Westerns are the major defining genre of the American film industry, a nostalgic eulogy to the early days of the expansive, untamed American frontier (the borderline between civilization and the wilderness). They are one of the oldest, most enduring and flexible genres and one of the most characteristically American genres in their mythic origins.
The movie industry began with the work of louis le prince in 1888. Until 1903, films had been one-reelers, usually lasting 10 to 12 minutes, reflecting the amount of film that could be wound onto a standard reel for projection, hence the term. Edwin S. Porter was a former projectionist and exhibitor who had taken charge of motion-picture production at Thomas Edisons company in 1901. He fully realised the potential of motion pictures as an entertainment medium and began making longer films that told a story. As with the films of georges méliès, these required multiple shots that could be edited into a narrative sequence.
In the 1960s, Spaghetti Westerns grew in popularity. These films were produced by Italians and Spaniards and shot in their countries with big American stars like Clint Eastwood or Henry Fonda. Films such as those of Sergio Leone's dollars trilogy spawned numerous films of the same ilk and often similar titles, particularly from the mid- to late-1960s and early 1970s.
The main target audience for western films are usually adults because of the violence.
JOHN FORD
SAM PECKINPAH
HOWARD HAWKS
SERGIO LEONE
CLINT EASTWOOD
ANTÖNT MANN
RAOUL WALSH
BUDD BOETTICHER
JOHN STURGES
DELMER DAVES
DANCES WITH THE WOLVES 1990
THE REVENANT 2015
TRUEGRIT 2010
DJANGO UNCHAINED 2012
RANGO 2011
BLAZING SADDLES1974
WILD WILD WEST 1999
BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDERANCE KID 1969
MAVERICK 1994
UNFORGIVEN 1992
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNHP8NRbCmI
ANALYSING WESTERN CONVENTIONS
