NH Johnnt Guitar/Two Mules

In the films Johnny Guitar and Two Mules for Sister Sara the concept of otherness plays a makor role in the character of the alpha-male cowboy and also in the character of the leading woman at times. In both films there is a tragic ending causing the alpha male cowboy to bond with the woman which is out or the ordinary. Johnny helps Vienna fight off the men trying to kill her in Johnny Guitar and Sara helps Hogan shoot his gun when he is wounded in Two Mules. We see more of a otherness in Two Mules with Sara because it is extremely out of the ordinary for the woman to help the alpha-male cowboy in his time of need. We also see both of these films end with the alpha male cowboy falling in love with the woman and riding off into the sunset together. In these films the alpha male cowboy has come a long way from the days of John Wayne who would always go about his business and would always be back on his own riding into the sunset for another mission in the hardboiled west.
Both of these films were created at critical times in America. Johnny Guitar presents a strong woman, Vienna who runs a saloon and isn't afraid to use a weapon. At that time in America it was men who were using the weapons in World War II and the woman who was staying at home. The otherness is displayed greatly in this instance. A strong female character to be revealed in the 50's was extremely out of the ordinary. The strong independent woman was also a change that was inevitably coming to America but this movie was ahead of it's time.
The film Two Mules for Sister Sara took place at a time when America was searching for it's true identity. The civil rights movement was taking place and women were in full contol of their own lives. There was still a war going on at home in America but it was not on foreign shores. In two mules Sara acts as a nun only to later reveal that she is really helping Give War information on the French. Not only is it out of the ordinary for a woman to act as a nun but it is also very strange for a woman to play a major role in War strategy at this time.
Both of these films contain extremely strong women who have the ability to fend for themselves. Although both Sara and Vienna do get themselves into difficult situations, they also have no problem being independent.