Michael John, I really enjoyed your fine writeup of why you love WESTERNS. I so agree with your very true statement, "There isn’t a genre in all of American literature and entertainment that is more distinctly “American” than the Western." Yes, and that is why so many of "WE" love the Western in the many forms that it has taken down through our History. I think the Western is the story of WE as a people of the United States of America.
I'm thrilled that a young man as yourself loves Westerns and appreciates them for what they are, which is OUR story. Taking on a personal note here, my family have always loved Westerns, whether it be from the pens of Zane Grey, Louis L 'Amour, and others or through movies and television. My Grandfather Charlie liked the tv series CHEYENNE(1955-62) with Clint Walker. He said, "Cheyenne is a good cowboy." My Father commented on why we like Westerns, "We like them because they are about us. They live on ranches and have livestock." I like Westerns because they are made up of good stories and I think that you can fit just about any type of story into a Western setting. My favorite Western Movie is THE SEARCHERS(filmed 1955, released 1956). The first time I viewed the movie was on Memphis Tennessee's WREC-TV Channel 3 LATE MOVIE on July 2, 1971. I thought it was the best Western Movie I had ever seen, and I still think that way. I hope someday to see it on the big screen.
I've ran across your writeups before, and I like them. I've meant to comment, but life many times gets in the way. There are plenty of people in my neck of the woods that still love Westerns. I live in the overlapping country of the old middle border line between Arkansas and Missouri.
Keep on doing what you are doing and have a grand life.
Thank you for your comment, Walter! I appreciate your viewpoint on what makes the Western truly "American," and I think I agree with you. I know of "Cheyenne" and love "The Searchers" (it's an excellent film). Glad you have such fond memories growing up with the genre too. I remember watching "Rio Bravo" and "Young Guns II" with my dad, and I was blown away the first time I ever saw "Tombstone." Based on your comment above, I think you'd enjoy Kevin Costner's "Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1," which is in theaters now. It's the first of a multi-part film series that is meant to chronicle the settling of the American West. In many ways, it feels like the definitive take on the genre.
If you're interested in reading more of my opinions on Westerns, be sure to follow my work on Collider here (https://collider.com/author/michael-petty/). I write about specific movies and television shows there often. I also wrote a Western short story myself recently that just came out called "The Devil's Left Hand." I'd love to hear your thoughts on that project sometime. You can find it for purchase digitally (and eventually in print) here: https://www.amazon.com/Devils-Left-Hand-Michael-Petty-ebook/dp/B0D7WLQ8NY?ref_=ast_author_dp
Michael John, you are most welcome, you are a fine writer. I recommend viewing the Warner Bros. TV series CHEYENNE(1955-62) with Clint Walker, it's a good series and well worth a look-see.
My daughter and I journeyed to the Sun Valley Cinema in Mountain Home, Arkansas for the Sunday afternoon matinee showing of HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA-CHAPTER 1 during its first weekend in theaters. I actually liked a lot about Kevin Costner’s very ambitious love letter to the settling of the Western USA. I think this movie has a lot going for it and I recommend that if an individual likes Western Movies, then go see it on the big screen. Don’t pay any attention to most of the so-called mainstream establishment film critics and go see both CHAPTER 1 right now and CHAPTER 2 in August. I think it’s a very interesting saga. Regarding the 181-minute length of the movie, well for me it was over before I knew it. Also, I think the positives outweigh the negatives in the movie. Sure, there are some things that I think could have been done better, but I’m glad that I went to experience the introductory unfolding of Costner’s Western story. It's just the beginning and I can't wait to view CHAPTER 2 in August. I really don’t think that I can make a full evaluation of the movie until I take in all 4 chapters, and I don't see how the critics that are bashing it can either. So far, it looks like too me that the audience likes HORIZON more than the so-called bashing critics. Anyway, the movie has created a lot of print concerning itself and other Western Movies of the past and present, which I think is a good happening.
Michael John, I've ran across some of your writeups in the past, when MSN would reprint some of your COLLIDER articles. I've had a look-see at your very prolific output at COLLIDER and I'm currently beginning to read them. Well, I'm not a Luddite, but I still prefer to read stories and books in good old print and THE DEVIL'S LEFT HAND sounds promising too me. When will the story be in print?
I was also a big fan of the first Horizon. I'm very excited for Chapter 2 to come in about a month. I went with my Dad opening week, and he took my Mom just last night.
I also understand preferring print mediums to digital when reading, I am actually that same way. Hopefully, I will have a print version up and running by the time the second Horizon comes out. That's my goal anyway!
Michael John, looks like we won't view HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA-CHAPTER 2 in August, after all. I'm not really surprised, and I can see what New Line Cinema and Kevin Costner's Territory Pictures are attempting to do by pulling CHAPTER 2 from its August 16 premiere. They are probably hoping to gain a larger audience by sending CHAPTER 1 to streaming on July 16. This might be Costner's best shot at being able to finish the four-part serial. What do you think?
I saw that too. Very disappointing but not at all surprising. They’re obviously hoping that the Yellowstone and streaking audience will watch the movie on demand over the next few months. If/when that picks up steam, I’m sure they’ll find a new release date. It’s a shame really, but sadly people don’t go to the theaters the way they used to.
I really enjoyed this brother. I have never considered the genre of "western" until this article. The only western I ever watched was called "The man who shot liberty valence". After reading your article it makes me think it was an unconventional western. Regardless I loved the movie (and the song by James Taylor).
