Can the Western movie genre be revived? Will it ever return to its rightful place as America's most popular art form?
In this new work, renegade essayist Karl "King" Wenclas argues that the fate of the Western movie is indivisible from America's fate. It's an expression of America's freedom and of man's need for freedom. No nation can survive without its myths. The Western movie is America's mythic art.
Few things are more beautiful than the image of a rider crossing a vast landscape on a horse.
Part I gives a short history of the Western genre, tracing its rise and decline.
Part II asks what makes a great Western. The top ten Westerns of all time are then listed and discussed.
Part III addresses other questions. Such as, "Heroes and Villains," and, "Who is the greatest Western star; Clint Eastwood or John Wayne?" The section compares both versions of "True Grit," and looks at the question of the authentic Western.
Part IV ranks the next ten greatest Westerns. Then dozens of other Westerns which didn't make the list are discussed. The future of the Western is considered, solutions given, while explaining the Western movie's romance and magic.
Finally, Part V is an in-depth Case Study of a single Western movie: "Westward the Women."
In separate essays, the author looks at "Sex in the Western," Spaghetti Westerns, "Top Western Babes," the Anti-Western, and much more; topics both serious and light. The writing throughout is provocative, informative, and fun. Surprises abound.
Do you enjoy Western movies? Have you seen few of them but would like to learn more?
High brow or low brow, or just a fan, this is a book which can be read again and again. It makes a great movie viewing companion. Buy it and discover what Western movies are about.
In this new work, renegade essayist Karl "King" Wenclas argues that the fate of the Western movie is indivisible from America's fate. It's an expression of America's freedom and of man's need for freedom. No nation can survive without its myths. The Western movie is America's mythic art.
Few things are more beautiful than the image of a rider crossing a vast landscape on a horse.
Part I gives a short history of the Western genre, tracing its rise and decline.
Part II asks what makes a great Western. The top ten Westerns of all time are then listed and discussed.
Part III addresses other questions. Such as, "Heroes and Villains," and, "Who is the greatest Western star; Clint Eastwood or John Wayne?" The section compares both versions of "True Grit," and looks at the question of the authentic Western.
Part IV ranks the next ten greatest Westerns. Then dozens of other Westerns which didn't make the list are discussed. The future of the Western is considered, solutions given, while explaining the Western movie's romance and magic.
Finally, Part V is an in-depth Case Study of a single Western movie: "Westward the Women."
In separate essays, the author looks at "Sex in the Western," Spaghetti Westerns, "Top Western Babes," the Anti-Western, and much more; topics both serious and light. The writing throughout is provocative, informative, and fun. Surprises abound.
Do you enjoy Western movies? Have you seen few of them but would like to learn more?
High brow or low brow, or just a fan, this is a book which can be read again and again. It makes a great movie viewing companion. Buy it and discover what Western movies are about.
