The Western film genre has evolved greatly over its century-long tenure, from its early status as popular
popcorn drama to a vehicle for filmmakers to contemplate the complexities of human society and spur
cinematic innovation. This study examines the impact of Sergio Leone’s Spaghetti Westerns on the
genre’s stylistic and thematic evolution by analyzing three eras of Westerns: pre-Leone, Leone, and post-
Leone. Focusing on three films in particular—The Searchers (1956), Once Upon a Time in the West
(1969), and Unforgiven (1992)—I will utilize film theorists Kristin Thompson and David Bordwell’s
Neoformalism framework to isolate techniques and patterns that either persist or are unique to a certain
era. Neoformalism’s aesthetic focus allows me to analyze Leone’s characteristic use of cinematic
techniques: extreme close-ups, prolonged stretches of silence, and long takes. I aim to codify and analyse
these techniques and their use over the years. By integrating findings from literature regarding the movies

with my Neoformalist analysis, I aim to assess the extent to which Leone’s stylistic and thematic
innovations reshape the Western genre and whether later Westerns have continued or rejected these
innovations.