Heroes, Heavies and Sagebrush

Heroes, Heavies and Sagebrush
Author: Arthur F. McClure
Publisher: South Brunswick : A. S. Barnes
Total Pages: 360
Release: 1972
Genre: Biography & Autobiography
ISBN:

Heroes, Heavies and Sagebrush is the result of much time spent in tracing the lives of some of these players, not only from the standpoint of historical curiosity, but in order to provide an affectionate, nostalgic glimpse of a significant aspect of the western movie fare. The lives of the various players represent a study in contrasts. Some embody the rags-to-riches-to-lost-fame theme so often observed in the lives of Hollywood residents. Some were semi-literate, while others earned academic degrees. Some retained their wealth and popularity, while still others retained neither. A representative group of actors who played heroes, heavies, sidekicks, Indians and assorted character types are included in the investigation.

Hollywood's West

Hollywood's West
Author: Peter C. Rollins
Publisher: University Press of Kentucky
Total Pages: 317
Release: 2005-11-11
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 0813138558

“An excellent study that should interest film buffs, academics, and non-academics alike” (Journal of the West). Hollywood’s West examines popular perceptions of the frontier as a defining feature of American identity and history. Seventeen essays by prominent film scholars illuminate the allure of life on the edge of civilization and analyze how this region has been represented on big and small screens. Differing characterizations of the frontier in modern popular culture reveal numerous truths about American consciousness and provide insights into many classic Western films and television programs, from RKO’s 1931 classic Cimarron to Turner Network Television’s recent made-for-TV movies. Covering topics such as the portrayal of race, women, myth, and nostalgia, Hollywood’s West makes a significant contribution to the understanding of how Westerns have shaped our nation’s opinions and beliefs—often using the frontier as metaphor for contemporary issues.

Westerns and the Trail of Tradition

Westerns and the Trail of Tradition
Author: Barrie Hanfling
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 271
Release: 2016-04-21
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 1476608369

Over the past century, the western has fluctuated in popularity. By 2010 it has come to stand, to the dismay of many, at one of its lowest points. Beginning with 1929 and the advent of talkies (In Old Arizona), the author discusses the cultural and industry trends, the directors, producers, studios and especially the stars, and looks at the ways in which their personalities (and financial ups and downs) affected the way westerns were shot. The improvements in technology through the years, the trick horses, the fistfight choreography, the evolution of plotlines--these are fascinating indicators of the way Americans themselves were changing.

The Cowboy

The Cowboy
Author: Charles W. Harris
Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
Total Pages: 180
Release: 1976-07-15
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780806113418

One of America’s unique contributions to world culture, the cowboy has captured the imagination of people everywhere. In The Cowboy: Six-Shooters, Songs, and Sex, eight renowned western writers report on what the cowboys really were like and what they are like today. Contributors detail how the cowboys lived, loved, and died, how they fared when ranchers switched from running cattle to entertaining dudes, and how the media have depicted the cowboy.

The Cowgirls

The Cowgirls
Author: Joyce Gibson Roach
Publisher: University of North Texas Press
Total Pages: 308
Release: 1990
Genre: Cowgirls
ISBN: 0929398157

Updated and revised (first edition, 1977) history of the women of the West, telling of their contributions and describing how they broke convention by ranching, trail-driving, and rodeoing. Extensive bibliography. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

The Golden Corral

The Golden Corral
Author: Ed Andreychuk
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 196
Release: 1997-08-01
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 9780786403936

A perfect blend of characterization, action and poetic images, John Ford's Stagecoach (1939) made "A" Westerns a viable product for Hollywood in the sound era. By 1990, the Western had again been on a downswing when Dances with Wolves became both a critical and commercial success. This work examines these two films and twelve others--Red River, High Noon, Shane, The Searchers, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, The Alamo, The Magnificent Seven, Ride the High Country, How the West Was Won, The Wild Bunch, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Unforgiven--that hold unique spots in the genre's history. Full filmographic data are provided for each, along with an essay that blends plot synopsis, historical perspectives and the movie's place in the Western genre.

Football

Football
Author: Edward J. Rielly
Publisher: U of Nebraska Press
Total Pages: 460
Release: 2009-01-01
Genre: Sports & Recreation
ISBN: 9780803226302

"...provides a detailed look at America's pastime through the lens of pop culture, [an] A-to-Z inventory of how certain aspects of the game affect and reflect broader society."--from publisher description.

Errol Flynn

Errol Flynn
Author: Thomas McNulty
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 385
Release: 2015-05-07
Genre: Performing Arts
ISBN: 1476609721

Errol Flynn set the standard for the modern action hero in films like The Adventures of Robin Hood, Dodge City, and The Sea Hawk. This biography follows Flynn from his birth in Tasmania, Australia, in 1909, to his death in Vancouver, Canada, in 1959. Included is analysis of his films, discussion of the 1943 rape trial that changed his life, a survey of the FBI's infamous surveillance, and the first detailed account of his television appearances in the 1950s. First-hand interviews with Flynn's friends and colleagues are complemented by research from FBI files, correspondence, Flynn's diary, and other sources. Illustrated with rare and previously unpublished photographs, the study also gives attention to the historical backgrounds and cultural influences that contributed to Flynn's fame; the work takes an objective and analytical look at the actor's adventurous life. The study includes two appendices: the first is a collection of quotations from various celebrities, from memories of his talent and style to anecdotes about his wild pool parties. The second appendix is a filmography including all Flynn's work for film, stage, and television, with cast and crew information.