not a western as much as a tragedy

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

[color=indigo]1 It is not a western as much as a tragedy.
[color=blue]2 It is not a western as much as it is a tragedy.
[color=red]3 It is not a western but a tragedy.

I think ‘1’ and ‘2’ are a bit vague and less definitive than 3.

‘3’ clearly states that it is not a western at all and that it is a tragedy. (We could be talking about Hamlet here!)

‘1’ and ‘2’ seem to be saying that it is a bit of a western, but more of a tragedy.

Am I right?

Gratefully,
Navi.

2

I am not sure when you would use #3, maybe if the title sounds like it might be a western, but it is not? No one would mistake Hamlet for a western at all. - #2 sounds most natural to me.