When we began this series, the focus was on the modern Western. But like boot hill there is an origin and an end to all things. The Western has evolved but it has maintained its connection to the past of America and modern events. Murder, robbery and revenge are some good stories in any age. The bad girl will fall in love with the good cowboy. Racial prejudice will prevail in past and modern times, if the town's people allow it to exist. If you as the screenwriter have decided to embark upon the Western, then I would suggest viewing GunSmoke as the best teacher available.
With cliche lines such as " face me as a man," Gun Smoke contains more drama then "The West Wing." The modern Western is similar to a Miami Cuban coffee shop; it's too sweet and filled with testosterone, set to a fever pitch. Your main protagonist, will fight over a woman and his 401 K plan won't convince her to stay. So study hard, cinch up your boots and get ready for one last ride on the prairie. In " Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" Robert Redford portrayed the epic nature of seventy's coolness. He was a killer but did not define himself as a murderer. Somehow he was beyond that. Etched on the page by William Goldman, his characters reflected the dichotomy of the town. Butch and Sundance were worshiped as heroes even if they were the bad guys.
The back story underlies the plot, the town had fed and prospered off the hole and wall gang. But with time and a new money source, the railroad, the town chose continued prosperity. Thus, Butch and Sundance faced extinction.
Now just as in GunSmoke a moral dilemma is presented to the audience. Paul Newman's character is handsome, intelligent and likeable. But he was still the bad guy. Yet, Goldman steers the audience using the allegory that modern society is the bad guy. That trains, guns, and inventions will supercede mankind's kind limited compassion. Goldman uses pursuers who constantly ride at a distance. This allows the audience to view the pursers as non human. Butch and Sundance on the other hand have a personal life, friends and associates. Goldman takes the time to explore this back story. From the hole in the wall gang, to Batches wife, the protagonists' human drama remains on screen. This conflict is revealed to the audience to delve in and turn their moral compasses toward Butch and Sundance. It works well and is an invention the screenwriter can use in any genre.
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