Michael John, I really enjoyed your fine writeup of why you love WESTERNS. I so agree with your very true statement, "There isn’t a genre in all of American literature and entertainment that is more distinctly “American” than the Western." Yes, and that is why so many of "WE" love the Western in the many forms that it has taken down through our History. I think the Western is the story of WE as a people of the United States of America.
I'm thrilled that a young man as yourself loves Westerns and appreciates them for what they are, which is OUR story. Taking on a personal note here, my family have always loved Westerns, whether it be from the pens of Zane Grey, Louis L 'Amour, and others or through movies and television. My Grandfather Charlie liked the tv series CHEYENNE(1955-62) with Clint Walker. He said, "Cheyenne is a good cowboy." My Father commented on why we like Westerns, "We like them because they are about us. They live on ranches and have livestock." I like Westerns because they are made up of good stories and I think that you can fit just about any type of story into a Western setting. My favorite Western Movie is THE SEARCHERS(filmed 1955, released 1956). The first time I viewed the movie was on Memphis Tennessee's WREC-TV Channel 3 LATE MOVIE on July 2, 1971. I thought it was the best Western Movie I had ever seen, and I still think that way. I hope someday to see it on the big screen.
I've ran across your writeups before, and I like them. I've meant to comment, but life many times gets in the way. There are plenty of people in my neck of the woods that still love Westerns. I live in the overlapping country of the old middle border line between Arkansas and Missouri.
Keep on doing what you are doing and have a grand life.
Walter S.
Thank you for your comment, Walter! I appreciate your viewpoint on what makes the Western truly "American," and I think I agree with you. I know of "Cheyenne" and love "The Searchers" (it's an excellent film). Glad you have such fond memories growing up with the genre too. I remember watching "Rio Bravo" and "Young Guns II" with my dad, and I was blown away the first time I ever saw "Tombstone." Based on your comment above, I think you'd enjoy Kevin Costner's "Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1," which is in theaters now. It's the first of a multi-part film series that is meant to chronicle the settling of the American West. In many ways, it feels like the definitive take on the genre.
If you're interested in reading more of my opinions on Westerns, be sure to follow my work on Collider here (https://collider.com/author/michael-petty/). I write about specific movies and television shows there often. I also wrote a Western short story myself recently that just came out called "The Devil's Left Hand." I'd love to hear your thoughts on that project sometime. You can find it for purchase digitally (and eventually in print) here: https://www.amazon.com/Devils-Left-Hand-Michael-Petty-ebook/dp/B0D7WLQ8NY?ref_=ast_author_dp
Michael John, you are most welcome, you are a fine writer. I recommend viewing the Warner Bros. TV series CHEYENNE(1955-62) with Clint Walker, it's a good series and well worth a look-see.
My daughter and I journeyed to the Sun Valley Cinema in Mountain Home, Arkansas for the Sunday afternoon matinee showing of HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA-CHAPTER 1 during its first weekend in theaters. I actually liked a lot about Kevin Costner’s very ambitious love letter to the settling of the Western USA. I think this movie has a lot going for it and I recommend that if an individual likes Western Movies, then go see it on the big screen. Don’t pay any attention to most of the so-called mainstream establishment film critics and go see both CHAPTER 1 right now and CHAPTER 2 in August. I think it’s a very interesting saga. Regarding the 181-minute length of the movie, well for me it was over before I knew it. Also, I think the positives outweigh the negatives in the movie. Sure, there are some things that I think could have been done better, but I’m glad that I went to experience the introductory unfolding of Costner’s Western story. It's just the beginning and I can't wait to view CHAPTER 2 in August. I really don’t think that I can make a full evaluation of the movie until I take in all 4 chapters, and I don't see how the critics that are bashing it can either. So far, it looks like too me that the audience likes HORIZON more than the so-called bashing critics. Anyway, the movie has created a lot of print concerning itself and other Western Movies of the past and present, which I think is a good happening.
Michael John, I've ran across some of your writeups in the past, when MSN would reprint some of your COLLIDER articles. I've had a look-see at your very prolific output at COLLIDER and I'm currently beginning to read them. Well, I'm not a Luddite, but I still prefer to read stories and books in good old print and THE DEVIL'S LEFT HAND sounds promising too me. When will the story be in print?
Walter S.
I was also a big fan of the first Horizon. I'm very excited for Chapter 2 to come in about a month. I went with my Dad opening week, and he took my Mom just last night.
I also understand preferring print mediums to digital when reading, I am actually that same way. Hopefully, I will have a print version up and running by the time the second Horizon comes out. That's my goal anyway!
Michael John, looks like we won't view HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA-CHAPTER 2 in August, after all. I'm not really surprised, and I can see what New Line Cinema and Kevin Costner's Territory Pictures are attempting to do by pulling CHAPTER 2 from its August 16 premiere. They are probably hoping to gain a larger audience by sending CHAPTER 1 to streaming on July 16. This might be Costner's best shot at being able to finish the four-part serial. What do you think?
Walter S.
I saw that too. Very disappointing but not at all surprising. They’re obviously hoping that the Yellowstone and streaking audience will watch the movie on demand over the next few months. If/when that picks up steam, I’m sure they’ll find a new release date. It’s a shame really, but sadly people don’t go to the theaters the way they used to.
I really enjoyed this brother. I have never considered the genre of "western" until this article. The only western I ever watched was called "The man who shot liberty valence". After reading your article it makes me think it was an unconventional western. Regardless I loved the movie (and the song by James Taylor).
Man, I loved that one! Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne are an unlikely pair, but it works so well in that film.