There are several differences between the classic westerns we have seen and these two spaghetti westerns. The first difference lies in the presence of a white alpha male cowboy in the film. In the classics characters such as Tom Doniphan and Ethan Edwards represent the white alpha male cowboy, but in the spaghetti westerns there is no white alpha male cowboy.
In the westerns we see the plot driven by the duty of the alpha male cowboy, but in these films the plot revolves around money. Weather it is Blondie scamming for bounties or Duncan stealing it, money is the main issue that the plot is built around. The reason for this is because that is the view Europeans had of America at that time. They believed that the only thing America cared about was money and the power it entitles them to.
Lastly, the classic western does not ever have any minorities that play important roles in the film. We see Tuco play a very important role in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly where he is teamed up with Clint Eastwood, as Blondie in the beginning of the movie. The interesting part about the inclusion of the minorities in these films is the way they are portrayed. For example, Tucco and Angel are labeled as "The Ugly" and "The Bad". Here we see the two minorities in the film labeled as ugly and bad whereas Blondie, a white man, is labeled as "The Good".
The differences the Europeans portrayed in the spaghetti westerns have to due with the attitude toward America at the time. Money was very important to America, to both the citizen and to the American Government. It was during the Kennedy regime where there were massive tax cuts further proving the importance of many to Americans. Also, the sixties was when the civil rights movement was in full swing. News of America's struggles reached Europe and their reaction is seen in the spaghetti westerns, which intend to be paradoxes to the classic western and the roles minorities played in them.
The films The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly and Navajo Joe are considered to be spaghetti westerns. Seeing as they were directed by European directors, there is a different perspective on many things.
ReplyDeleteThere are several differences between the classic westerns we have seen and these two spaghetti westerns. The first difference lies in the presence of a white alpha male cowboy in the film. In the classics characters such as Tom Doniphan and Ethan Edwards represent the white alpha male cowboy, but in the spaghetti westerns there is no white alpha male cowboy. In Navajo Joe Sergio Corbucci highlights the shrinking Native American minority in America when he gives the power to Navajo Joe, essentially taking the power away from the alpha male cowboy character America is used to looking up to. In this film the minority outsmarts the white man. Corbucci and Leone also show there European distaste for the Vietnam War by having the minorities play more important roles in the films. During the war America drafted many blacks and latinos to go fight instead of wealthy white Americans.
Another interesting part about the inclusion of the minorities in these films is the way they are portrayed. For example, Tucco and Angel are labeled as "The Ugly" and "The Bad". Here we see the two minorities in the film labeled as ugly and bad whereas Blondie, a white man, is labeled as "The Good". Angel Eyes' scary look represents a visual counter to what Americans think of themselves.