Most Offensive Western Movie Ever?

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Жыл бұрын

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In this video I take a deep look into the 1966 spaghetti western, "Navajo Joe" and ask some questions about cultural appropriation and inclusive casting in movies. Navajo Joe is a 1966 Spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Corbucci and starring Burt Reynolds as the titular Navajo Indian who opposes a group of bandits responsible for killing his tribe.
In a contemporary review, Bosley Crowther of The New York Times dismissed the film as "colorless" and another of the "... super-bloody 'Westerns' made by Italians and Spaniards in Spain with Italian, Spanish and American actors." Variety noted that Regnoli and Di Leo's screenplay allowed for "... fast movement which Corbucci handles well enough", ultimately declaring the film to be "Lowercase western ... Okay for minor action market."
Burt Reynolds described Navajo Joe as "so awful it was only shown in prisons and airplanes because nobody could leave. I killed ten thousand guys, wore a Japanese slingshot and a fright wig." When Reynolds won an Emmy in 1991 for Evening Shade, he said during his acceptance speech, "All those pictures - Navajo Joe - they paid off, you know."
Keywords: spaghetti western soundtrack, documentary, movie analysis,

Пікірлер: 79

@cabe13x Жыл бұрын

I think the most controversial casting is John Wayne as Genghis Khan 🗽

@gravenewworld6521 Жыл бұрын

Yeah but the conqueror stinks. I think this might be the most controversial casting in a good movie ever.

@cdeford2 9 ай бұрын

Only because he was terrible.

@joeldale7943 9 ай бұрын

Yes

@vaatlagaadungaa4244 Жыл бұрын

Navajo Joe was one of the best works of Sergio Corbucci. It was released in the same year where other iconic Spaghetti Westerns like The Good The Bad And The Ugly, Django, Massacre Time, Ringo And His Golden Pistol, The Big Gundown etc were released. I have actually watched this Movie in October 2020 during COVID 19 lockdown and I actually enjoyed this movie and I have also watched Mannaja aka A Man Called Blade during the same Day.

@Michael-vk1vr Жыл бұрын

Honestly it's one of his more mediocre films, Django or The Great Silence are near classics

@scottlong7168 9 ай бұрын

Good man! I also like Navajo Joe.

@scottlong7168 9 ай бұрын

@@Michael-vk1vr ahhh, wouldn't say mediocre, watch VENGEANCE. With Richard Harrison. Try even THE SPECIALIST From Corbucci. I do see what you're saying, sorry I'm a huge fan of the genre a like most of the em. no disrespect. Burt was embarest with it and hated it. But it has its place, it is a classic.

@nathancoleman7235 17 күн бұрын

That's right Vaat.I love that theme music at the opening of the movie also

@roisinmurray2156 Жыл бұрын

What an interesting video! I love love love the music 💓🎶

@darklingeraeld-ridge7946 4 ай бұрын

Very engaging video. Well done

@RexHooper1 4 ай бұрын

Thank you kindly!

@RammyDaBaddest Жыл бұрын

As a Native American Acamopueblo New Mexican I just know Hollywood missed out on indigenous talent!! We’re here now!! Watching Amber mid thunder in Prey was so touching! It’s a fave franchise of mine! After watching it he did it justice!! He’s another indigenous decent we rep one nation!! I watched Kill bill and hearing where Tarantino got the score from sent me chills!!

@fembotheather3785 9 ай бұрын

While it isn't Corbucci's most nuanced work, It is a well-made revenge flick and an entertaining watch.

@Reverend_Nada Жыл бұрын

Hey Mark, Yeah. I think it’s fine. It’s all under the umbrella of acting and I didn’t feel that Reynold’s performance was carried out to demean. It’s interesting that Eli Wallach and his performance as a Mexican in The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly is rarely brought up in these discussions.

@RexHooper1 Жыл бұрын

Hi Leslie, thanks for the comment. I honestly think that the reason people don't mention Eli Wallach is because the performance is so convincing/captivating. He is incredible in that movie. I think it's really his movie more than any other character. That scene with his brother! Breaks my heart every time.

@Reverend_Nada Жыл бұрын

@@RexHooper1 that was my thinking as well, he does do a great job.

@Multifixated Жыл бұрын

If we start pointing fingers at italian westerns then we're gonna be here for a loooooong time. I think that a lot of it IS racist, IS too edgy, and IS more or less wrong but there's so much that's still good.

@Jimmersaunt Жыл бұрын

Eli Wallach is so convincing as Tuco that if I never heard he wasn’t Mexican I would’ve completely believed he was!

@killerkraut9179 3 ай бұрын

I think its not very often brought up in these discussions that in Red western are Red facesing was extremely common!

@waltergiles86 Жыл бұрын

Burt had a native American bloodline, as do i, African American, and many others! We need to get rid of hyphenation! In fact, we need to get rid of delineations totally. We are all human after all.

@nathancoleman7235 17 күн бұрын

I love the theme music to Navajo Joe also,and even more then that to The Good The Bad and the Ugly.

