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Four Faces West

Name: Four Faces West
Director: Alfred E. Green
Released: 1948
Duration: 89 min

Representation Score

1.2/10

Minimal

1948

Director

Alfred E. Green

Runtime

89 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Four Faces West is a conventional genre piece that adheres to the social and cinematic norms of 1948. The narrative structure emphasizes traditional hierarchies and gender roles over diverse representations. The film relies on established archetypes, particularly regarding gender and race. While it introduces minor subversions, such as a protagonist using a false religious persona, these elements do not challenge the underlying systemic structures of the setting. Ultimately, the work functions as a standard representation of the mid-century American Western, focusing on individualist morality and the pursuit of justice within a predominantly white, heterosexual framework.

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Category Breakdown

Does Four Faces West have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film does not include any visible LGBTQ+ characters or explore non-cisgender identities. It operates within a strictly heterosexual framework typical of the 1948 Western genre.

How does Four Faces West portray gender?

Limited

Female characters like Miss Hollister and Jane Greer serve primarily as caregivers or romantic interests. They lack the ability to act to drive the story and are confined to supporting roles within the masculine-dominated narrative.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Four Faces West?

Limited

The cast is predominantly white, reflecting mid-century cinematic norms. A 'mysterious Mexican' character appears but functions more as a plot device than a fully developed character.

How does Four Faces West represent religion and culture?

Fair

The film upholds traditional Western values of individual redemption and law. While a false religious persona is used, the narrative ultimately resolves in a conventional moral conclusion.

Does Four Faces West include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no significant depictions of visible or invisible disabilities. A rattlesnake bite serves as a plot catalyst rather than a study of chronic illness or neurodivergence.

Present on Screen

The film provides meaningful roles for women within the plot, even if they remain within traditional archetypes.
The use of a false religious persona offers a brief, interesting subversion of religious authority.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks racial depth, treating non-white characters as peripheral plot devices rather than nuanced individuals.
Gender roles are strictly hierarchical, limiting female characters to caregiving or romantic functions.
The narrative lacks LGBTQ+ representation or any exploration of non-cisgender identities.

Official Synopsis

Cowboy Ross McEwen arrives in town. He asks the banker for a loan of $2000. When the banker asks about securing a loan that large, McEwen shows him his six-gun collateral. The banker hands over the money in exchange for an I.O.U., signed "Jefferson Davis". McEwen rides out of town and catches a train, but not before being bitten by a rattler. On the train, a nurse, Miss Hollister, tends to his wound. A posse searches the train, but McEwen manages to escape notice. However a mysterious Mexican has taken note of the cowboy, and that loudmouthed brat is still nosing around. Who will be the first to claim the reward for the robber's capture?

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