The Good, The Bad and the Ugly/Navajo Joe- VC

These two films are spaghetti westerns and they differ greatly from classic westerns. In The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly there is three main characters who all embody the characteristics of the alpha male cowboy. Whereas, in classic westerns there is only ever one alpha male. In Navajo Joe, the main character is an Indian. Usually, in classic westerns, Native Americans have very small roles. The classic western films also have a formula to them. They usually follow a similar plot line; there is a bad guy and an alpha male cowboy. We never find out much about either of their background's and in the end the cowboy kills the bad guy. However, these spaghetti westerns didn't follow that same plot line. In The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, there was no 'bad guy' that they were trying to kill and no people they were trying to protect as their duty. Instead, the three main characters were trying to find hidden money. The films also represent the cultural events during that time. Navajo Joe features a Native American as the main character. He is seeking revenge against the gang that killed is wife. This film was made in 1966 and during the 60s there were great strides with the Civil Rights Movement. Native Americans were also fighting for more rights. The Good, The Bad and the Ugly was also made in the 1960s and it reflects the growing power of the Civil Rights Movement through its Hispanic character, Tuco. During this time, Hispanic Americans were fighting for more rights as an opressed minority.