JP "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly/Navajo Joe"

During the 1960s and 1970s, a competitor to the Classic American Western emerged from Europe, called spaghetti westerns. Spaghetti westerns are low-budget films made in Europe. This sub-genre western embodies a very violent illustration of the frontier life, arranged gunfights and "close-ups of confrontational eyes". Through spaghetti westerns, the audience is confronted with the European perception of the American society.

In the 1966 film, Navajo Joe, the audience watches this spaghetti western lead by a Native American playing the role of the alpha male cowboy. This is a very big change from the traditional alpha male cowboy of the classic western. The alpha male has always been portrayed as a white, fit and clean-shaven man. Due to his acting out of the sole motive of revenge, Joe can be referred to as the film's protagonist. Having a heroic role being played by a Native American, is truly what connects the film to the equal rights movement during this time period. The Equal Rights Movement was very important and prominent in the United States in the 1960s.The entire film is based on the perception that the Europeans have of Americans; violence is the answer, money is very important and Americans are prejudice. Many people lose their lives within the numerous fights that are staged throughout Navajo Joe. The interest of money is at the top of most peoples priorities. Lastly, people are risking their lives time after time to stand up for who they are, no matter the color of their skin.

In another 1966 spaghetti western, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, America is yet again perceived in a negative connotation by the Europeans. This film guides the audience through a storyline of three men who are all on separate missions to find lost gold. The producer shows the film’s so-called heroes, the Good (Blondie), the Bad (Angel Eyes), and the Ugly (Tuco), as selfish and immature men. However, when up against the absurdity of war, their self-serving behavior looks rational, and is a common attitude shared through many spaghetti Westerns. The three men are observed to resort to unnecessary violence and have no moral compass guiding them through decisions; they are simply guided by the desire to find the lost money and don’t have a care in the world who they may have to kill in order to get to it first.