Official Site of True West Magazine, Since 1953
Making a comeback ( The Western Film)
I commented on an earlier post that I thought the Western Genre was making a comeback. Seeing a Western hit the big screen and not direct to DVD has been realy awesome. Anybody got an opinion on why the public at large is more receptive to the Western now than in years past? I got a few ideas , but would love to hear other folks thoughts THANKS-ALF
Views: 25
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Alf on
-
Rose,
I agree one hundred percent. I look at the way things are today and find myself yearning for a time when men were men, people looked out for each other, a man's word was bond, families were important, and a no good low down killer would find justice at the end of a rope, BUT LIKE YOU SAID--THE REALITY OF IT IS THAT TIMES WERE TOUGH AND PEOPLE EXPERIENCED GREAT HARDSHIPS. I have always felt that movies and TV have a tendency to reflect a kind of collective subconcious. So in my opinion I think that these movies are a reflection of people wanting a ' purer" way of life. Jim does have a point though about money being a motivatating factor for studios and actors. No matter how much the public may desire to see the West in film...if it ain't making money -it ain't gettin' made. THANKS GUYS-ALF
-
Permalink Reply by Jim Holden on -
We would all love to think it's nostalgia for the "old west", or a longing for simpler times. But, really it's not that at all. Hollywood and the Film Business is about making money, so they put a "Western" in production because they have a good script, and some money-making actors have committed to the project and their analysis says it will find an audience and make money.
Alternately, a "big actor", maybe like Kevin Costner in "Open Range" will find a project that they like, and will convince an investor(s) to make the film, with them as the star, and they will bring other stars (Robert Duval) into the project to attract more investors. If they are "bankable" stars people will go see the movie because of who is starring, not because of the particular genre, i.e. Western. (On one of the Open Range DVD's Extras, Costner discusses the problems in getting a film like "Open Range" financed, and distributed by a studio.)
I'm fairly well informed in this because one of my sons works for a firm that tracks and analyzes the "movie and home dvd" market. Basically they do financial analysis and forecast whether a particular film project will make money, whether from movie houses, overseas revenue and/or DVD (or all 3 combined). It's a profit making business for them and potential investors often engage them to determine whether to invest in a movie project.
So whether it's a "vanity" project, that a hugely successful star backs just because they want to star in it or if it's a studio project that looks to be affordable for the audience it will attract, the bottom line is always making a profit.
Anything else is just gravy.
-
Permalink Reply by Robert L. Heighes on -
You would think the reason is the same for everyone. Trying to escape the Rat Race and live a simple more fulfilling life. But for me it was because I wanted to go back-in-time and relive my Childhood all over again. That's when I was having the most fun!
-
-
Yeah Robert-no doubt. A big part of my childhood was watching great Westerns all the way from the 40s to the 70s with my family. So I guess no matter the reason, I'm happy that Westerns are hitting the big screen again. I would love to re-live my childhood again, but I could put money on it that the minute I put a cowboy hat on and started chasing my co-workers with cap pistols, the "fit would hit the shan"
regards-ALF
-
Permalink Reply by Jim Holden on
-
As a kid in Oklahoma, every year the School would celebrate '89er's Day, i.e. the day of the big run in 1889. We would do a 're-enactment", i.e. we could make our wagon's look like pioneer wagons, dress up in our cowboy gear, including cap guns and holsters, (and BB guns - the Red Ryder Daisy) and make the "run" and stake out our claim. All this on school property and perfectly fun. No one ever got hurt, no one ever took a real gun to school (we all knew how to shoot and hunt), and nothing was ever said. Cowboys and Indians were the good guys - in Oklahoma and we celebrated both heritages. Most everyone was either part Indian, or otherwise associated with one of the Tribes or did business with them, or they were part of your family.
What a difference 50 years makes. Alf, up in Pelosi-land, if you tried that today, you would be in jail.
-
Permalink Reply by Jim Catalano on -
Up here in Northern California the inter cities ie San Francisco,Oakland and Richmond,there are so many illegal guns on the streets. It seems like if you don't belong to a gang you have no protection. The law biding citizens have no champions. I think the unarmed citizens are waiting for some one like Shane to ride to the rescue.
Old westerns seem to appeal to masses because the hero always stands up to the bully and protects them.
Today people can only dream of the old west hero because the law protects the bad guys. Death Wish series was a western based in the 20 th century,they made movies with the same theme.
Dry Gulching today it's drive by shooting. Car jacking is the new horse thieves. That's life in the big city.
© 2013 Created by True West.
