Netflix Film School: These Iconic Westerns Set The Stage For Modern Movies

EDITOR’s NOTE: You don’t have to peruse Netflix for too long to figure out it’s a treasure trove of low-budget B-movies, little-seen independent films and a whole spectrum of documentaries. But Netflix also has a good selection of classic films.

This month we’ll take a look at two iconic Westerns, “High Noon” and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.” We’ll look at why and how they stand as early examples of popular contemporary cinematic conventions.

Here’s something I’ll bet you didn’t know about me: I’ve always wanted to direct a movie Western. There’s just something compelling about the beauty, violence and iconography of the Old West. Men were men, women were women, and everybody was bigger than life. That’s a sandbox I want to play in.

At one time, Westerns were one of the most profitable and important Hollywood movie genres. They’ve slipped out of favor recently, although one or two will pop up every few years. Although people aren’t making many Westerns these days, it is impossible to deny the impact Hollywood’s classic Westerns have had on contemporary cinema.

If you want proof, take a look at “High Noon” and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”, two influential Westerns currently available to stream on Netflix.

”High Noon” relays the tale of Will Kane, a retired marshal planning to leave the town of Hadleyville, New Mexico, and start a new life with his new bride. Unfortunately, bandit Frank Miller (no, not the legendary comic book creator) is due to show up in town at noon, and nobody in town is willing to stand up to him. Except Will Kane.

Will is an early example of a reluctant hero. He doesn’t want to tangle with Miller. He wants to head for the hills with his wife, and considering his wife is the gorgeous Grace Kelly, who could blame him? But he chooses to face Miller because there’s not a single person in town not hysterical with fear. In fact, Will is the only person who CAN stand up to Miller.

The reluctant hero became a very big movie trope. Somehow, brave people appear all the more brave when heroes take on troubles they weren’t courting. From Neo in “The Matrix” to Frodo Baggins in “The Lord of the Rings” movies, reluctant heroes have graced the screen in many popular big screen outings. The reluctant hero trope has been so successful that Bruce Willis built a career out of playing them. His turn as John McClane in “Die Hard” in many ways still serves as the template for reluctant heroes. His ability to mix grit and vulnerability helped him become one of the biggest action movie stars ever.

If “High Noon” prefigures today’s reluctant movie heroes, then “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” is a fine early example of the buddy movie. Contemporary buddy movies typically feature two characters with little in common who get thrown together and have to find a way to work together. These movies feature a lot of verbal jousting between the two characters who grow to be friends in the end.

”Butch and Sundance” is a little different in that they knew each other when we first meet them — for a long time, it would seem. But we still get the witty dialogue exchanges between the two leads. And when things get dire, they put their differences aside and work together to excise themselves from sticky situations.

This kind of character relationship shows up repeatedly in modern buddy movies, one of the most recent being “Ride Along.” A lot of these movies involve cops. “Lethal Weapon.” “Rush Hour.” “Men in Black.” “Hot Fuzz.” The list goes on and on. And all of them were impacted by the chemistry between Butch and Sundance in “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.”

Movies are the way they are today because of movies like “High Noon” and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid”. Not only are both films influential, but they’re also both great watches. “High Noon” drips with tension and drama while “Butch and Sundance” is just plain fun. Both films are available on Netflix, so give ’em a watch.