Western genre subverts stereotypical tropes by presenting female characters as powerful individuals with complex motivations and agency, defying the traditional notion of women being submissive figures.
The Western genre is often defined by the tough men who play the protagonists, but many underappreciated female characters get to play the hero, too.
It's almost always the genre-bending Western movies that subvert the problematic tropes that Westerns can employ. When women are central characters and protagonists of Western films, it's a welcome addition to the canon because they are often complex and well-developed individuals with layered morals. The West is often cruel and unforgiving to everyone in it, but throughout these films, women transcend their roles to become more than a match for the West.
Annie Get Your Gun is not only one of the best musical Westerns but also a standout for how it bases its strong female protagonist on the real Annie Oakley. The movie does take liberties with the facts and sews in plenty of song and dance numbers, but that only elevates Oakley to the legendary status she deserves. As a musical, the film has a sunnier disposition than other Westerns, but even though Annie (Betty Hutton) falls in love, she still gets to keep performing and maintain her life as a sharpshooter.
Calamity Jane might have been a musical, but the real Jane was anything but frivolous and not someone to be messed with. Played by a hilarious Doris Day, the movie satirizes the stories about Jane and Wild Bill Hickok (Howard Keel). Jane defied traditional gender roles, and the movie explores the complexities of female identity. While Calamity Jane doesn't erase gender stereotypes, it makes witty comments about their persistence. Ultimately, the bond between Jane and her friend Katie (Allyn Ann McLerie) is central to the film.
Ellen "The Lady" in the Coen Brothers' True Grit remake captivated audiences with her breakout performance as Mattie. Despite her young age when she took on the role, her actions propelled the plot forward, showcasing the resilience and determination of a young woman who fiercely upheld her beliefs and values in the face of adversity.
The star-studded cast of The Quick and the Dead boasts a diverse group of characters led by the formidable Sharon Stone as Ellen "The Lady." A fierce outlaw with a burning desire for revenge, she joins the town's gun fighting competition despite facing challenges due to her father's tragic demise at the hands of John Herod, a notorious outlaw. Her quest for vengeance intertwines with her determination to find a better life for herself amidst the hardships and injustices she witnesses. Stone's exceptional performance shines as The Lady, showcasing her raw power and vulnerability.
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Despite the title, Johnny Guitar is a serious movie about the treatment of women in the Old West. The film explores how women who owned their businesses and played by their own rules were treated and how they were ostracized by the townsfolk. While the title suggests a focus on toe-tapping, the film ultimately reveals a more complex and nuanced portrayal of women's lives in the Old West.
Giant (1956) is an epic exploration of the legacy of ranching in the United States and how people accepted and resisted the end of the frontier in the twentieth century, particularly focusing on the prejudice faced by Mexican Americans who lived and worked in Texas.
Elizabeth Taylor's 10 Best Movies, Ranked
Elizabeth Taylor is one of the best-known actresses of Hollywood’s Golden Age, with an impressive resume of iconic roles. However, she soon finds things she cares about, and she settles into the role of powerful matriarch. Notably, she chafes under the confines of how society expects her to act as Bick’s wife and refuses to let him dictate what she believes in. Bick spends the film concerned with his familial legacy and who will inherit his ranch, but it’s Leslie who shapes their children with a true legacy to be proud of.
The dark comedy Cat Ballou takes many of the best elements of Westerns and incorporates them into a thrilling origin story for the titular Cat (Jane Fonda). Starting as a mild-mannered school teacher, Cat becomes enraged after her father is killed for his land, and when the man she hires, Kid Shelleen (Lee Marvin), proves to be a fraud, she takes matters into her own hands. Utilizing different cinematic techniques makes Cat's rise to prominence into a legendary fable that inspires those around her to join her cause and pledge their loyalty to the great Cat Ballou.
Jimmy Stewart makes an unlikely and not very believable sharpshooter in Destry Rides Again, but the incomparable Marlene Dietrich breathes life into the film as Frenchy. Despite being the clean-cut lawman, Frenchy's actions lead to the town being rid of violence, ultimately saving Destry from harm. Her story is one of redemption and honor, showcasing her unwavering commitment to protecting those she cares about and proving that her worth extends beyond her romantic image.
The Ballad of Little Jo is not just one of the most iconic female heroes in a Western but was also written and directed by a woman, Maggie Greenwald. This element of female storytelling and creative vision shines through both the film's production and its portrayal, with Suzy Amis embodying a character who defies traditional gender roles.