I also wouldn’t consider SW’s with a Canadian setting. Even though I happen to be a Canadian myself. Westerns take place at least primarily in the western US for me.
Alright then. I’d say a good enough definition of a spaghetti western is, beyond the technical parts, a stylish western that has a rather simplistic plot which often serves as an excuse for big gundowns and grand duels. But these action scenes and duels are done with a sharp style that I cannot elaberate on ferther because I seem incapable of articualting my thoughts on this specific subject.
Alot tend to have an old type guy in ie; coffinmaker, bartender, town drunk, town know it all etc.
I dont like to get too technical when thinking of a spaghetti western… spaghetti western is simply a genre of film to me, relating mostly to how the film looks, the general attitude of the film and the kinds of characters presented… when thinking of where the film is made, i would think of “italian westerns” rather than “spaghetti westerns” for only italian productions… so all euro westerns qualify as valid spaghetti to me, and even some mexi-westerns and something like hannie caulder can qualify enough for me also…
I tend to shy away from calling something like hannie caulder a spaghetti, just to avoid having my ass handed to me :D, but i still consider it to be part of my spaghetti collection
Indeed, almost a required element in spaghetti
To define it as short as possible - SERGIO LEONE
Alright, I’m in the right frame of mind so here goes:
A Spaghetti Western is a subgenre of the Western film genre that was produced mainly in Italy and filmed on either the Spanish Almeria desertor the Italian countryside. While they lacked many qualities of the the American Western,they excelled in the area of style and film violence. Sadism, cynicism, and grotesque were many attributes found in these films. lack of extensive dialogue, bad dialogue that is spoken,and wooden or under acting.
how’s that?
I’m in the mood for brevity so, following LankyFellow’s lead, here’s my definition of a spaghetti Western: For a Few Dollars More.
Just about everything vital about the genre/movement/phenomenon, whatever you want to call it, can be found in that film.
[quote=“Starblack, post:27, topic:1645”]I’m in the mood for brevity so, following LankyFellow’s lead, here’s my definition of a spaghetti Western: For a Few Dollars More.
Just about everything vital about the genre/movement/phenomenon, whatever you want to call it, can be found in that film.[/quote]
Fair point which I cannot disagree with.
[quote=“Starblack, post:27, topic:1645”]I’m in the mood for brevity so, following LankyFellow’s lead, here’s my definition of a spaghetti Western: For a Few Dollars More.
Just about everything vital about the genre/movement/phenomenon, whatever you want to call it, can be found in that film.[/quote]
The best SW ever as far as i am concerned and quite possibly THE genre-defining film.
I sometimes feel that the opening sequence alone with the famous ''where life had no value, death, sometimes, had its price", the desert landscape, the titles and the music set the tone for what was to follow.
What a Great topic!
Considering the expression/moniker “Spaghetti Western” was originally coined by non-Italians as some sort of SNIDE comment to put down/define Italian Westerns (just like Paella Westerns for Spanish-made ones and (Sauer)Kraut Westerns for German-made flicks), the ORIGIN of the picture (financed by who? Most of the ABOVE-THE-LINE/creative crew were from what country?), should be the pre-requisites to define it, more than the ‘spirit’…that’s like trying to say if such and scuch movie is American or not; well, US-born actor Peter Coyote, for instance, filmed IN BRAZIL , a thriller called A GRANDE ARTE/HIGH ART/EXPOSURE about 20 years ago, a movie mainly financed by Brazilians, directed by a Brazilian (Walter Salles Junior) and mostly written by a Brazilian novelist. It was aimed at the International Market and mostly spoken in English, that is a BRAZILIAN MOVIE.
Part2
Although many Italian-financed and Italiancreated/helmed westerns had scenes shot in Spanish locations, had technicians, some actors and even had Spaniards as associate producers investing some money, the movies were basically Italian.
As for the whole ATMOSPHERE and supposedly basic characteristics of a SW, I find that very hard to take, since many SW starring one of the most iconic Western actors from Italy, Giuliano Gemma, for instance, had him dressed in somewhat clean paraphernalia and clean-shaven face, were non-stylized and had an overall American Feel to it (IL DOLLARE BUCCATO, SELA D’ARGENTO, etc). The same to TEXAS, ADIO with Nero where he plays a very honest sheriif (not an antihero by any stretch of the imagination), just to name a few.
Welcome to the forum Sitedecinema! Well, most early Spaghettis have an American touch. Good movies to explain SWs:
My Name Is Pecos
Shotgun
Django
For A Few Dollars More (I agree, that film has everything typical for SWs)
Django Sfida Sartana
And, finally, a film that is laughably bad but also very, very SW:
Django Adios
Thanks for WELCOMING me to this magnificent forum, Silence!
No problem.
I’d never heard of this one before. Apparently it starred NFL ‘Hall of Famer’ Joe Namath.