I have a good idea of what my films synopsis will be, based on my pitch and a weekend of endlessly watching cowboy films.
Spaghetti Western is a short western with a theme of revenge. A villainous Mexican, who lives outside the law, is unwillingly set free from a Mexican fort prison. The threat of a return to life behind bars seemingly has no effect upon him, as he immediately seeks revenge upon the man who put him there - a lonely, quiet cowboy, who still mourns the loss of Maria, his old love whom the Mexican murdered. The two exchange a few words before menacingly circling each other and preparing to fight. After a few tense minutes, the pair fire, and it is not clear who has shot who until the Mexican drops to his knees, before slumping, lifelessly to the floor. The mournful cowboy takes a cigar from the Mexicans mouth before walking off slowly into the orange, setting sun.
I feel as though I can insinuate a past between the two characters, through the cross of 'Maria' and carefully chosen dialogue, which will help build tension/emotion through the theme of revenge - the audience have to actually care about the outcome of the duel.
I think one characters motif being revenge is very important, as it makes the viewer have immediate emotional attachment to the characters. Revenge has always been the motif for the previous films - and they showed that it worked.
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| 'The Colonel' returns to take his revenge against 'El Indio' for the rape and murder of his sister. |
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| Bronson returns for revenge against Frank for the brutal murder of his brother in 'Once Upon a Time in the West'. |
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| Eastwood returns for his revenge... |
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| ...to fight the notorious 'Rojo Brothers' - the men who tried to kill him. |
The seeking of revenge for the protagonist is a winning format for Spaghetti Westerns - a format I think it will be important to follow.
There are other themes/ideas I think I'll pinch from Leone. Like people always say, 'good artists borrow, great artists steal'. In 'For a Few Dollars More', there is a comic scene with a comic character - and the comedy comes from his cowardice.
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| The coward in For a Few Dollars More |
I think I might include one or two characters inspired by this one - perhaps the jailer? Coming to think about it, it will provide other benefits too - if the characters are cowardly towards the Mexican, it will make him seem scarier, hence making the cowboy seem braver for standing up to him.
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