The Quick, the Dead and the Revived

For well more than a century, Western films have embodied the United States’ most fundamental doctrine—expansionism—and depicted, in a uniquely American way, the archetypal battle between good and evil. Westerns also depict a country defined and re-defined by complex crises. World War II transformed the genre as well as the nation’s identity. Since then, Hollywood filmmakers have been fighting America’s ideological wars onscreen by translating modern-day politics into the timeless mythology of the Old West. This book surveys the most iconic and influential Westerns, examines Hollywood stars and their political stripes and reveals the familiar Western tropes—which became elements in popular action, science fiction and horror films. This then sets the stage for the Western revival of the 1990s and a period of reinvention in the 21st century. Instructors considering this book for use in a course may request an examination copy here.

Joseph Maddrey has researched, written and produced more than 100 hours of documentary television, focusing on true crime and the paranormal. He lives in Midlothian, Virginia.

Joseph Maddrey

Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 204
Bibliographic Info: 68 photos, appendix, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2016
pISBN: 978-1-4766-6551-1
eISBN: 978-1-4766-2549-2
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments vi
Preface 1
Introduction: Oaters 4
I. Year of the Gun (1939) 9
II. Westerners at War (1940–1946) 21
III. Blood on the Moon (1947–1949) 32
IV. High Noon (1950–1956) 44
V. The Masculine Mystique (1950–1959) 57
VI. The Lost Cowboys (1955–1959) 71
VII. The New Frontier (1960–1965) 82
VIII. Blood Money (1964–1968) 95
IX. Mud and Rags (1967–1973) 107
X. Death Wish (1971–1980) 121
XI. Back to the Future (1977–1988) 133
XII. Young Guns (1988–2001) 144
XIII. Fever Dream (2002–2010) 155
Afterword: Destiny or Dust? 167
Appendix: Filming Locations 169
Chapter Notes 185
Bibliography 188
Index 195

“a captivating work filled with keen observation and significant explanations. It’s the western movie genre presented in a most interesting light, and it’s Madrey’s intelligent writing that does the shining”—VideoScope.