When I think of a Western Film, what comes to mind is black and white, guns, saloons, whiskey, shoot outs, and those sort of things. The film Stage Coach has all of the qualities and more. One thing Stage Coach did was kick off John Waynes acting career. From the time this film came out in 1939 until now many things have and haven’t changed about Westerns.
The film Open Range staring Kevin Costner, came out in 2003 and is more of a modern Western. Like Stage Coach it has the same type of western setting in the open country. This film is in color, which takes away a bit from the classic Western feel. The props, costumes, and settings all are similar. However, the camera angles in open range are a little more modern. There are more close ups, smoother pans, and zooms. A crane is used for several shots and every so often there would be a pull focus between characters. In Open Range, there is a lot more dialogue. The language they use isn’t quite the same as in Stage Coach. They seem to talk a little more modern and not so much with Western accents. The music played in the background is definitely different. For emphasis on sad parts, the music does its part. Stage Coach and Open Range definitely have much in common. But they are still very different. It's obvious that movie making technology has grown over sixty-four years.
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