Ah, the Spaghetti Western. The beloved genre that has graced the silver screen for over a century, bringing us classic films like The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, Once Upon A Time in the West, and of course Django Unchained. But why is it called “spaghetti westerns?
” This article will explore the origins and development of the beloved genre and why it has come to be known as the “spaghetti western. ” So, dust off your cowboy hat, saddle up your horse, and let’s take a journey back in time to explore how this much beloved genre came to be.
What Are Spaghetti Westerns?
Spaghetti Westerns are a genre of Western films, typically made by Italian directors between 1964 and 197 The term was coined by American film critic and historian, Peter Cowie.These films were produced on a low budget and usually genre stars known for their acting abilities in Spaghetti Westerns were also famous in other European countries. Spaghetti Westerns are known for their Western storylines, colorful visual elements, and exciting soundtracks.
Iconic elements that define the style include the appearance of Sergio Leone-style “dollies”, cowboys in costumes, and shootouts set to Ennio Morricone’s signature scores.
History Of Spaghetti Westerns
Spaghetti Westerns began in 1964 with the release of A Fistful of Dollars, the first in the “Dollars” trilogy directed by Sergio Leone that also included For a Few Dollars More and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. This trilogy was inspired by the works of Akira Kurosawa, and it became a model as Leone applied his understanding of Kurosawa’s style to Western genre.Sergio Corbucci of The Great Silence fame was another influential director associated with this movement. He used pathos and dark humor to portray suffering in the West and successfully created Hitchcock-esque suspense filled thrillers.
A number of other directors, such as Mario Caiano and Giulio Questi, contributed to the Spaghetti Western movement as well. The genre remained popular for about a decade, slowing declining by the late 1970s with the arrival of blockbuster Hollywood hits such as Star Wars.
How Did These Films Get The Name?
The term Spaghetti Western was first used by American film critic Peter Cowie, although the term was later popularized by Italian journalists. The name suggested that the films were not of the same quality as the “real Western” films of Hollywood – based on their low-budget production, the fact that their plots often lacked consistency, and the idea that they copied the look and feel of Hollywood works without offering any original style or technique.The name was also used to playfully reference the Italian filmmakers’ limited, oftentimes humorous, use of the English language, as well as how Italian words and references to culture were used in the dialogue.