Introduction

WESTERNS presents some 700 films of THE "Genre" : A and B films, some serials, productions from the USA mainly, but also from Canada, England, Australia, France, Italy and Spain.
All the files of this database can be sorted by numeric or alphabetic order (director's names, actors names and so on) in order to analyse a filmography, for instance.
This database represent a unique and ideal guide and reference tool for the amateur, the "maniac", the student or researcher, or simply for anyone planning to build up a reference DVD library at home or elsewhere.

It can be used on any type of computer (Mac and PC), or on a palmtop (Psion 3, 5, 7 or Revo, and I guess Palms, etc.), as long as you have a datasheet (Excel for instance) or a database program.

The version distributed here is not a trial version, but a subset of the complete database. In fact it is the first third of the files, including the Directors from A (ALDRICH Robert) to F (FURIE Sidney J.) only. Those interested in the complete version, from A to Z, should read the "Diffusion" page.

Gary Cooper and Walter Brennan in "The Virginian"

Posters slideshow (flash format, flashplayer version 9 and + required, + a bit of patience)

Presentation

As such, this database is obviously not complete, that is it doesn't cover the few thousands westerns which have been produced by the cinema only. It is exclusively made of the westerns I have seen... a good number I must admit, and certainly the most interesting part of the genre.
It corresponds to the great pleasure I had all these years watching what is for me the THE major genre of cinema, the one that can assemble and welcome in its bosom all the themes and all others genres.

WESTERNS is in fact a subset of a hugger database (more than 7500 films), called CINEFAN, which covers all types of movies from the silent screen till now.
Neither WESTERNS nor CINEPHIL are completely free, they both are sharewares, but if you buy CINEFAN you get WESTERNS for free, for it is included in it.

WESTERNS costs 10€,
CINEFAN costs 15€.
Make your choice !

WESTERNS does contain some errors (typing, spelling and probably incorrect names), but I try to improve it through my re-visions or my discoveries, though these are so scarce now... the Western doesn't seem to be a praised genre anymore !
There remains the problem of my personal findings (for those who are interested in translating them from the French original, of course...) ; now it's up to everyone of you to use it in such a way you choose or need.

History and statistics

This database was started in the years 1967-68, on the seats of the French Cinémathèque. So many marvelous discoveries then ! Chatting with Langlois in a corner of the bar, listening one evening to Raoul Walsh relating his escapades with Flynn or Gable around Hollywood, discussing endlessly with some "co-religionists". Those were the days for the "cinéphile"...
Then the glow of Western seemed to fade, and came the time for computers, which allowed me at last to compile all my documentation and memorize it in a single database.

As it is, this database consists of some 700 westerns, starting with "The great train robbery"...
As said above, they are all part of the CINEFAN database, which contains some:
- 4200 US films,
- 2000 French films,
- 510 British films,
- 470 Italian films,
- 70 Japanese films,
- etc., from the silent era up till now.

Some opinions from enthousiastic users of the Cinefan database (some translated from the French):
- "Congratulations for the job you've done. Such a database is a dream come true for an amateur like me"
- I thought your database was quite adapted to be used as a first rate "dvdtheque"
-"Bravo for the colossal work you've done"
- "Congratulations for your work"
- "Big thanks for your admirable work"

	"Man of the West" by Anthony Mann