Johnny Guitar - Miller

Johnny Guitar and Two Mules For Sister Sara are two western films that significantly influenced the changes in the role of the female in western films. Both of these movies had women with significant roles, which was pretty much unheard of before these two films. These films were a product of Second Wave Feminism. Second Wave Feminism was movement in the 1960s that sought to correct the personal, economic, and political oppression in a male dominant society. Second Wave Feminism allowed women to be viewed as equals, just as Vienna in Johnny Guitar was and just as Sara in Two Mules for Sister Sara was. In Johnny Guitar, it was Vienna that broke the mold of the typical role of women in western films. In this film, Vienna is the alpha male cowboy. Vienna embodies everything that the alpha male cowboy is suppose to; dominant, self sufficient (as she runs her own business), and, in the final scene of the movie, partakes in a shoot out between two women. Vienna’s role as the alpha “male” cowboy is one that helped change the dynamics of the role of the women in western films. In Two Mules for Sister Sara, it was Sara that played the strong female role. Sara played a role as the co-alpha male cowboy, to Hogan. The first time that Sara’s alpha male cowboy traits appear is when Hogan and her are heading towards camp. On their way there, Sara drinks whiskey straight and is smokes his cigar with him. This moment was pretty minor in terms of defining her as an alpha male cowboy, but it definitely helped to show that she is an equal. The moment that truly defined her as an alpha male cowboy, was her saving Hogan’s life. This is so important, because, not only does it portray women as equals, but more importantly, shows that they are absolutely necessary in western films and everyday life. These two films were two of the first films that showed the changes that needed to happen, and that did happen.