What is a Revisionist Western?

The revisionist Western (also called the anti-Western) is a sub-genre of the Western film. Called a post-classical variation of the traditional Western, the revisionist subverts the myth and romance of the traditional by means of character development and realism to present a less simplistic view of life in the "Old West ''.
Westerns have been an enduring and beloved part of movies. There’s a romanticism linked to this genre. There can sometimes be confusion as to what actually constitutes a Western. A problem that usually arises because of the subgenre of Westerns known as revisionist Westerns.
There are some who argue that traditional Westerns are actually outdated and have no real place in today's world. My Channel - kzbin.info/door/rtQ... Facebook Page - / famous-people-10080870...
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[@davidbrown386]

In my opinion the ultimate Revisionist Western is a very obscure film. Ride Out For Revenge. Why? 1: The hero Sheriff Tate ( Rory Calhoun) is rejected by the town because he defends Indians. 2: The main antagonist Captain George ( Lloyd Bridges) along with his platoon murders Indians for gold. 3: Tate’s love interest Pretty Willow ( Joanne Gilbert), hates herself for loving Tate. 4: The film ends with Tate murdering George in cold blood and with Tate ending up with Pretty Willow, although it is really not happy because his nephew Billy and her brother and father were murdered. Basically every element of a revisionist Western rolled into one film.

[@Chiller11]

Interesting list. I would include The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance as revisionist. Though the good guys win it’s complicated. The hero isn’t really the hero. The real hero doesn’t get the girl and dies alone. The girl is conflicted. I think McCabe and Mrs Miller defines the revisionist western. It is so muddy and cold and bleak. It just snuffs out the beginnings of hope and love.

[@davidbrown386]

McCabe and Mrs Miller is an early example of the disconnect between the elites and the general public as much as a revisionist western. AFI thinks it is masterpiece on the level of The Searchers, Shane snd The Big Country, while the average person has either never seen it or thinks it is trash. This disconnect is a big reason why Hollywood is in trouble today.

[@davidbrown386]

I despise McCabe & Mrs. Miller. AFI putting it on the Best Westerns list is a joke. For me it is one of the worst westerns ever made , and I cannot think of one thing I liked about it. Besides that, I generally like British Actresses ( especially Jean Simmons. & Madeleine Carroll) but Julie Christie is an exception.

[@Chiller11]

@@davidbrown386 Hahahaha I like Oscar Wildes take, “In all matters of opinion, our adversaries are insane!” I think that applies here.

[@skelelator]

About your comment on Blazing Saddles-And I suppose no one in Australia has racist feeling towards the aborigines.

[@bravehome4276]

Some great films here. But when you say the 'classic' Western could not be made today, I'd have to agree. The classic Western relied on an innate understanding between the moviemakers and the audience concerning values and 'happy' endings, which we do not seem to possess today. The revisionist Western was initially applauded for its 'bold' and 'realistic' approach to the subject matter; I cannot say that approach is a long-lasting improvement over the classic approach with regard to what it says about contemporary values....

[@davidbrown386]

Of course you can make a classic Western today. Watch Mexican Moon made in 2021 but takes place in the 1970’s. It has every element of the classic Western including the Happy Ending. The Cowboy & the Movie Star ( 1998) with Sean Young and Perry King is another modern day Western that I highly recommend. This one is in my top 20 all time westerns.

[@Chiller11]

I think Open Range is pretty much a traditional western. There is tragedy when Mose is killed but all three good guys, Charlie, Boss Spearman and Button survive, vanquish the bad guys and Charlie gets the girl.

[@bravehome4276]

@@davidbrown386 Let's hope for a comeback not only in Westerns but all movie genres of the 'classic' values!