Spaghetti Westerns: Cowboys and Europeans from Karl May to Sergio Leone

Cinema and Society

by Christopher Frayling

Spaghetti Westerns is the major critical exploration of the European Western. Christopher Frayling approaches the Westerns produced at Cinecitta Studios in Rome from a variety of perspectives, placing them in the Italian, social, political, industrial and cinematic contexts from which they evolved. Over 400 Spaghetti Westerns were produced during their 1960s peak period. He deals with the most interesting examples, giving special attention to the films of Sergio Leone and Clint Eastwood.

Genres: Film, Nonfiction, Media Tie In, Westerns

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1981

Reviews

[Friedrich Mencken · Rating 1 out of 5]

A review is not necessary, a sentence and a half from the authors 1998 preface says it all:

“Spaghetti western is very much of its time where method and argument are concerned. A time when the “holy trinity” of Linguistics, Marxism and Psychoanalysis tended to dominate film studies, and when many of us hoped these theoretical perspectives would answer all the BIG QUESTIONS about cinema”

So if you want a Frankfurt school inspired analysis of Italian (actually European) westerns this book is for you.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many reviews I've seen have called this book "Spaghetti Western 101". I can't disagree with that at all. This is a amazing analysis of the genre. Its central focus is the films of Sergio Leone.From the Dollars Trilogy to Once Upon A Time In The West. Alot of the other films that are covered are not as well known but sound interesting. Hopefully I will come across some of those hard to find titles one day. This is a great book and worth picking up if your a fan of the genre.