The Classical Western Essays

The Classical Western Essays The Classical Western Essay The Classical Western Essay Essay Topic: Classical Film genres vary from a range of different aspects such as categories, classifications or groups of films that are persistent and have similar or common identifiable patterns. For example syntax, filmic techniques or conventions. This includes one or more of the following setting, content and subject matter, theme, period, plot, central narrative, motif, styles, structures, situations, recurring, icons, stock character and stars many movies overlap quite a few film genres. Westerns are the main significant genre of the American film industry. They are one of the oldest, generally lasting genres with extremely recognisable plots, elements and characters, (Six guns, horses, dusty, towns and trails). Since the olden days, western have been reconstructed in many ways and drawn out. It portrays the conquest of the wilderness and nature. Western movies also refer back to the colonial period, this gives us a chance to interpret different context and develop our own view of modern movies to western. It is most definite one of the most artistic exploration of the Western time, as it redefines its past aspirations and ideas. High Noon One of the most popular, carefully shot and highly stylised movies is High Noon .It owes its popularity to suspense in the real sense which is very extraordinary and appealing to audiences and also its theme tune. The cultural form of this movie symbolises the western atmosphere. Features such as the photograph of the old civil war are a sign of reflecting the historical subjects of western time. The Pro-Filmic Codes are everything that happens in front of the camera. Such as the setting of the scene and features which are included in the scene. In High Noon the pro filmic codes include the tumbleweed, which is a representation of how deserted the area was in western times. It highlights the fact of isolation. Guns portrayed the action/violence of the characters and everyone was influenced of the fact that if you possess a gun you are a cowboy. So, there were basically influenced by wanting their position in society and reputation. Dress Code included the typical cowboy hats, boots and coats. The heros will wear light colours and outstanding ones however villains will be in darker colours to outline their negative role. Women wore dresses covering themselves mostly, however they had a very forward and bold look to them as of their tight braziers, which reflected more of an open look towards them. I think their look was the first change since the Elizabethan women and what the y used to wear. Saloon was one of the most socializing places of western towns. As the men used to drink, play cards, fight and pay visits to the whorehouses mostly situated upstairs. Church is the place of worship, which existed for Christians. The people in High Noon would mostly use it for confession and to wash away their sins. In High Noon, the sheriffs office was one of the most seen places in the movie as it came into a lot of use because of the villains. Also because the Sheriff was the hero and everything mostly revolved around his actions. Stables, horse posts and coaches were the most used transportation in the Western times. Another main place in High Noon is the train station every larger city had a station. The barbershop and general store are not shown in the movie much but was essential to a westernised movie. It was more of a socializing place as people used to gossip about others. In the movie Kanes wife Amy awaits her husband in the hotel, where she find out more gossip about her husband from one of the hotel workers. High Noon has one hero, one main villain and his helpers. Filmic Codes are technical Codes such as dialogue. One of the interesting techniques used in this movie was in fact to have the sequence of events occur in the real time. When a clock is shown in a scene, an event the audience expects to occur at another given time will occur that number of minutes later in the movie. This particular factor time is a filmic code of the movie. The colour of the movie, which is Black and White, is there to capture the atmosphere of old civil war photographs. The Theme and the music are based on the western image. It has a theme tune which persistently whines its way into the subconscious. The Southern Dialogue is an identifying tool of the characters; it helps us understand the nature of the people and their upbringing. A further filmic code shines all the way through at the station, when Helen Wills mature mistress boards the train. She notices the coming of Frank Miller-first seen from behind to build curiosity and enlarge tension and anticipation an d then seen with a close-up of his acne-scarred face. Establishing shots includes the crane shot, just before the final gunfight. The shot backs up and raises, and we see the character totally alone and isolated on the street. The entire town has deserted him. Through this event normal life has been disturbed .All of the given technical Codes are organised one after the other to create an abrupt feeling of a westernised movie. They all follow through an important role to fulfil a western genre. It probably works best as a thriller as it builds to a climax, but the ending of this is a bit unsatisfactory. The Theme of this movie includes the basics of a western movie. Violence, conflicts, marriage, sacrifice, death and love. The Sheriff gets married but after feels that he wants to give up his status as he wants to move on in life and enjoy his life. He is to weak to fulfil this wish, it is a story of a man who was to proud to run .The Villains get out of prison and after the sheriff is isolated as the town folks want him to leave. However, he cant because he has got responsibilities like his own wife and the societys protection. Many of the frightened, self-servicing and gutless townspeople are leaving in order to be absent when Miller shows up. The Showdown includes the high-awaited climax, which was a bit disappointing. The Hero wins, he disdainfully looks around reaches for his tin badge, takes it ff and drops it into the dusty street and turn to leave. He not only throws way his badge but his responsibility of the people. Magnificent 7 The Story of this movie is very similar to a Chinese film called Seven Samurai. A peasant village in Northern Mexico hires American gun fighters to fight off Calveras forty thieves. Pro-filmic codes, its a village, which is set in Mexico. There are Farmers who are dressed in white to show their innocence and no mean for harm to others .A