Terms
Westerns (Frontier films):
Generally involved with the “taming” of the west or the frontier
Homesteaders:
The Republican Party wanted to move people west and was opposed to slavery in the territories opening up to the west. They were interested in a Homestead Act (1862) gave 160 acres to any family wishing to live there and farm it. People who took advantage of this act were known as “homesteaders”
Telephoto lens: long lens
– brings things closer, but in different way. Distances in depth of field shrink. Background moves closer.
Wide angle lens:
Extends width of view sets things further back.
Cosmology
Stories about the origin of the universe. Often involved with putting the world in order before the “people” arrive
Before the Film
The Western:
The film is considered one of the great films about the west - a distillation of the western
A loner coming from nowhere, bringing the west under control and leaving
(Pale Rider is “remake”).
Frontier is “wild” (note word “wilderness) as opposed to “civilized” The western generally deals with some aspect of this process. (e.g. its initial taming, it potential lapse into chaos etc.)
Compare Black Robe “Leave the woods to the savages”
Land to be tamed if civilization is to arrive.
This is much like a cosmology (a mythology about how the world comes into being or is made ready or people)
The history of the west is, like most histories highly fictionalized in film (as well as history books which tend to be notoriously one sided). People have been living in the west for at least 14,000 years.
The Western as a genre, however is not based on location – Psycho is set in Arizona and California, but is not a Western. Basically the western has to with the taming of the frontier It may be set in NY (Drums. Along the Mohawk – perhaps an “Eastern”) or in outer space (Outland compare with the term “badlands”)
Indians are often seen as “natural people” people “close to nature” “hugging trees” no doubt. Actually there is clearly a different perception as to how people fit "into nature" The west tends to see people "a part" from nature rather than "a part of nature". People for many people in the world are seen as a part of nature hence, natural, whereas the west tends to see people as modifying nature to make it habitable (as the theme of this week and film indicates.
There seems to be a real difference in the way in which people relate to their environment – whether they see themselves as a part of it, or apart from it.
Thus there is a contrast between man made and nature in the west, but not necessarily in other cultures which see people a part of nature. What people do is as “natural” as what other animals do.
Lake is man made – lake is natural. Animals are natural, people are not.
No one says lake is beaver made.
American Museum of Natural History contains animals and non western peoples.
What is the theme?
What is personal plot?
What is the relationship between the characters?
What are the films values?
How are the sides drawn up?
Who is on which side?
What is the relationship between Shane and the Rykers.
What “border” crossings occur – i.e. who shifts sides.
Who is the person who sees the story unfold?
Why this perspective?
What does it say about people? Lawless unless law imposed (compare Day the Earth Stood Still)
After the film
Original casting to be Mongomery Clift, Katherine Hepburn and William Holden
Very different film. Jean Arthur known for romantic comedies. Had just played Peter Pan on Broadway with Boris Karloff as Captain Hook.
What is the theme? Taming – both west and emotions
What is personal plot? What is the relationship between the characters?
Eternal triangle but smothered. Nothing seems to happen. Marriage is left in tact. Relationship between the men?
What are the films values: Endorses civilization. Gun is tool to use to tame, once tamed not needed. (Is society tamed?)
From whose point of view is the film shot? Brandon de Wilde.Why? Does film take on a mythical look? Larger than life. Oedipal conflict – two father figures one wild one tamed.
Framing of story in landscape:
Flimed in Wyoming. Teton Mountains.
Use of telephoto lens: What does it do? Mountains loom larger because of distance shrinking
Landscape known to viewer. Need to cross river to get to town, cemetery, three trees that act as “portal” to town
“Natural things”
Landscape dominated by nature which needs to be tamed
Film starts with the arrival of Shane (from where?) and ends with his departure (to where?)
Stump and taming of nature. Finally removed by Ladd and Heflin.
Homesteaders’ animals enclosed (ranchers are wilder – cattle allowed to run loose.
Argument about better use of land (also made against Indians) range cattle do not produce as much food. (Now arguments are that free ranging animals are healthier to eat)
Sartorial Codes: (clothing, costuming – “sartor” is Latin for “tailor”)
Markers of “civilization” compare Alan Ladd’s clothing change from skin to cloth (remember “prehistoric people” films – wild wear fur, civilized or more advanced wear cloth.
Jean Arthur (48 year old at the time of he filming) changes from mannish to womanish – sartorial code – goes from pants to wedding dress.
Homesteaders are family people – shown often with wives and children
Ranchers are all male. Virtually no women in the town.
Equation of wildness and primitiveness and maleness.
Civilization is equated with the arrival of families (i.e. men + women and children)
Gun message – is film pro or anti gun? George Stevens (director) back from war not happy with the “poetic” and unrealistic use of guns in the old west. Wanted to show real damage that could be done. (and over done). Also not realistic.
What is film’s message about land possession?
Last one in gets it.
Ryker argues that he and his “boys” tamed the place. They have rights.
Van Heflin says they weren’t first: trappers were (not Indians)
Does this validate the taking of land previously owned by others?
Does Van Heflin’s argument indicate that he feels he has the right to define rights rather than Ryker
Music:
“Put your little foot” is played as background music when Jean Arthur first sees Shane, later it is played in the film as the square dance takes place when she and Shane dance to it. Linking characters through music is a kind of “leit motiv” or “theme song” that allows the creator of the work to give the audience information that is outside the dialog or filmic message.
REMEMBER
The story often proceeds through many channels by playing with different variables. The dialog is generally the most obvious way to tell the story now-a-days, although initially film was restricted to visual rather than auditory information.
The camera is used to tell the story by framing, the kind of lens used, lighting, focus, etc.
Editing tells the story by the way images are juxtaposed, linked sequentially, timed, etc.
Aside from these, messages can also be sent in terms of the sets, costuming, music and other sound,