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The Ultimate Western Cliche

Posted: June 28th, 2013, 7:36 pm
by Western Guy
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 . . .

Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche

Posted: June 28th, 2013, 8:55 pm
by movieman1957
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.

Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche

Posted: June 29th, 2013, 8:12 am
by tinker
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

Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche

Posted: June 29th, 2013, 8:59 am
by ChiO
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).

Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche

Posted: June 29th, 2013, 9:38 am
by Rita Hayworth
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 ...

Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche

Posted: June 29th, 2013, 11:02 am
by JackFavell
Some how this topic reminds me of this:

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Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche

Posted: June 29th, 2013, 11:50 am
by Western Guy
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.

Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche

Posted: June 29th, 2013, 2:15 pm
by movieman1957
That's a great idea.

Should we keep 'em coming?

Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche

Posted: June 29th, 2013, 3:20 pm
by RedRiver
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!

Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche

Posted: June 29th, 2013, 3:43 pm
by movieman1957
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.

Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche

Posted: June 29th, 2013, 4:58 pm
by RedRiver
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!

Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche

Posted: June 29th, 2013, 5:06 pm
by movieman1957
Good heavens. I can hear Blocker say that.

Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche

Posted: June 29th, 2013, 5:42 pm
by Western Guy
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.
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.

I'll keep away from the "fast draw kid" in my Western writing. Thanks MM.

Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche

Posted: June 29th, 2013, 6:31 pm
by JackFavell
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. :D )

Re: The Ultimate Western Cliche

Posted: June 30th, 2013, 12:47 pm
by knitwit45
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)