1. Read and retell the text: o ld Western Movie Stars

Westerns are the major defining genre of the American film industry, a nostalgic eulogy to the early days of the expansive, untamed American frontier (the borderline between civilization and the wilderness). It is one of the oldest, most enduring and flexible genres and one of the most characteristically American genres in their mythic origins. This indigenous American art form focuses on the frontier West that existed in North America. Westerns are often set on the American frontier during the last part of the 19th century (1865-1900) following the Civil War, in a geographically western (trans-Mississippi) setting with romantic, sweeping frontier landscapes or rugged rural terrain.

The western film genre often portrays the conquest of the wilderness and the subordination of nature, in the name of civilization, or the confiscation of the territorial rights of the original inhabitants of the frontier. Specific settings include lonely isolated forts, ranch houses, the isolated homestead, the saloon, the jail, the livery stable, the small-town main street, or small frontier towns that are forming at the edges of civilization. They may even include Native American sites or villages. Other iconic elements in westerns include the hanging tree, stetsons and spurs, saddles, lassos and Colt 45's, bandannas and buckskins, canteens, stagecoaches, gamblers, long-horned cattle and cattle drives, prostitutes (or madams) with a heart of gold, and more. Very often, the cowboy has a favored horse, for example, Roy Rogers' Trigger, Gene Autry's Champion, William Boyd's Topper, the Lone Ranger's Silver and Tonto's Scout.

Western films have also been called the horse opera, the oater (quickly-made, short western films which became as commonplace as oats for horses), or the cowboy picture. The western film genre has portrayed much about America's past, glorifying the past-fading values and aspirations of the mythical by-gone age of the West. Over time, westerns have been re-defined, re-invented and expanded, dismissed, re-discovered, and spoofed. In the late 60s and early 70s (and in subsequent years), 'revisionistic' Westerns that questioned the themes and elements of traditional/classic westerns appeared (such as Sam Peckinpah's The Wild Bunch (1969), Arthur Penn's Little Big Man (1970), Robert Altman's McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971), and later Clint Eastwood's Unforgiven (1992)).

Westerns Film Plots

Usually, the central plot of the western film is the classic, simple goal of maintaining law and order on the frontier in a fast-paced action story. It is normally rooted in archetypal conflict - good vs. bad, virtue vs. evil, white hat vs. black hat, man vs. man, new arrivals vs. Native Americans (inhumanely portrayed as savage Indians), settlers vs. Indians, humanity vs. nature, civilization vs. wilderness or lawlessness, villains vs. heroes, lawman or sheriff vs. gunslinger, the rugged individualist vs. the community, the cultivated East vs. West, and farmer vs. industrialist etc. Often the hero of a western meets his opposite "double," a mirror of his own evil side that he has to destroy.

Western heroes are often local lawmen or enforcement officers, ranchers, army officers, cowboys, territorial marshals, or a skilled, fast-draw gunfighter. They are normally masculine persons of integrity and principle - courageous, moral, tough, solid and self-sufficient, maverick characters (often with trusty sidekicks), possessing an independent and honorable attitude (but often characterized as slow-talking). The Western hero could usually stand alone and face danger on his own, against the forces of lawlessness (outlaws or other antagonists), with an expert display of his physical skills (roping, gun-play, horse-handling, pioneering abilities, etc.).

There are many old western movie stars worthy of remembrance. The popular western genre has been around since the days of silent film. In 1903 the first western movie, The Great Train Robbery, made its debut. It was a huge hit that opened the doors to a genre that still remains popular to this day. It's mostly men that make up a list of old western movie stars. Though women certainly acted in western movies, there were few who actually specialized in the genre. It was the hard riding and gun shooting men that really attracted audience attention.

Broncho Billy (1880 – 1971)

Broncho Billy, whose real name Gilbert Maxwell Aronson, was known as the first western movie star. He was also in the first western movie ever made and became very well known. From 1908 to 1915, he starred in many short films that were shown across the country. He made an appearance in his last film, The Bounty Killer, in 1965, at the age of 85.

Gary Cooper (1901 – 1961)

Gary Cooper started his career in films as a stunt rider. He starred in his first western movie in 1926 and was considered an absolute hit. Though he starred in a wide variety of movies, Cooper continued to be a pillar in the western movie genre, right up to his last film in 1961.

Gene Autry (1907 – 1998)

Gene Autry, known as a singing cowboy, helped define a softer side in western movies. He was clean cut fellow with a true gift for singing and playing the guitar. He started in 93 films from 1934 to 1953 and helped popularize the musical western movie.

John Wayne (1907 – 1979)

John Wayne, affectionately known as "the Duke," is considered the quintessential western movie star. He helped define the western movie genre, though he starred in more movies than just westerns. From his first movie in 1920 to his last movie in 1976, he appeared in over 175 films. 

nostalgic eulogy – ностальгічна данина пошани

rugged terrain – пересічна місцевість

ranch house – ранчо

hanging tree – страта через повішання

buckskins – штани зі шкіри оленя

stagecoach – диліжанс, поштова карета

a person of integrity – чесна, справедлива людина

a maverick character – незалежна особистість

be self-sufficient – бути самовпевненим

sidekick – відданий друг

outlaw – злочинець