also lacks a truly discernable alpha male cowboy. Joe may seem like one, but there are many characteristics that he lacks. The fact that he is not white makes it difficult to see him as a true alpha male, since before this time there had not been an alpha male cowboy that was not a white Anglo Saxon. However, the fact that Joe desires to be paid a great deal, and is only fighting Duncan and his men for vengeance make Joe more of an Indian mercenary than an alpha male cowboy. Joe’s desire for vengeance and money only further the European view that America is violent and money hungry.
Another film directed by a European that showcases America’s lust for violence and money is The Good The Bad and The Ugly. Released in 1966, the film stars American icon Clint Eastwood in the role of Blondie or The Good. The film showcases the journey of three men in an effort to find $200,000 buried in a cemetery. Like Navajo Joe, the film features a large amount of seemingly meaningless violence. Scenes with Angel Eyes, Tuco, and in some cases even Blondie killing for no reason does little to add to the overall story of the film. Even Eastwood himself recognizes that the film, and many Spaghetti Westerns like it, had little story behind them: “take those things I did with Sergio [Leone]; if you analyze the stories, there wasn’t a whole lot said in them. They were great fun but more or less operas you know? They had a lot of shooting and crazy one-upmanship” (Tibbets 15). Like Eastwood says, the film showcases little more than the efforts of three men desperately trying to get to the treasure before the other. The only bonds of friendship in the film are fake. “Friends” try to keep one another alive only to gain the valuable information as to the location of the treasure. The film again lacks an alpha male cowboy hero. The three men are ruthless, but act out of no duty, and are not guided by a moral compass. They are just violent men out to find the money and they do not care who they have to kill in order to get it. This film, like Navajo Joe shows a strong European view that all Americans care about is money, and they will resort to any means necessary in order to get it.
ReplyDeleteWork cited
Tibbets, John C. “Clint Eastwood and the Machinery of Violence.” Literature/ Film Quarterly. 21,1,
1993. Proquest. Web. 14 November 2010.