Spaghetti Westerns

Spaghetti Western was one of the most important genres to the evolution of film. Few genres have had as much influence worldwide as the spaghetti western. Though these films originated out of Europe, they affected filmmaking in America, as well as many other countries. By taking themes that were already well established, and making them new again, these European filmmakers were able to not only create great films, but also to save an entire genre.

The story of the evolution of this genre is as interesting as the actual films are. The western genre, a very american style of film, was losing popularity. American studios had stopped making the films. European filmmakers had for years wanted to make westerns, but hadn’t been able to successfully recreate the techniques of the genre. In the sixties however, they started to make westerns more frequently. Though many of these westerns didn’t achieve much success, they kept making more. Finally, with Sergio Leone’s “A Fistful of Dollars” the first truly successful European western had been created.

Leone achieved success by not copying American westerns, but instead by making the genre his own, with new techniques and styles. Many other European filmmakers followed in these techniques, which included an increased amount of violence in the films. While none of these films equaled the success of Leone’s films, except for his other films, they still became popular enough that they were able to restart and influence the american western genre. American westerns began to copy some of the traits of the spaghetti westerns, most notably with the violence included in films like “The Wild Bunch.”

While this revival didn’t last forever, it had many important effects on film. The films are still very popular, even though new ones aren’t created anymore. A revival of westerns is beginning, though. These new westerns, like the spaghetti westerns, are taking the themes of the genre and infusing them with techniques and traits that are popular today. While westerns haven’t been totally embraced yet, the moderate success of the new “3:10 to Yuma” gives hope that the western genre may have another revival.