MovieChat Forums > Hang 'Em High (1968) Discussion > Spaghetti Western?

Spaghetti Western?

posted 19 years ago by citizenchris
13 replies | jump to latest

Correct me if im wrong but the phrase Spaghetti Western was a sort of derogatory catch all conceived by American film critics in response to Sergio Leone’s “Man with no name films” and there for would apply to any and every western shot by an Italian director w/an international cast primarily in Italy. I’m only stating this because so many fans seem to be confused as to what constitutes a true “Spaghetti Western”. Personally I don’t like the genre name…its silly and doesn’t adequately describe the usually excellent films it encompasses. That being said American westerns shot primarily in America w/predominantly American casts and American filmmakers aren’t “Spaghetti Westerns”. Though they might be emulating the appearance of such.

[–] 19 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Khaki 19 years ago

You are spot on. This is not a Spaghetti Western

The man who would be king!

[–] zillion29 18 years ago

This film is definitely not a spaghetti western.

I don't really have a problem with the term, though. When you really break it down, only a small handful of the hundreds of Euro-Westerns of the 60s and 70s attained any level of "art". Much like kung fu movies a decade later, they were cranked out at a stunning pace and 90% of them are silly and stink beyond all recognition. For ever Django, there were 30 stinkers.

[–] JeffroDNice 18 years ago

This is just a Western. I agree the term "Spaghetti Western" is negative and I guess the feelings behind that is "why are Italians making movies about life in the American west? What can they possibly know about the frontier experience which is such a big part of our heritage?" It's the same feelings people might have if Boyz in the Hood was not directed by a black man, or Schindler's List not by a Jew. That being said, I think Sergio Leone was masterful and Once Upon a Time in the West is one of the best movies I have ever seen. Is it an authentic Western? I don't know: I grew up in New England.

[–] Pharaoh-in-de-Nile 9 years ago

What can they possibly know about the frontier experience which is such a big part of our heritage?" It's the same feelings people might have if Boyz in the Hood was not directed by a black man, or Schindler's List not by a Jew.

Not to mention when US film-makers make films based on Italian history such as Roman Empire set films, or English history when they make films about the Middle Ages such as Robin Hood films or The Vikings (mostly set in Northumberland). To complain about non-Americans making films about American history is silly and hypocritical.

Hotdog Peplum. Potato Chip Chivalry. Sloppy Joe Swashbuckler.

[–] YouKnowMyName68 18 years ago

Citizenchris, I never liked the term either and never used it. And it is silly. There are a lot of great American western movies. Every one borrows from each other, whether they admit this or not. There was a poster who challenged me about the usage of terms like that. Of course, I can't demand anyone to stop doing something that may be deemed unbecoming, but, we're talking about these forums where it seems to be a great mystery to me what would actually fall into the category of violating decorum, such as it is here, when something inappropriate is expressed. I would love to see that.

[–] roundface 17 years ago

it isn't right to call films like this spaghetti western because this is american. but spaghetti westerns inspired american westerns(music, cinematography) and all those late 60s, 70s westerns liike this are considered spaghetti

[–] joekiddlouischama 10 years ago

all those late 60s, 70s westerns liike this are considered spaghetti

... no, they're not. The term "Spaghetti Western" was a derisive (if now somewhat cherished) euphemism for Italian-produced Westerns shot in Europe (usually Spain). Hang 'Em High, conversely, was produced by United Artists, shot in Hollywood and New Mexico, and featured an entirely American cast and crew. The primary reason why some referred to this movie as a "Spaghetti Western" was because it starred Clint Eastwood, whose previous starring roles had come in three Italian-produced Westerns shot in Europe (primarily Spain).

[–] Spellsword 17 years ago

This is an American Western film. There not all Spaghetti Western films.

[–] SoapWatch 12 years ago

A lot of what gets termed a spaghetti western is the fact that being a western filmed in Italy all of the co-star actors are Italian speaking in Italian with their voices dubbed by English actors so their mouths aren't moving right.

Sergio Leon was supposed to direct this and had he done so, it would probably be a spaghetti western because he would have added his own Italian elements to it but that didn't happen.

IDK why but I soooo want to direct a spaghetti western. But only if Ennio Morricone does the soundtrack. Otherwise, to me, it's a bust. lol

[–] joekiddlouischama 10 years ago

Sergio Leon was supposed to direct this and had he done so, it would probably be a spaghetti western because he would have added his own Italian elements to it but that didn't happen.

A) I don't know that Leone was ever supposed to direct Hang 'Em High. I have read one report (in Daniel O'Brien's otherwise worthless biography, Clint Eastwood: Film-maker) that Eastwood asked Leone if he wanted to direct the movie. However, I have not seen that report confirmed by anyone else (although there may be confirming sources out there), and in any case, Leone was going to make his own Western, Once Upon a Time in the West, which Eastwood had turned down earlier in 1967.

B) If Leone had directed the film, it still technically would not have been a "Spaghetti Western" because the movie still probably would have been shot in America with an American cast (not just American stars, but an entire American cast) and American producers and writers, and certainly United Artists would have still produced it. But naturally, the Italian influence would have been greater.

[–] dnlmngll 10 years ago

This is not a spaghetti western but i would say its one of the many rip-offs of Leone's style in the dollar trilogy. Same use of music, same leading actor, same kind of shots, same things going on.

[–] joekiddlouischama 10 years ago

This is not a spaghetti western but i would say its one of the many rip-offs of Leone's style in the dollar trilogy. Same use of music, same leading actor, same kind of shots, same things going on.

The similarities between Hang 'Em High and the Leone films are frankly superficial. Indeed, the film does not even feature the same aspect ratio as the Leone movies, and its thematic focus on the legal, moral, and social quandaries of justice in a frontier society possesses little in common with Leone's nihilism and amoral, anarchic vision. Even Dominic Frontiere's music, while sometimes reflecting the growing influence of Ennio Morricone, is not that similar. Yes, the occasional stylistic flourish and dramatic closeup is reminiscent of Leone and reflects the rapidly rising influence of those films, and, yes, there is greater grisliness to the violence than was typically found in American Westerns up until that point, but overall, the movie certainly is not an imitation of a ripoff.