Day of the Outlaw is an unusual film in respect of how it portrays women as “other”. Recently we have been viewing Westerns in which the role of women has progressed to great importance; however, Day of the Outlaw reverts back to the idea of women as mere objects. The sole reason for existence is to please men and cater to their every need. Their only appearances in the film are cleaning, serving food or drink, and being ordered around by men. Bruhn’s gang seems to be the most disrespectful to the women. They want to use them for sole sexual purposes. They tell the men of the town that they only want to borrow their women and will return the women when they are finished with them. One scene which showed this type of behavior best is the dance. The men are dragging the women around all while trying to make advances towards them. Bruhn is the one male of the gang who is civilized enough to stop his men’s repulsive actions. On the other hand, Helen seems to be the one strong female. She finds the courage to tell Blaze that she does not love him anymore but will give herself up to him if Blaze promises not to kill her husband, Hal Crane. She is the sole strong female character in this film.
Filmed in 1959, Day of the Outlaw seems to be ridiculing the Civil Rights Movements occurring at this time. The way in which the women are portrayed as objects in this film makes it seem as if the producers and writers were satirizing the new advances of females.
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Day of the Outlaw is an unusual film in respect to its portrayal of women as “other”. Recently we have been viewing Westerns in which the role of women has progressed to great importance; however, Day of the Outlaw reverts back to the idea of women as mere objects. The sole reason for existence is to please men and cater to their every need. In the majority of their appearances in the film women are seen cleaning, serving food or drink, and being ordered around by men. Bruhn’s gang seems to be the most disrespectful to the women. They want to use them for sole sexual purposes. They tell the men of the town that they only want to borrow their women and will return the women when they are finished with them. One scene which showed this type of behavior best is the dance. The men are dragging the women around all while trying to make advances towards them. Bruhn is the one male of the gang who is civilized enough to stop his men’s repulsive actions.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, Helen seems to be the one strong female. She finds the courage to tell Blaze that she does not love him anymore. She is willing to sacrifice herself and be with Blaze if he promises to not kill her husband, Hal Crane. Opposing the portrayal of the other women, she is the independent female character in this film. Filmed in 1959, Day of the Outlaw seems to be ridiculing the Woman’s Rights Movement and feminism occurring in the United States at this time. The way in which the women are portrayed as objects in this film makes it seem as if the producers and writers were satirizing the new advances of females.