The Ultimate Western Cliche
-
- Posts: 1702
- Joined: March 26th, 2012, 1:19 pm
- Location: Winnipeg, Canada
The Ultimate Western Cliche
Curious to get some feedback on this.
Is there one scene that seems to be shown ad nauseum in Western movies?
I watch a lot of Westerns and it seems that at least in every second one there's that moment where someone is shot off a horse, foot gets stuck in the stirrup and his body gets dragged off along rough terrain to . . . who knows where?
Granted, a cool effect but it's been done to death.
Anyhoo, any other Western cliches you can think of . . .
Is there one scene that seems to be shown ad nauseum in Western movies?
I watch a lot of Westerns and it seems that at least in every second one there's that moment where someone is shot off a horse, foot gets stuck in the stirrup and his body gets dragged off along rough terrain to . . . who knows where?
Granted, a cool effect but it's been done to death.
Anyhoo, any other Western cliches you can think of . . .
- movieman1957
- Administrator
- Posts: 5522
- Joined: April 15th, 2007, 3:50 pm
- Location: MD
Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche
You can be certain that in most westerns the mirror over the bar in any saloon is doomed.
This is less a cliche than a question. Why would a bunch of cowboys after spending so much time in the saddle on a long hot day sit down to a pot of hot coffee? Not being a coffee drinker I thought it would only make them hotter.
This is less a cliche than a question. Why would a bunch of cowboys after spending so much time in the saddle on a long hot day sit down to a pot of hot coffee? Not being a coffee drinker I thought it would only make them hotter.
Chris
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana."
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana."
Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche
Two of my favourite ones are also to do with horses. Cowboy comes in tired and worn out and leaves the horse out front still saddled and bridled.
The other one is when they do take the saddle off they tie the horse up with a bridle (and bit) still on. Don't they ever feed the horses, or tether them to graze.
Oh and another one. Cowboys (and John Wayne) who lie down on beds still wearing boots and spurs.
dee
The other one is when they do take the saddle off they tie the horse up with a bridle (and bit) still on. Don't they ever feed the horses, or tether them to graze.
Oh and another one. Cowboys (and John Wayne) who lie down on beds still wearing boots and spurs.
dee
[b]But I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams[/b]. (William Butler Yeats )
[b]How did I get to Hollywood? By train.[/b] (John Ford)
[b]How did I get to Hollywood? By train.[/b] (John Ford)
Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche
The gun being held by the Bad Guy gets shot out of his hand by the Good Guy (and it is the gun that is shot because there's no blood).
Everyday people...that's what's wrong with the world. -- Morgan Morgan
I love movies. But don't get me wrong. I hate Hollywood. -- Orson Welles
Movies can only go forward in spite of the motion picture industry. -- Orson Welles
I love movies. But don't get me wrong. I hate Hollywood. -- Orson Welles
Movies can only go forward in spite of the motion picture industry. -- Orson Welles
- Rita Hayworth
- Posts: 10068
- Joined: February 6th, 2011, 4:01 pm
Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche
How come the bad guys always wears a Black Hat ... as in Kirk Douglas in The Villian, Humphrey Bogart in The Oklahoma Kid, and Jack Palance in Shane ... always have a Black Hat on. To me, its pretty easy to spot the bad guys in the films.
I often wonder about that ...
I often wonder about that ...
- JackFavell
- Posts: 11926
- Joined: April 20th, 2009, 9:56 am
-
- Posts: 1702
- Joined: March 26th, 2012, 1:19 pm
- Location: Winnipeg, Canada
Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche
My bad. I admit an ulterior motive here. As I work on my 6th Western novel I want so much to avoid cliches. Am aware of most (like the high noon showdown) but some I might miss so I really appreciate your input, people.
Mucho thanks! You guys provided some goodies to keep away from.
Mucho thanks! You guys provided some goodies to keep away from.
- movieman1957
- Administrator
- Posts: 5522
- Joined: April 15th, 2007, 3:50 pm
- Location: MD
Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche
That's a great idea.
Should we keep 'em coming?
Should we keep 'em coming?
Chris
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana."
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana."
Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche
Why would a bunch of cowboys after spending so much time in the saddle on a long hot day sit down to a pot of hot coffee?
That's my feeling about hats. The men are finally in out of the sun. And they leave their hats on? Of course, in a movie, hats look cool! We don't need to see a bunch of bare-headed cowpokes sloshing down beer. In the real world? My ten gallons would be on the bar!
That's my feeling about hats. The men are finally in out of the sun. And they leave their hats on? Of course, in a movie, hats look cool! We don't need to see a bunch of bare-headed cowpokes sloshing down beer. In the real world? My ten gallons would be on the bar!
- movieman1957
- Administrator
- Posts: 5522
- Joined: April 15th, 2007, 3:50 pm
- Location: MD
Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche
You can get as many stereotyped characters as situations. Among the most prominent was the hot head young gun smart aleck kid who thought he could best anyone. Not hardly.
Chris
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana."
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana."
Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche
The first episode of BONANZA opens with the four main characters establishing their types. Ben giving orders. Adam seeing to business. Joe talking about girls. Then there's Hoss. "When are we gonna eat? Dad-burn it, Hop-Sing!" A scuffle around the living room launches into, arguably, the most memorable opening credits of all time. Nicely done, boys!
- movieman1957
- Administrator
- Posts: 5522
- Joined: April 15th, 2007, 3:50 pm
- Location: MD
Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche
Good heavens. I can hear Blocker say that.
Chris
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana."
"Time flies like an arrow, fruit flies like a banana."
-
- Posts: 1702
- Joined: March 26th, 2012, 1:19 pm
- Location: Winnipeg, Canada
Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche
Where that did work effectively was with Skip Homeier's "Hunt" character in THE GUNFIGHTER. But you're right, movieman, the character did become a tiresome cliche, both on TV Westerns and in movies.movieman1957 wrote:You can get as many stereotyped characters as situations. Among the most prominent was the hot head young gun smart aleck kid who thought he could best anyone. Not hardly.
I'll keep away from the "fast draw kid" in my Western writing. Thanks MM.
- JackFavell
- Posts: 11926
- Joined: April 20th, 2009, 9:56 am
Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche
The girl's brother (usually the hot headed kid) is going to die, no matter what.
The villain always waits to kill the good guy so he can torture him first. WHY oh WHY do they always do that?
More than six bullets in a six shooter. (N/A for books, Stone. )
The villain always waits to kill the good guy so he can torture him first. WHY oh WHY do they always do that?
More than six bullets in a six shooter. (N/A for books, Stone. )
Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche
The hero's past catches up to him, his old gang pulls him back into dastardly doin's, or they tell the whole town...
The seemingly benign storekeeper/mayor/banker who is head of the ruthless gang.
The head saloon gal with a heart of gold.
The drunken sidekick who was 'ruint' by a heartless woman (usually a saloon girl)
The seemingly benign storekeeper/mayor/banker who is head of the ruthless gang.
The head saloon gal with a heart of gold.
The drunken sidekick who was 'ruint' by a heartless woman (usually a saloon girl)
"Life is not the way it's supposed to be.. It's the way it is..
The way we cope with it, is what makes the difference." ~ Virginia Satir
""Most people pursue pleasure with such breathless haste that they hurry past it." ~ Soren Kierkegaard
The way we cope with it, is what makes the difference." ~ Virginia Satir
""Most people pursue pleasure with such breathless haste that they hurry past it." ~ Soren Kierkegaard