Church, which is worn out, and old just like the rest of the village. This shows the poverty and their living standards. A pub, which is not like a saloon in the normal westerns. It was more like an open aired space, where people could sit anywhere in peace mostly outside on the terrace. Only the Magnificent 7 or the bandits used horses. Then we have the dress code of the Magnificent 7, which were all different as it reflects their individuality. Yul Brynner (Chris) is dressed in black portraying his dark past. Vin, dressed in white/ brown clothes showing more of a positive background. There are 7 heroes and one main villain with his fellow bandits. Filmic Codes, the movie is in colour. The wide shot used at the start of the introduction of the village is very informative as it shows what the features are of the village and gives us a clear idea of the village. Spanish language, this reflects the context and the dialogue. The theme music is by Elmer Bernstein. There is one theme tune played for the heroes and a different one for the villains, this reflects the difference of character. Chris, a leader, probably a noble fighter who comes across danger a lot. This is why he has earned the confidence in understanding his emotions and problematic situations. Vin, a competent person with a weapon he is defiantly similar to a cowboy. He likes the fact of being independent but wants to settle down and live his own way. Chico, he is the youngest of the seven also the most innocent and inexperienced. He wants to forget his past, which revolved around farming and wants to prove himself of being a fighter like the others. Bernardo, is a brawny solitary man that is a lot like Chris however does not seem to be as eager to lead. He is a very intriguing character and very unique. He has earned a bit of money from his past but has nothing now. The concentration he gives to the local community gives us an idea of his goodness and that he can part both violence and decency. This is what becomes a very important issue near the end as he runs to save the village children but unfortunately is killed by doing so. Lee is a very tricky character to understand. He seems to be the hard and strong gunman who used to be selfish and arrogant. But after so many years having understood life in a different way makes him realise his weaknesses. He really wants to do the right thing but finds it so hard to do it when it comes to the time. Britt is an outsider who is plainly misunderstood. He is someone whos thinking remains to him. Harry is a decent man but lets tings influence his decisions easily. He is like someone who is so close to get what he wants but always makes the mistake to step back. Its always like he has got it but refuses to take it. The chief of the bandits is Calvera who is not a contrasting fellow. He believes that his job is to steal and rob in order to provide himself and his men. The theme of this movie is a conflict between farmers and bandits, the farmers hire gunfighters. Seven heroes are hired to protect the village, first invasion of bandits is not successful and the heroes succeed. Bandits find another access to the village. The Bandits prepare a trap, which the heroes fall for. Heroes pride is hurt. This encourages them to fight back; it leads onto the showdown in the village. The Heroes win although 4 die and 3 survive. Village is saved, and then we are portrayed with the theme of love. As one of the heroes, Chico stays as he has fallen in love with one of the farmers daughters. Chris and Vin leave the village. Once upon a time in the West It is a spaghetti western as it is influenced by an Italian culture. The director himself is Italian too. It tells a story of five characters all entangled by possessions just prepared valuable by the railroad. Pro-Filmic Codes. Deserted Train Station this is ironic as it is a public place and hardly ever is deserted. There is a house, which is situated away from the town itself, The McBain property. Which the villains, Frank and Morton plan to take it. Harmonica and Cheyenne are the two heroes, as Harmonica is trying to get revenge on Frank and Cheyenne is blamed for killing the McBain family and for its own goodness he wants to try to find out who the real killer is. The real hero of the movie is in fact Jill McBain who is the beautiful prostitute who married Bratt McBain. To take revenge for her familys outcome she stays in the house and does not leave the town. She even has sexual contact with Frank but only to get closer to her enemy. Filmic Codes, this movie is in colour. The cinematography is excellent. Wide shots of the stunning, open rural area lends to the impressive classical feel. To portray feelings and emotions, close ups were used rather than dialogues. The movie travels very gradually and in a very spectacular and heroic way. We are presented with 3 men with weapons s the train station with backgrounded noises for example the creaking of the windmills. There is a zoom in on the mens faces as the train arrives at the station. The theme music include the Harmonica, this again outlines the western influence also the guitar, banjo and romantic theme. The use of natural sounds is very good for example the flight of birds and the horses. The theme includes death, revenge and nature. Long opening scene introducing the 3 villains and 1 hero. Villains kill McBain family except the wife who is not present. After death, the townsfolks gather around the McBain property. Jill McBain arrives at her house seeing the people of the town surrounding the dead bodies. She swears revenge. Cheyenne is introduced as the second hero and he encounters with Jill at her house. He also meets Harmonica. They think of a plan to save the property, this links onto the showdown where eye shots are used frequently. Heroes win and the 2 villains die. Revenge comes to an end. Over the time, we have developed our understanding of movies which are very different in many ways whether it be the way the characters are introduces, how long the introductory scene is and what other things such as noises we should take into consideration. There is something in every movie, which is unique; there is always one aspect of what difference it makes to others. That is why every movie varies because they advance from each other, which develops, into a more and more altered way of viewing cinema. The Generic Conventions and themes influence the characters, plot and themes. It is what makes the movie, a movie. Without these things there wouldnt be an understanding between the features so it wouldnt flow. This develops through language, music, characterisation and classifications.