MoMA Explores 65 Years of Universal's Westerns

The Museum of Modern Art is hosting a comprehensive retrospective titled "Universal Westerns," examining how the studio utilized the western genre to reflect evolving American morals over 65 years. The series features 28 films, charting the genre's transformation.

Universal Pictures has been integral to the western since its inception, with its first permanent set at Universal City in 1915 being a western street. Early films, such as John Ford's 1917 "Straight Shooting," already featured nuanced protagonists, like Harry Carey's hired gun who grappled with morally dubious jobs.

Subsequent films, like Ford's "Hell Bent" (1918), explicitly explored character complexity. Later, post-merger westerns in the 1950s, notably those by Anthony Mann starring James Stewart, delved into psychological terrain. The genre continued to adapt, influenced by international directors and changing societal attitudes.

The retrospective includes films that questioned traditional tropes and American exceptionalism, such as "Ulzana's Raid" and "The Beguiled." It also highlights efforts to address representation issues with sympathetic portrayals of Native Americans and other marginalized groups. The series concludes with Fred Schepisi's 1982 film "Barbarosa," illustrating the western's persistent ability to adapt and endure, shifting forms while retaining its core essence.