Synopsis of the Two Films - 3:10 to Yuma and The Magnificient Seven - Research Paper Example

Genre is an aspect that has gained significant popularity in literature because of the way it has been used to categorize works of literature and even predict on the major themes within a given literature. According to Neale since its inception as a film making niche, Hollywood has managed to demonstrate how genres can be familiarized and naturalized in an attempt to address social problems within the society at a given time (19). One of the genres evident in American films is the Western Genre that brings out various social issues that were characteristic of remote American towns during the early 19th Century as outlined by (Simmon 14). A look at most of the Western films, one realizes that they always involve cowboy stories, banditry, masculinity, interaction of white American with Indians and Mexicans and widespread lawlessness. Even Western films that have different place and time setting very much bring out these characteristics of the Western Genre. The motion picture has continued to play an important role through fiction to bring out history significance of the West and the social issues that plagued the society. According to Kirby, the motion picture has managed to preserve the historical social issues that have been the subject of analysis by many in the contemporary American society (156). The paper looks at how the Western Genre continues to bring out some social issues that were faced in remote American towns during the early and late 19th Century, through two films; 3:10 to Yuma and The Magnificient Seven. Brief Synopsis of the two Films. 3:10 to Yuma is a film narrating the story of a poor and estranged rancher called Evans who is at odds with a fellow rancher called Hollander concerning a debt Evans owes Hollander and a dispute over grazing land. Hollander in a bid to ensure the repayment of the debt hires hooligans to set ablaze the barn of Evans. In an apparent twist Evans manages to get an offer worth $200 to deliver a notorious bandit called Ben Wade for a train bound to Yuma prosecution. The train leaves to Yuma at 3:10 PM hence the name of the film 3:10 to Yuma (Crowe). The Magnificent Seven on the other hand is film of the Western Genre set on a village in the United States bordering Mexico. The village is facing a threat of being raided by bandits headed by brute called Calvera who visit the village to loot the occupants of their harvest. Some of the villagers decide to go to an American town to buy guns but on their way they manage to gather a group of seven gunmen and the villagers convince the gunmen to help them to protect their village from their bandits (Brynner). Cowboy Stories. According to Browne cowboys have been a popular culture adopted by most western style. The characteristic attire and behavior of cowboys is evident in both the Magnificient Seven and 3:10 to Yuma. In the Magnificient Seven, the seven people supposed to save the Mexican village are cowboys evident by their characteristic ride on horsebacks, their boots with spurs, the headgear and their gunweilding swagger (Crowe). The movie 3:10 to Yuma also depicts cowboys within their ranches and with their cattle. For instance, Hollander does not want to allow Evans to graze and water animals at his ranch and he also burns Evan’s barn. All these aspects are characteristic life of traditional cowboy who treasured his primary source of income which was his livestock (Brynner). Ranch disputes were a familiar occurrence because they were very important for the livelihood of cowboys in the remote American villages in the early 19th century America. Evans is distressed at the possibility of losing his livelihood and the inheritance of his children and decides to take the offer the bandit played by Russel Crowe to 3:10 PM train. Banditry. Law enforcement at remote American towns was a very difficult undertaking as the lawless usually took advantage of the weak by operating under their own salvage laws. In the film 3:10 to Yuma Evans and three of Hollanders “boys” engage in a dangerous trip to take the bandit to a trin bound for Yuma. Evans and his two sons witness as the bandit waylay a passing carriage. Due to lack of enough law enforcement officials as compared to the ones patrolling contemporary American highways. Furthermore, there were no U.S. Marshals to escort prisoners and Evans and the rest of his team are forced to escort the bandit. In the Magnificient Seven the Mexican village encounter the brute Calvera and his gang are bandits who terrorize the village demanding their produce. The bandits wait for the villagers to work hrd on their farms and then expect to come and just steal the produce. The bandits are so arrogant as to even announce the next time they will return. Masculinity. Masculinity is an aspect that has drawn criticism from feminist with regard to the way the filsm portray the American society. According to Simmon, most of the films during the time display men as heroes in all aspects with women only brought in to serve men or to play romantic roles (167). The movie Magnificent Seven display women as weak and unable to defend their villagers. Despite the depiction we realize that women play the important role of farming and are not only able to feed themselves but their efforts attract hungry bandits. The depiction of women is a characteristic of a society that assumes that femininity is weakness. The magnificient Seeven also depicts women as sexual on objects evidenced by the nature of relationship the men in the Magnificient Seven forge relationships with women. Although in the film 3:10 to Yuma there lacks an overt depiction of prejudices against women, it is apparent that he outright lack of inclusion of women shows that the assumption was that they did not have important roles to play. According to Kirby, the western style films can be reffered to as the male version of Soap Operas and despite the fact that some actors in western films have received oscars, very few oscars have been awarded to female soap opera actors. Interaction of white Americans with Indians and Mexicans. Most western films depict various aspects of the interaction between Red Indians who often interacted with white Americans and the Mexicans found at the border between the U.S. and Mexico (Simmon 123). In the Magnificient Seven the villagers at the Mexican village are forced to seek help by buying guns from an American town. However, the villagers manage to bring willing Americans who play the role of eliminating the bandits. Although the interaction between Americans and Mexicans was not always characterized by one helping the other, the Magnificent Seven managers to bring out the aspect. However, the film 3:10 to Yuma does not bring out such interaction the way the Magnificent Seven does and the way most western films do. A look at the two films demonstrates the ability of films in general to bring out various societal issues at a given time. Western genres are characterized by certain continuity that are common with most films. A look at the Magnificient Seven demonstrates that even adaptations from other regions of the world can still be naturalized to depict the western style. The Magnficent Seven was adapted from an ancient Japanese movie called the Seven Samurai. One key aspect in western movies is their depiction of cowboy lifestyle. Both the Magnificient Seven and 3:10 to Yuma bring out the cowboys with their characteristic horses, attire and even swagger. Another aspect of western movies are the notorious bandits that terrorized innocent citizens. The Magnificent Seven is about a group of Seven who come to the rescue villagers in a Mexican village from notorious bandits. The bandits have promised to go back for their produce and the villagers are forced to seek help from an American town. In the film 3:10 to Yuma, Evans and his counterparts are requested to escort a bandit in return for payment. Masculinity is an aspect brought out in western style movies especially in the way the role played by women is given a rather minor stature. In the Magnificent Seven masculinity is brought out through the relationships the men engage with women and how they generally treat women. The film Magnificient Seven also brings an aspect of the nature of interaction between Americans and Mexicans at the U.S. Mexico border. In essence, the two films demonstrate how genres in films can be naturalized to depict societal issues. Works Cited 3:10 to Yuma. Dir. John Sturges. Perf. Yul Brynner. 1960. Film. Browne, Pat. The guide to United States popular culture. London: Popular Press, 2001. Print Kirby, Mark. Sociology in perspective. Chicago: Heinemann, 2000. Print. Neale, Stephen. Genre and Hollywood. New York: Routledge, 2000. Print. Simmon, Scott. The Invention of the Western Film: A Cultural History of the Genres First Half Century. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2003. Print. The Magnificient Seven. Dir. James Mangold. Perf. Russel Crowe. 2007. Film. Read More