Assignment 1: UNFORGIVEN

TCF 440/540 Seminar in American Cinema

Spring 2001

Assignment One

Due in class, 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, 14 February. Undergraduates' papers should be at least four pages (1200 words) and are worth 16 points. Grad students' papers should be at least five pages (1500 words) and are worth 15 points. All papers must be word-processed.

You are not expected to do outside research for these papers, but if you do then any references to sources other than yourself must be properly cited (this includes references to class readings and Websites). If you are unsure about correct citation style, come see me.

These papers will be graded on the basis of conceptual rigor and fluency of writing style (i.e., grammar, spelling, etc.). Late papers will be penalized one point per day.

Write on one of the following questions on the film and the readings. Videotape copies of Unforgiven and Rio Bravo are available in the Reading Room. Tumbleweeds may be found in the Gorgas Library video collection (3^rd floor music room).

Apply Will Wright's structural study to Rio Bravo, Tumbleweeds or Unforgiven (use only one film). Focus on the paradigmatic structures in the film you choose, but also refer to the film's syntagmatic structure.
Using Jim Kitses, Ed Buscombe and Richard Collins (discuss all three) explain why Unforgiven is or is not a "proper" Western. Discuss the differences in the three men's approaches to the genre.
Choose a recent film that most people do not think of as a Western, that you wouldn't find in the Western section of your local video store. Using Wright's argument, prove that it is a Western--or, at least, that it structurally resembles the genre paradigmatically or syntagmatically. You may write on any film that I have seen. Check with me before you choose a film. If you do not check with me first, your paper may be unacceptable.

Unforgiven (1992)

Cast (in credits order): Clint Eastwood (Bill Munny), Gene Hackman (Little Bill Daggett), Morgan Freeman (Ned Logan), Richard Harris (English Bob), Jaimz Woolvett (The "Schofield Kid"), Saul Rubinek (W.W. Beauchamp), Frances Fisher (Strawberry Alice), Anna Levine (I) (Delilah Fitzgerald (as Anna Thomson)), David Mucci (Quick Mike), Rob Campbell (Davey Bunting), Anthony James (I) (Skinny Dubois), Tara Dawn Frederick (Little Sue), Beverley Elliott (Silky), Liisa Repo-Martell (Faith), Josie Smith (Cross Creek Kate), Shane Meier (Will Munny), Aline Levasseur (Penny Munny), Cherrilene Cardinal (Sally Two Trees), Robert Koons (Crocker), Ron White (I) (Clyde Ledbetter), Mina E. Mina (Muddy Chandler), Henry Kope (German Joe Schultz), Jeremy Ratchford (Deputy Andy Russell), John Pyper-Ferguson (Charley Hecker), Jefferson Mappin (Fatty Rossiter), Walter Marsh (Barber), Garner Butler (Eggs Anderson), Larry Reese (Tom Luckinbill), Blair Haynes (Paddy McGee), Frank C. Turner (I) (Fuzzy), Sam Karas (Thirsty Thurston), Lochlyn Munro (Texas Slim), Ben Cardinal (Johnny Foley), Phil Hayes (Lippy MacGregor (as Philip Hayes)), Michael Charrois (Wiggens), William Davidson (II) (Buck Barthol), Paul McLean (II) (Train Person #1), James Herman (Train Person #2), Michael Maurer (I) (Train Person #3), Larry Joshua (Bucky), George Orrison (The Shadow), Greg Goossen (Fighter (as Gregory Goossen)).

Directed by Clint Eastwood; written by David Webb Peoples; produced by Clint Eastwood for Malpaso Productions/Warner Bros.; original music by Clint Eastwood (Claudia's theme), Lennie Niehaus; cinematography by Jack N. Green; film editing by Joel Cox; casting by Phyllis Huffman; production design by Henry Bumstead; art direction by Adrian Gorton, Rick Roberts (III); set decoration by Janice Blackie-Goodine.