Brokeback Mountain or Sodomy Gulch?

I suppose the first film to really poke fun at the genre of cowboy westerns was the 1974 release of Blazing Saddles.  I have it in my DVD collection.  It is a true masterpiece of comedy, with some of the best acting and writing talents in American comedy.  What a shame it is that the likes of Madeline Khan (Lily Von Stupp) and Cleavon Little (Black Bart) had to be taken from us at such tragically young ages.

Still, there is poking harmless fun at the whole concept of the cowboy epic, and then there is the bastardisation of the underlying legend of cowboy masculinity by portraying them as nothing more than Graham Norton fun-figures with stirrups.  The new release, Brokeback Mountain, has already been banned in the American states of Utah and West Virginia; and Heath Ledger, the Australian-born actor who lent his talents to this nature-contrary aberration, has laughed-off the bans because they have only succeeded in attracting extra publicity to the film.

On one level he is right. Banning most things tends to have the opposite effect.  If people want to go and watch such rubbish, then let them.  In contrast, who would want to see two young cowboys having it away among the cacti and barrels of steaming baked beans so typical of the average western backdrop?  On another level, why should the concept of explicit sex even have to enter the storyline of this or any other cowboy film?  If the storyline wants to portray two fairies with stetsons and lassoes, why the need to advertise 'getting their rocks off' in such an outward fashion?  Could it not be merely intimated?  Was the epic status of The Magnificent Seven adulterated because Rosenda Monteros wasn't filmed servicing Horst Bucholtz whilst he had his Wrangler's down around his ankles?  Was the impact of How the West Was Won somehow lessened because Karl Malden and Carroll Baker were not shown bonking away in the moonlight like two dogs on heat?

Brokeback Mountain is a another piece in the jigsaw of trying to make homosexual relations 'normal' in the minds of the broader public.  What shall the film bigwigs of Hollywood think of next?  A reincarnation of the Wizard of Oz, with Dorothy portrayed as a lesbian who has tie-on sex with the Wicked Witch just before she drenches her with a bucket of water?   How about Snow White and the Seven Dwarf Orgy; an everyday tale of seven vertically-challenged miners who like to come home, dress up as Pete Burns and have steamy sessions with Snow White?  This world is sick beyond belief!!

The point I am trying to make here is that cowboy films satisfy a particular idealistic legend: one of heroic, unquestionably masculine men who save the west from hoards of marauding Indians, Mexican bandits and the like.  Should that legend have ever been permitted to be corrupted by the PC-inclined idiots who think that sex between two men can be portrayed as acceptable no matter what the scenario?

Comments

[Hugh Green]

Should that legend have ever been permitted to be corrupted by the PC-inclined idiots who think that sex between two men can be portrayed as acceptable no matter what the scenario?

Well, as you rightly point out, it is a legend, so it's pretty hard to prevent it from being corrupted. Besides, I'm sure there have been plenty of cowboys out there who had sex with each other. Musta got real lonely out there.

'Mister, I am not from Havana!'

[smcgiff]

‘How about Snow White and the Seven Dwarf Orgy’

Oh, I’m fairly sure that’s been done.

‘who save the west from hoards of marauding Indians’

Oh, I think them dar Westerns were pretty much debunked some time ago and are more likely to be shown now as, ‘Marauding Westerners hoarding the Indian’s land’

‘who think that sex between two men can be portrayed as acceptable no matter what the scenario’

Oh, because it probably did go on. They didn’t call it the Wild West for nothing. And how do you think John Wayne got to walk like that!

Don’t get me wrong. I’d rather watch “The Orange Order’s best Marches ever” than watch a western, never mind one touching on the topic of homosexuals, but because it would bore me senseless rather than form moral outrage.

Although Fr Ted would undoubtedly say, ‘Down with this type of thing!’

[Hugh Green]

Oh, I’m fairly sure that’s been done.

Snow White and the Seven Perverts, I am told.

[Colm]

Brokeback Mountain , despite the eroneous publicity isn't a Cowboy genre film at all so most of your comment Andrew is just false.

I presume you haven't seen the film , you don't know the plot detail and have no idea of the degree of explicitness or lack of in the scenes. Perfect for commenting on it.

Of course the only way that your polemic against it's supposed betrayal of facts would be accurate would be if if the facts of history supported the view that there was no same-sex activity or homosexual relationships or at all amongst rural males in American history a belief which even you know to be nonsense.

[Jo]

Some years ago I watched Posse, which while not a terribly good film, nonetheless revealed the historical fact that a large proportion of the wild west was populated by black cowboys...

[smcgiff]

'black cowboys'

What's a black cowboys. Is that someone that looks down on Indians?*

*sorry

[rich]

yet more demonstrations of US freedoms in Utah and Virginia then.

Its fine to depict the genocide of indigeonous peoples but not gay sex, in cowboy films. all of which, overtly sexual or not, always came across as a bit homo erotic, to me. and judging by your statement "unquestionably masculine men" you agree (sweetie ;))

[Colm]

If Brokeback Mountain has been a film about 2 amoral men who travelled across the west killing anyone at random who crossed their paths , it probably wouldn't have raised any objections either from Utah, West Virginia or our Andrew.

[Andrew McCann]

Some of the comments above accurately illustrate how the collapse of morals is so accepted among people. How sad!

[smcgiff]

'How sad!'

FFS lads! Will none of ye think of Andrew's sensitivities!

[Andrew McCann]

Smcgiff

I couldn't care less whether you think of my sensitivities or not.

[smcgiff]

'I couldn't care less whether you think of my sensitivities or not.'

*Sniff* That really really hurts.

[Andrew McCann]

'That really really hurts.'

So it is true? The Irish really are incapable of telling the truth.

[Colm]

Andrew

You have a strange and illogical notion of what constitutes morality.

[Andrew McCann]

'You have a strange and illogical notion of what constitutes morality.'

Says who? You? Thank you supreme Oracle!!

[Colm]

I should also ask exactly which comments do you mean in your 2.22 post ?

[smcgiff]

'So it is true? The Irish really are incapable of telling the truth.'

So it's true? The English really have learned to understand sarcasm. I suppose some had to have read the works of Swift and Wilde (Hey, now I know why it’s called the Wild West).

[Andrew McCann]

How about yours at 2:10 for starters.

[Colm]

Let me clarify. Morality to me is about how people treat others . Homosexuality is no more or less moral than heterosexuality. It is how people behave in their relationships that matter not the technical details of whether they are gay or straight. Why on earth shouldn't a film be made with a homosexual relationship as it's theme?

[Colm]

My post at 2.10 was actually about what SHOULD constitute proper moral indignation.

[Andrew McCann]

'Homosexuality is no more or less moral than heterosexuality.'

There you and I irreovacably part company.

[smcgiff]

*Sits back and waits for Andrew to look up the relevant chapters and verse*

[Colm]

Andrew

That is because your moral view is formed by prejudice and not by logic.

[Andrew McCann]

'Sits back and waits for Andrew to look up the relevant chapters and verse.'

You don't have to have visited to Statue of Liberty to know it exists.

[Andrew McCann]

'That is because your moral view is formed by prejudice and not by logic.'

In your opinion. Not in fact.