Rootin Tootin Westerns

Yeehaw little doggies, in this episode of the Hollywood Video Guys podcast your hosts Mike, Don and Randy strap on their six shooters and dive into the genre of Westerns. Though Western films are few and far between these days there was a time when the genre reigned supreme. From Gene Autrey to John Wayne, from Gary Cooper to Clint Eastwood the Western genre ruled Hollywood for decades. 

 

The first movie on deck is the 1959 hit Rio Bravo (9:16). Starring John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson and Angie Dickinson. John Wayne, a small-town sheriff in the American West enlists the help of a disabled man, a drunk, and a young gunfighter in his efforts to hold in jail the brother of the local bad guy. Listen as the HVG crew break down the film focusing on the acting of Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson, as well as the somewhat controversial musical interlude before the climax of the film. 

 

The last movie your hosts reviewed is 1969’s The Wild Bunch (38:35). This film stars William Holden, Earnest Borgnine and Warren Oates as outlaws in the dying embers of the wild west. An aging group of outlaws look for one last big score as the "traditional" American West is disappearing around them. First, your hosts discuss the plot of the film before diving into the themes and ultra-violence prevalent throughout this Sam Peckinpah class.

 

Follow the Hollywood Video Guys podcast on instagram @hvgpodacst and tell us what your favorite Western film is. You can also drop us an email with movie review suggestions at hvgpodcast@gmail.com.