"Noir Westerns"

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses how the noir style of film and the western genre film share some similarities which unify the films in these categories more than they divide them. The paper describes how the styles of cinematography would seem to suggest that there could be no overlap in these genres; the settings of the western and the film noir are not simply disparate, they are opposite. The paper explains that they are, however, used to a similar effect in that they manipulate the sense of security experienced by the viewer.

From the Paper:

"It could be argued that stylistically there are not too many genres more diametrically opposed than those of the western and the film noir. The first genre takes place in a rural setting, the second in an urban one. The western genre takes place in an arid climate, while the film noir is characterized by rain and wetness. Both genres, however, have "man's men" as heroes and, generally, strong women as heroines. The style of storytelling is often the same, with characters often reaching conclusions that are not ultimately satisfying. It is true, in fact, that film scholars have already linked the two genres together in naming the western films that were made in the 1940s "Cold War Westerns" or "noir Westerns" (Tyler 178)."

More papers on "Noir Westerns":

• Essay # 73405 : "Film Noir"
• Film Review # 121279 : "Film Noir in "Double Indemnity"
• Analytical Essay # 131340 : "Theoretical Perspectives on Film"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: