MB "Unforgiven"

Following World War 2 the western film genre witnessed a revisionist movement. According to wikipedia " Western films began to question the ideals and style of the traditional Western. Elements include a darker, more cynical tone, with focus on the lawlessness of the time period, favoring realism over romanticism"(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Revisionist_Western). The 1992 film Unforgiven is one of these revisionist films. Taking the traditional idea that the west is ruled by the sheriff, the alpha male cowboy, Unforgiven is ruled by the law of the gun and the alpha male cowboy is an the "bad guy" of the film.

Looking at the characters in the film Unforgiven the role of Ned Logan, played by Morgan Freeman, is a revised black character in Western Film. Ned's role in the film is a sidekick/partner to Munny, played by Clint Eastwood. Ned's role however is different than the role of Pompey in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. Ned is an individual within the film unlike Pompey who beckons to Tom's every call. Ned's role in the film is never reduced because of the color of his skin. His character rides with Munny and The Schofield Kid and is granted share in the bounty for killing the cowboys. Even upon his death Ned's character is never discriminated, nor is his role like a servant/helper like other African Americans in Western Films.

Munny is not your typical alpha male cowboy. He is the to some sort the "bad guy" in the film. Its him against the law. However just his fight is, to get revenge on the cowboys that killed the prostitute, he is fighting against the sheriff of the film the entire movie. Munny is also not like the alpha male cowboys of old because he does give up his gun and ways to settle down with his wife. As a former outlaw, he is nothing like the alpha male cowboys of the traditional western because of this former bad side that is obvious to the audience. While films like The Searchers hint of this "bad boy" side to the alpha male cowboy, they never completely let the audience know of this.