An Ode to Westerns

Tom Mix in Mr. Logan, U.S.A., 1919

While I fancy myself a lover of cinema, or a cinephile if you will, I never got into watching many westerns. A fact confuses me since my dad actually really enjoys them.

Anyway, now that I have moved to Texas, and am around people who really love everything southern and southwestern, I have been exposed to more and more westerns.

It used to be that when I thought about westerns I immediately thought of John Wayne, or Clint Eastwood. These days I also think Slim Pickens, Audie Murphy and Dean Martin. Wait, the crooner? Yep, one in the same. Turns out he can shoot you in the leg and then sing a catchy tune about it.

Maybe it's genetic, or circumstantial, or because I'm older, but I actually really enjoy westerns, too. There's just something fun about watching the dashing cowboy save the day, and enjoying the nostalgia of a bygone time. And, let's be frank, sometimes we all just need a good, old-fashioned shoot 'em up.

As long as the dashing cowboy saves the day in the end, anyway.

— E