@deniskozlowski9370 Жыл бұрын

Don't look at as a wig. Think of it as a very bad hat.

@chrispopsjunior8978 Жыл бұрын

No... Its an absolute classic spaghetti by the second greatest filmmaker of all time, with an epic score by Ennio Morricone... I love it

@Michael-vk1vr Жыл бұрын

No, what kills me is The most famous Tonto was played by Jay Silverheals

@vaatlagaadungaa4244 Жыл бұрын

I am actually A Bhartiya Asian Indian. According to me The Native Americans have their rights in North America. The American Government should respect their rights and Culprits who have committed these crimes against the humanity should be either punished or heavily criticized.

@lhighlanderscl 11 ай бұрын

Have we cancelled Elizabeth Taylor for playing Cleopatra? Kirk Douglas as Spartacus???

@mcgragor1 Жыл бұрын

To me Burt had what looked like some Indian heritage. I googled it and it said maybe some Cherokee on his father's side.

@RexHooper1 Жыл бұрын

Yeah I brought this up in the video. Different tribe though Cherokee not Navajo. Another question is: does that make a difference?

@mcgragor1 Жыл бұрын

@@RexHooper1 Oh I missed that part, I don't think it makes much of a difference, kind of like a British actor playing an American or something, the only people who stress about that would be the super woke nonsense folks.

@penn-g-uinn2137 Жыл бұрын

Despite the questionable casting, the movie had killer theme

@RexHooper1 Жыл бұрын

One of my favourite Morricone tracks.

@jonathanmciver1823 4 ай бұрын

I love "Navajo Joe"! I have the movie in one of my Western DVD collections. I thought that Burt Reynolds was excellent in this film! I love it! The soundtrack from Sergio Carbucci was pure magnificent!

@jackfelldown1 Жыл бұрын

In our bid to be more inclusive and diverse, we grow less tolerant.

@Red-gr1yu Жыл бұрын

I think people should just sit back and enjoy the film for what it is don't worry so much about What ethnicity the actor is like you said it's acting and there's lots of good movies that have white actors playing Native American roles such as Rock Hudson as young bull or Michael pate as Vittorio or even Jewish actors playing Hispanic roles like Eli Wallach as Bandit Calavera these are all actors in Great Western movies and if you want to enjoy these movies then people need to stop worrying about the color of the actor skin. PS nobody canceled Robert Downey Jr for going blackface in Tropic Thunder.

@MaboPete Жыл бұрын

It was the a vehicle for Burt to get to the big screen from roles on tv - his next would be Deliverance... but look at the other actors (that you might not expect) who appeared in Italian Westerns - Joseph Cotten, Henry Fonda, Jason Robards, Rod Steiger. And even The Beatles' Ringo Starr!

@RexHooper1 Жыл бұрын

Ringo in "Blindman" is a strange but fun one.

@markhancock8235 Жыл бұрын

Never saw this movie....never heard of it even though I grew up in the 60's. I always thought 'The Searchers" with John Wayne was very racist.

@jimyzaguirre3183 Жыл бұрын

The Wig Still Has To Go, And I Dig Burt Reynolds

@carolynrussell774 Жыл бұрын

Oh hang that wig that Burt Reynolds was wearing, who cares, he was a handsome man, it is a great movie. When you are watching a western movie I am wanting to watch a very well played story of the old west, what do I know, I just like a good western.

@vinniejones8009 Жыл бұрын

The wig is a prototype of the wig worn by the Vulcans on Star Trek………

@RexHooper1 Жыл бұрын

😂

@garystahl9948 Жыл бұрын

Great move ❤❤❤❤❤❤

@MHDebidour Жыл бұрын

As far as I know the native american subject was probably avoided by many producers/writers/directors as there is very few "indians" in the Spaghetti Western movies and far more a "mexican background" as south Spain set and locals extra can fit better with the thema. But there is for sure a "representation" issue in eurowestern, with some variations in the few movies with pseudo-natives from the "good indian" in the west-german's Winnetou movies, and a contrario the progressive east-german "Indianerfilme". In Italy "Apache Woman" is loosely inspired by "Soldier Blue" very cheap but watchable and "Scalps" wich is more an exploitation/violence movie than a western. The spanish "Comanche blanco" with William Shatner as a native is very stupid and far more offensive. I think it's better there is few of them

@paulorlando5877 Жыл бұрын

Burt Reynolds hated this movie,personally I like it and Reynolds always played an Native American on Gunsmoke and Hawk.

@paulorlando5877 Жыл бұрын

Reynolds joked that this film was only played in jail and on airplanes, because people couldn't walk out,lol.

@RexHooper1 Жыл бұрын

I think this is colored by his experience making the movie. He thought he was going to be in a Sergio Leone movie. He was living at the producer's mansion for three months before any of the film had began to shoot because of several delays in getting the script together. Everyone spoke their own language (Italian, Spanish, etc.) during filming because all the audio is dubbed in afterwards. All these things probably made him think ill of the movie. I still think it's great and he is great in it.

