Westerns making a come back?

[AussieBilly]

It probably don't mean a thing (unless it's got that swing) but I just discovered a possible ray of sunshine for the great western story ... Russel Crowe and Christian Bale have a movie coming to a theater near you in a couple of weeks. It is a remake of the 1957 film 3:10 to Yuma.

The original is a classic and comes from a short story by Elmore Leonard ... I googled the remake and found there have been changes, of course, but also ran across on critic who said "I think '3:10 to Yuma' stands a good chance to make the Oscars' short list in a couple categories, particularly for writing and directing."

Could this maybe light some fires and be the beginning of a return of the genre to the popular market?

[Festus]

Heh, I have always believed that there is a market for Westerns! I also believe that it will come out of the slump it's been in with more readers wanting them.

Western/cowboy movies seem to retain a high popularity - and it can only help us western writers. :-)

[Vanatru]

It probably don't mean a thing (unless it's got that swing) but I just discovered a possible ray of sunshine for the great western story ... Russel Crowe and Christian Bale have a movie coming to a theater near you in a couple of weeks. It is a remake of the 1957 film 3:10 to Yuma.


Well that is "most awesome". Hadn't seen that yet. ;)

I'll be curious to see how Crowe's version stands up to Ford's version. I'm expecting some artistic license and stuff for modern audiences, but I expect it'll be cool in the long run.

Hopefully this'll be another shot in the arm for the genre, like Crowe's version of Master/Commander.

[stc]

Yeah, it's looking good. A few more to be released this year or next:

--The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford ...with Brad Pitt and others
--Appaloosa (Robt. B. Parker novel) ...Ed Harris, Renée Zellweger
--The Prodigal Guns (Independent production)
--River of Gold (Mexican production)
--Shiloh Falls
--Shroud

[ILove2Write]

It's good to see that more Westerns are coming out. I hope that it will revive the genre some.

[cubal]

Heh, I have always believed that there is a market for Westerns! I also believe that it will come out of the slump it's been in with more readers wanting them.

Western/cowboy movies seem to retain a high popularity - and it can only help us western writers. :-)

just need to keep writin' good stories, Festus. The Dean (Louis L'Amour), said telling a good story was the essence of good writing.

I think, like yourself, there's a market there.

[JeanneTGC]

I agree with cubal. Also, it's perseverance. I just got told that historicals set in the Old West aren't "in" right now. That's fine. I'll keep on writing and then, when they ARE "in" again (I'm feeling like, oh, after this summer, with 3:10 and Assassination both getting rave reviews AND 3:10 getting audience attendance), then I have my book/s ready.

[Unique]

::::peeks in::::

Hi. My name's Unique and I'm a big fan of Westerns. Louis L'Amour - my hero.
He wrote great stories that uplift the heart.

Someone (http://www.doncoldsmith.net/) whose books I came across recently - I am enthralled! Westerns from the Other Point of View. Yum Yum. I can't get enough!

Will some of you please write in this subgenre? I'd do it myself (and I probably will) but that wouldn't give me anything new to read.

Hurry up!

(I'm not too coherent early in the morning - if I didn't make sense - ignore me)

[cubal]

::::peeks in::::

Hi. My name's Unique and I'm a big fan of Westerns. Louis L'Amour - my hero.
He wrote great stories that uplift the heart.

Someone (http://www.doncoldsmith.net/) whose books I came across recently - I am enthralled! Westerns from the Other Point of View. Yum Yum. I can't get enough!

Will some of you please write in this subgenre? I'd do it myself (and I probably will) but that wouldn't give me anything new to read.

Hurry up!

(I'm not too coherent early in the morning - if I didn't make sense - ignore me)

THANKS for the link! He looks to be an interesting writer.

[Write_At_1st_Light]

Just finished a full-feature Western screenplay.

The best critics - the intended audience - the NON-writing audience who just love a good story? They all like it a lot. All. They want to see this movie.

But haven't gotten any interest from Hollywood yet. I'll keep pushing it. The faro card game layout on my kitchen counter is a deliberate daily reminder to myself - to not give up on getting this thing made.

[Cav Guy]

Hollywood (and publishing in general) isn't always in tune with what people want to see (or read). Understandable in a way...they want to make money, and the best way to do that is to find a decent-paying horse and ride it into the ground (that's why you see so many bad comedies...they're cheap to make and if you have one "star" enough people will pay to see 'em that you make money). Hard on the rest of us, though.

[Unique]

If they asked real people what we want to see in a film they might get a clue.
As long as they only ask each other - all they're gonna get is smoke up their butts.

like you said - that's typical.