speedracer5 Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 Westerns are full of cliches, Blazing Saddles and the most recent A Million Ways to Die in the West both make fun of all the cliche characters and plotlines that make up many classic Westerns. These are some of my favorite: 1) The eternal war between the "sheep people" and "cow people." 2) The sultry saloon singer and slutty dance hall girls 3) The classic saloon brawl 4) The spinster woman who initially rebuffs the newcomer's advances (the newcomer usually becoming the sheriff) only to be won over later. 5) The duel at dusk What are your favorites? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bOb39 Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 The taciturn hero who refuses to explain his innocence, or the circumstances surrounding whatever it is he is accused of, allowing the woman he loves, and others, to think he's guilty. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 What about in B westerns where there is a corrupt landowner who tries to steal farms and push ranchers off their property...especially when water rights or mining rights are involved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bOb39 Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 What about in B westerns where there is a corrupt landowner who tries to steal farms and push ranchers off their property...especially when water rights or mining rights are involved. And he sports a mustache and wears a suit - looking spiffy and properly villainous. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terrence1 Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 One line that I've heard so many times, both on TV and in the movies, is when someone is telling where a family lives. The line is "They live in the old Johnson (or some other name) place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 And he sports a mustache and wears a suit - looking spiffy and properly villainous. Yup, gotta love those spiffy suits! And notice, they always have about two or three henchmen who follow orders to a tee. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 ...especially when water rights or mining rights are involved. Speaking of water rights, this always happens when there's a drought. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
movieman1957 Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 What about in B westerns where there is a corrupt landowner who tries to steal farms and push ranchers off their property...especially when water rights or mining rights are involved. And if he has 20,000 acres he can't abide anyone staying on two acres while they rest up before they continue on. He's always afraid they are staying. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fredbaetz Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 Then there's the time worn tale of the gunfighter who's trying to mend his ways and settle down to a normal life. John Wayne in "The Angel and the Badman" or Gregory Peck in "The Gunfighter" to name a few... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 Then there's the time worn tale of the gunfighter who's trying to mend his ways and settle down to a normal life. John Wayne in "The Angel and the Badman" or Gregory Peck in "The Gunfighter" to name a few... And usually he is falsely accused of murder and must clear his name before he gets the girl and gets to settle down for good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bOb39 Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 And usually he is falsely accused of murder and must clear his name before he gets the girl and gets to settle down for good. But, he won't try to clear his name or say anything to help his case because .... (I dunno), he's too proud? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 But, he won't try to clear his name or say anything to help his case because .... (I dunno), he's too proud? Because there would be no plot and the movie would be over in ten minutes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bOb39 Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 Because there would be no plot and the movie would be over in ten minutes. Yeah. But it is a cliche. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesJazGuitar Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 Yeah. But it is a cliche. While some screenwriters might try to use the 'he is too proud' reasoning to explain illogical \ irrational behavior, in most cases such behavior is just a plot device so that there can be a story that last more than 10 minutes. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 Yeah. But it is a cliche. Yes, most cliches occur in westerns because the writers are sticking to a specific formula. They are bound by the structure of the story and making sure it lasts for 60 or 90 minutes. Then we have filmmakers from the 60s and 70s who try to shake up the western by adding all kinds of post-code violence. But even that becomes a cliche...dragging out a film by throwing in a succession of bloody gunfights and corpses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
speedracer5 Posted November 8, 2015 Author Share Posted November 8, 2015 I forgot I started this thread, lol. One of the worst Western cliches, is the depiction of the Mexican population. In most Westerns, the Mexican people are either bandits or poor farmers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElCid Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 I forgot I started this thread, lol. One of the worst Western cliches, is the depiction of the Mexican population. In most Westerns, the Mexican people are either bandits or poor farmers. Hey, didn't somebody rounning for President say that? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElCid Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 The good guy/hero always draws second in the gunfight, but still kills the villan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TopBilled Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 The good guy/hero always draws second in the gunfight, but still kills the villan. You're right. He has to be the most skilled with a gun, or else he won't be seen as a hero in anyone's eyes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashalex Posted July 12, 2016 Share Posted July 12, 2016 Two of my favorites are 1) The "6-shooter" that never seem to need reloading and 2) The "Winchester" rifle capable of killing 3 to 8 Indians with one shot. LOL By my calculations, there should be no Indians left in the "Old West". LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts