From the 1930s to the 1960s Westerns were one of the most popular genres in cinema, particularly in the United States, making actors like John Wayne a household name and launching the career of Clint Eastwood.Many of the movies were set in the Western United States between 1860 to 1890 with many incorporating the American Civil War. But the major characteristic of the western is conflict usually between natives and settlers and later on between ranchers, settlers, natives and gunslingers that were all fighting for and against the development of the modern state of America.The Western often depicted a life of difficulty, a fight for survival or a fight for freedom with the central character usually being a wanderer who became a major force throughout the movie.To incorporate this idea of change of times, fighting for freedom the period in which these movies were set expanded to incorporate The Alamo in 1936 and the 1920s Mexican Revolution.Leading the way in this genre were director like Howard Hawks who directed Big Country and El Dorado, John Sturges who directed Magnificent Seven and Sergio Leone who directed Once Upon A Time in The West. As well actors John Wayne, Charles Bronson who made their mark on the genre.

However from the 1970s westerns went into a rapid decline with fewer being made. But they did enjoy a small revival in Italy with the Spaghetti Westerns.

This revival was led by Sergio Leone’s Once Upon A Time the West as well as The Good the Bad and the Ugly, A Fist Full of Dollars and A Few Dollars More starring Clint Eastwood. These films were low budget and more violent that their Hollywood counterparts.

It wasn’t until 1992 that the Western once again took centre stage on the big screen with Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven.

The film, which was met well critically, was a film that looked at the uglier aspects of violence on the Old West. It boasted a star studded cast of Clint Eastwood, Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman and Richard Harris and it went on to win Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor for Hackman, Best director for Eastwood and Best Picture.

In recent years more contemporary Westerns have been produced by Hollywood studios, while still keeping the old and traditional themes, they have been set in the present day. Most notably was Tommy Lee Jones’ directorial debut The Three Burials of Melquades Estrada, which won best actor and best screenplay at 2005 Cannes Film Festival, and Ang Lee’s Oscar nominated Brokeback Mountain.

This year the Western has been enjoying resurgence as the Spaghetti Westerns were shown at the Venice Film Festival as well as two cinematic releases for this genre.

Seraphim Falls was a summer release starring Liam Neeson and Pierce Brosnan, despite not being a big hit at the box office it did well with the critics.

3:10 to Yuma, the most recent release, has enjoyed both critical and commercial success topping the U.S box office.

Unlike more recent western 3:10 to Yuma has reverted back to tradition and is set in 19th Century America just after the civil war.

The movie, which was directed by James Mangold, attracted attention due to the fact that it had enlisted the help of current cinema’s biggest names in the form of Russell Crowe and Christian Bale.

3:10 to Yuma is already being labelled as a front runner for a possible Academy Award for Best Picture.

This genre also has a further release this year with The Assassination of Jesse James starring Brad Pitt, who won the Best Actor prize at this years Venice Film Festival for the role.

So, like the musical, Westerns are enjoying some success at the box office whether in the more modern formats like Brokeback Mountain or a more traditional depiction like 3:10 to Yuma Hollywood studios are beginning to see that there is still an audience out there for this genre of movie.

And who knows in a few months time The Assassination of Jesse James or 3:10 to Yuma may just sneak the Oscar for Best Picture.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw