A Look at Westerns Outside of the US

Abstract

Many film historians believe the advent of Western films in countries other than the United States were inspired by the Western films of Hollywood. This essay argues that european ideas of imperialism and colonialism had the biggest impact on the spread of this genre. I will study Westerns from countries that were at one time colonies of european nations and analyze the themes and aesthetics while looking for influences. Films such as the Australian made The Overlanders or the African Western Hyenas will be studied.

Peter Limbrick does an excellent inspection into the idea of an Australian Western and its imperialistic inspiration however he focuses on the American influence. I contend that it is european ideas that inspire these Westerns. Even the original Hollywood Westerns and their knightly mythology will be shown to have large european mythology. Understanding the inspiration for this genre will better explain why it spread to where it did.