Western (Movie Genre)

The "Western" movie and television genre generally glorified the pioneers who settled the North American West, particularly during the period of the 19th century and the first decade of the 20th century when territories were rapidly becoming states.

In 1960 ... the standard script was Indians bad and simple minded and Whites were good and complex and were just gently wrestling the wild west from savagery, making a civilization out of it. [1]

There is also a term for Western movies made in the Mediterranean and Eastern Europe, particularly Italy, called "Spaghetti Westerns". They are also sometimes even made in Ireland or France.

Recurring character types within the Western genre include cowboys, Native Americans, hunters, fishermen, lumberjacks, farmers, miners, gamblers, soldiers, outlaws, sheriffs, bounty hunters, mayors, and preachers.

In contrast to the lopsided portrayal of "cowboys and Indians", several films and TV series begin showing a more balanced portrayal:

Feature films

• McLintock - John Wayne
• Broken Arrow - Jimmy Stewart
• Flaming Star - Elvis Presley
• Blazing Saddles - Mel Brooks
• The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - Clint Eastwood

Television series

• The Lone Ranger - Clayton Moore, Jay Silverheels, John Hart
• Gunsmoke - James Arness, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, Dennis Weaver, Burt Reynolds, Ken Curtis, Roger Ewing, Buck Taylor
• The Rifleman - Chuck Connors, Johnny Crawford, Paul Fix
• Bonanza - Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker, Pernell Roberts, David Canary, Mitch Vogel
• The Virginian - James Drury, Doug McClure
• Wagon Train - Ward Bond, Robert Horton, Frank McGrath, Terry Wilson, John McIntire, Denny Miller, Robert Fuller, Michael Burns
• Rawhide - Eric Fleming, Clint Eastwood, Paul Brinegar, Sheb Wooley, Steve Raines, Charles Gray, Robert Cabal, James Murdock, John Ireland, Raymond St. Jacques
• Maverick - James Garner, Jack Kelly, Roger Moore, Robert Colbert
• Cheyenne - Clint Walker
• Have Gun - Will Travel - Richard Boone
• Wanted: Dead or Alive - Steve McQueen
• The Big Valley - Barbara Stanwyck, Richard Long, Peter Breck, Lee Majors, Linda Evans
• The Rebel - Nick Adams
• The Guns of Will Sonnett - Walter Brennan, Dack Rambo
• Ricochet Rabbit and Droop-a-Long - Mel Blanc, Don Messick

Video game series

• Red Dead series - Rockstar Games