Times change! What was acceptable back in the early days of film (actually until about the 1960s) is no longer politically correct. The "injuns" of old were replaced by "the native Americans" of today. In the older western movies, "injuns" were depicted as evil savages that killed and maimed for pleasure. They were "heathens," and the cowboy heroes made our grandparents cheer when the "injuns" were defeated.
Westerns (sometimes called "horse operas") were standard fare of the movie industry back in the 1920s through the 1950s (and even into the '60s). A western was almost a guaranteed money maker. The heroes always wore white hats, and the bad guys always wore black hats, and the good guys ALWAYS won. Good triumphed over evil — every time! Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, Randolph Scott…
The Statler Brothers put our feelings into words back in 1973 with their song "Whatever Happened to Randolph Scott." The last verse of that song says it all:
"Whatever happened to Johnny Mack Brown And Alan Rocky Lane Whatever happened to Lash LaRue I'd love to see them again Whatever happened to Smiley Burnette Tim Holt and Gene Autry Whatever happened to all of these Has happened to the best of me Whatever happened to Randolph Scott Has happened to the industry"
When television was in its infancy, it carried on the wonderful tradition of westerns — where the good guys prevailed and "honor" was important. There have been several attempts to revive the western, but so far they've failed. The problem is, these guys that are trying to make "modern" westerns forget that "honor" matters, and the men are men and women are women, and both are strong and decent.
They'll never make another western based on the acceptable morals and the political correctness of today; that's like trying to put lipstick on a pig. Watch the reruns.
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