@Michael-vk1vr Жыл бұрын

Yeah it was the other Sergio

@Michael-vk1vr Жыл бұрын

I don't know, actually Burt had Seminole blood, he probably had more Indian blood then Irony Eyes Cody from the polition commercials, he was full blooded Italian

@samuraininjarockstar9355 5 ай бұрын

Classic spaghetti western

@johnvoorhees7881 Жыл бұрын

You listen to what kind of music?

@RexHooper1 Жыл бұрын

I like both kinds: country and western

@luissegovia8205 7 ай бұрын

@@RexHooper1.😂😂😂 ....blues brothers ...it's a fantastic movie !!!!

@mjdelnorte685 Жыл бұрын

I think Navajo Joe was a great movie I have no problem with Burt Reynolds playing Navajo Joe culturally yes there is differences to native Americans with the bloodline is pretty much the same I don't want to say completely cuz I'm not completely sure just like I'm Mexican-American and our bloodline is also similar to the native Americans as well and it could be the same they could just be different cultures and it could be the government they separated us as far as ethnicities I'm not Navajo like I said I'm Mexican but I feel the same way I used to appoint and I think it's I think it's a great movie

@cdeford2 9 ай бұрын

Why should it offend? That was how they did things. Chuck Connors, Burt Lancaster, Jack Palance, Woody Strode all played Indians, among dozens of others. John Wayne played a Mongol. So what? And Navajo Joe isn't the only Western with an Indian as the main protaganist. Geronimo, 1962, Chuck Connors. Apache, 1952, Burt Lancaster.

@user-vd6jq9kd9x Жыл бұрын

I believe Reynolds had Native American blood.

@RexHooper1 Жыл бұрын

Yeah, that's right.

@phil8821 Жыл бұрын

This doesn't offend me. Black actors playing vikings and nordic gods, while they at the same time whine about cultural appropriation is offensive.

@markswan6559 Жыл бұрын

I still appreciate the paintings of Caravaggio, even though he was a murderer.

@RexHooper1 Жыл бұрын

Murder is much worse than poor casting in a movie.

@tohamiltin Жыл бұрын

what about Chato,s land

@bertsbooks2505 26 күн бұрын

Weird, I've still not seen it. Doubt it'd be the most questionable film I'd have watched though, no names, no pack drill!

@bobbygoodman2875 Жыл бұрын

Well, people absolutely need to learn what should offend them. Once indoctrinated, they become rabid CHAMPIONS of discrimination.

@carloitaliano2794 Жыл бұрын

For me the most offensive western movie is "Scavengers" (1969) directed by Lee Frost. A bad story of racism and rape with the confederates painted as beasts.

@Someonelse1224 2 ай бұрын

Okay but isn't that what most confederates are/were? And most of the USA army during the west period. Raping indians was quite common in the US army.

@MatadorShifter 4 ай бұрын

Nah bro, cancel culture is something that never existed but keyboard warriors spoke so much of it that talked it into reality. But it's still basically crying on the social media. I fully support the casting in this movie and for ac actor it's totally fine to play someone of another race or culture. As for Navajo Joe, the movie does have its share of problems but the entertaining value is high. Burt Reynolds didn't disappoint even though he hated everyone around him because of "wrong Sergio". Ennio Morricone nailed it again with amazing music.

@gyulakovacs1334 Жыл бұрын

I am so sorry , I didn't get your point .

@RexHooper1 Жыл бұрын

It's more of a question.

@mjdelnorte685 Жыл бұрын

I ain't going to lie you really don't seem like the controversial cowboy. That's a good thing though maybe the confusing cowboy 😂 nah you seem legit tho

@RexHooper1 Жыл бұрын

This comment was a rollercoaster. Thanks for reaching out.

@boogerie 7 ай бұрын

To me the most offensive western film is "Dirty Dingus McGee" It's so wrong on so many levels

@Professicchio 8 ай бұрын

LOL Navajo Joe is not the first movie to have a native as protagonist, unless by "native" you mean someone who actual has native American ancestry, unlike Burt Lancaster and Chuck Connors who portrayed two Apache warriors back in 1954 and 1962 respectively. Practically any western made up until the late 60s had non-natives played by Europeans and, to give credit to Corbucci, this is the first Western where the indian protagonist is not portrayed as either a "savage" or some kind of "uncle Tom" appeasing the Whites, but he has plenty of reason to be mad and kick ass to the lot of them. I think any native American would rather enjoy watching this rather than be offended. The only offensive thing about NJ is the US trailer that tried to pass him as the villain rather than the hero, go see that yourself, is uploaded on YT 🤠

@RexHooper1 8 ай бұрын

Thank you for the great comment!

@robertthomsonwatson2542 9 ай бұрын

@nope5657 7 күн бұрын

Not a great Corbucci film or great Reynolds film - but decent enough. It's not mor offensive than any other redface seen in older westerns imo. Maybe even a tad less so considering the film is on the side of the Native American protagonist. Insensitive and embarrassing, but well intentioned imo.