Summary
- Many Western movies have been criticized for historical inaccuracies and perpetuating stereotypes, particularly in their portrayal of Native American cultures.
- Films like "The Searchers" and "Dances with Wolves" have faced criticism for perpetuating the White Savior complex and inaccurately depicting historical events.
- While films like "The Revenant" and "The Lone Ranger" received critical acclaim, they have been criticized for historical inaccuracies and perpetuating harmful stereotypes.
American cinema has always been famous for its Western genre, with catchy storylines about the forever seeking of poetic justice, mesmerizing landscapes, and heroic leadership, but much of it may not be realistic at all. Many Western movies came under scrutiny for historical inaccuracies, exaggerated portrayals, and embracing stereotypes, particularly when viewed with a modern lens.
Over the years, scholars and critics have pointed out inaccurate depictions of native cultures, or events that simply didn't fit with the time period. The Western genre continues to have mass appeal for its memorable characters, heroic representation of the American west and complex stories. That being said, when it comes to historical portrayal and depictions of events, several western movies fall into the White Savior complex and flawed narrative that doesn't depict the truth of certain periods.
10 The Searchers (1956)
The Searchers is one of the most praised movies by director John Ford when it comes to its landmark scenery and cinematic storytelling. Its portrayal of Native Americans continues to be the source of criticism, and film scholar Edward Buscombe has pointed out his criticism, saying the movie portrays stereotypes about Native American culture - and these stereotypes still have an impact on public perceptions of Native American communities in the modern day, after more than a half-century.
9 How the West Was Won (1962)
How the West Was Won is one of the well-known Westerns that talks about three generations of a pioneer family, and how their fortunes changed during the westward expansion of the United States in the 19th century. The movie faced some criticism for simplifying the western expansion. Patricia Nelson Limerick, a professor of history, criticizes the film for its oversimplified story, arguing that it ignores the complex socioeconomic factors that influenced the American West. This simplification, according to Limerick, undermines the inherent historical complexities of the period, resulting in a misconstrued narrative that perpetuates false beliefs about a core period of American history.
8 The Good the Bad and the Ugly (1967)
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is an iconic movie that depicts the three gunslingers racing to locate a buried Confederate gold treasure amid the American Civil War. This movie is regarded as one of the definitive movies in the Western genre but has faced criticism by Civil War expert Garry Adelman, who told the Insider that the movie did not use accurate weapons during the Battle of Glorieta in New Mexico. Adelman rated the movie a 2/10 for its historical accuracy and noted significant inaccuracies concerning military uniforms, equipment, and tactics.
7 Little Big Man (1970)
Arthur Penn's 1970 Western film Little Big Man has received a lot of praise for adding new unconventional storytelling to the genre. Critics have noted, however, that despite its attempts to humanize Native Americans, Little Big Man heavily relies on the Noble Savage stereotype. Historian Ernest Stromberg explained in his journal on Cinematic Representations of American Indians in the 90s that the depiction of Native Americans "repackages old stereotypes in new forms," despite its attempt to humanize them.
6 Dances with Wolves (1990)
Dances with Wolves is one of the most critically acclaimed western movies, with Kevin Costner rising to stardom and winning an Oscar for Best Picture. Historian Garry Adelman pointed out many inaccuracies in Dances with Wolves' depiction of the American Civil War, including the depiction of amputation and the use of weapons. According to Adelman, the film inaccurately depicts the use of analgesics and the precise medical procedures involved in Civil War amputations. Beyond its historical inaccuracies, Dances with Wolves is criticized for its treatment of Native Americans and portraying yet another "white savior" rescuing a marginalized group.
5 Unforgiven (1992)
Although Unforgiven is yet another critically acclaimed movie on the list, the movie has received some criticism from historians for reinforcing the glorification of violence and gun-slinging. Film scholar and author David Lusted argues that while Unforgiven tried to deconstruct the Westerns, the movie didn't escape them; the movie followed the same arc of serving justice to every killer in town by indulging in gruesome killings.
4 The Quick and the Dead (1995)
Sam Raimi's The Quick and the Dead is known for its ensemble cast and fantastic actions, making it one of the most famous western movies. However, it has been criticized by gun aficionados and specialists, like Phil Spangenberger, who writes for True West Magazine, who points out that the firearms used in the film are not era-appropriate. The portrayal of unrealistic gunfight techniques and dramatics undermines the movie's authenticity and contributes to a distorted understanding of the Old West.
3 The Alamo (2004)
John Lee Hancock's 2004 film The Alamo attempted to depict the iconic 1836 conflict but has been criticized for its historical inaccuracies. Military historian Alan C. Huffines, notes in his book Blood of Noble Men: The Alamo Siege and Battle, the movie misrepresented key aspects of the event, like the depictions of Davy Crockett and William Travis. These inaccuracies undermine the film's credibility, making it an unreliable of one of America's most significant historical events, according to Huffines.
2 The Lone Ranger (2013)
The Lone Ranger's 2013 reboot, starring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer, received mixed reviews, and was criticized the depiction of Native Americans. Scholar Angela Aleiss argued in her journal Making the White Man’s Indian: Native Americans and Hollywood Movies that the film perpetuates outdated stereotypes and simplifies complex cultural nuances in its depiction of the Comanche tribe in a comedic manner. Such portrayals not only blur historical facts but also contribute to harmful representations of Native American cultures in Westerns.
1 The Revenant (2015)
Critically acclaimed The Revenant might be known for its stunning cinematography and finally landing Leonardo Di Caprio the Oscar in 2015, but Alejandro González Iárritu's film has been criticized for its historical inaccuracies. Historian Alex von Tunzelmann notes that the movie's depiction of the voyage and interactions of fur trapper Hugh Glass with Native Americans is significantly different from the historical record. There were some fictional characters, like Glass's son Hawk, who exaggerated the bruteness of Arikara Warrious. Tunzelmann wrote that there were elements that did not follow historical accuracy, from character motivations to climactic events, to create a more engaging but less accurate narrative.
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