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The Second Time Around

Name: The Second Time Around
Director: Vincent Sherman
Released: 1961
Duration: 99 min

Representation Score

1.4/10

Minimal

1961

Director

Vincent Sherman

Runtime

99 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

The film offers a progressive perspective by centering on a woman who achieves professional autonomy and political authority in a traditionally masculine environment. This challenges the submissive feminine stereotype and provides a rare example of strong female leadership. However, the story remains confined within conventional social structures, prioritizing traditional romantic drama over broader social critiques. Ultimately, while the female lead breaks certain molds, the film lacks racial and LGBTQ+ representation, keeping the narrative within a narrow, traditional framework.

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Category Breakdown

Does The Second Time Around have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film follows traditional heterosexual relationship structures and does not include any characters with non-binary gender identities or same-sex relationships.

How does The Second Time Around portray gender?

Fair

The protagonist transitions from a widow to a ranch hand and sheriff, providing a meaningful exploration of women's ability to drive the story and gain professional authority.

How racially and ethnically diverse is The Second Time Around?

Minimal

The cast appears uniform, reflecting the standard demographics of the Western genre. There are no characters of color in prominent roles.

How does The Second Time Around represent religion and culture?

Limited

The story stays within the traditional framework of frontier justice, focusing on personal relationships rather than critiquing societal structures like capitalism or the nuclear family.

Does The Second Time Around include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no characters with visible or invisible disabilities, and disability is not used as a narrative device in this film.

Present on Screen

The protagonist disrupts gender hierarchies by gaining professional authority as a sheriff.
Female characters play significant roles and demonstrate competence in a traditionally masculine setting.

Limited or Absent

The film lacks racial and ethnic diversity, sticking to the homogeneous casting typical of early 1960s Westerns.
There is no representation of LGBTQ+ individuals or non-cisgender identities.
The story does not address or explore systemic power dynamics, focusing instead on personal relationships.

Official Synopsis

In 1911, a widow with two children leaves New York City for territorial Arizona and becomes a ranch hand and later gets herself elected sheriff. A gambler and a rancher become rivals for her affections.

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