The American Western A Complete Film Guide

A comprehensive film guide featuring films and television shows of the great American western. The stories of the men and women who tamed the old West. Also featuring actors and directors who made these films possible.

This revised and greatly expanded edition of a well-established reference book presents 5105 feature length (four reels or more) Western films, from the early silent era to the present. More than 900 new entries are in this edition. Each entry has film title, release company and year, running time, color indication, cast listing, plot synopsis, and a brief critical review and other details. Not only are Hollywood productions included, but the volume also looks at Westerns made abroad as well as frontier epics, north woods adventures and nature related productions. Many of the films combine genres, such as horror and science fiction Westerns. The volume includes a list of cowboys and their horses and a screen names cross reference. There are more than 100 photographs.

An encyclopedia of more than 2000 western feature films shown in the United States since the advent of the talkies, from Abilene Town to Zandy's Bride. It lists not only the credits, but also ranks the great figures who shaped this influential genre, such as John Ford, Clint Eastwood, John Wayne and Howard Hawkes.

For a limited time, receive a free Fodor's Guide to Safe and Healthy Travel e-book with the purchase of this guidebook! Go to fodors.com for details. Ready to experience the National Parks of the West? The experts at Fodor’s are here to help. Fodor’s Complete Guide to the National Parks of the West travel guide is packed with customizable itineraries with top recommendations, detailed maps of each National Park, and exclusive tips from locals. Whether you want to hike through jaw-dropping landscapes of Yosemite, see rare wildlife and natural wonders in Yellowstone, or go river-rafting in the Grand Canyon, this up-to-date guidebook will help you plan it all out. This new edition has been FULLY-REDESIGNED with a new layout and beautiful images for more intuitive travel planning! Fodor’s Complete Guide to the National Parks of the West includes: ● AN ULTIMATE EXPERIENCE GUIDE that visually captures the top highlights of each National Park. ● SPECTACULAR COLOR PHOTOS AND FEATURES throughout, including special features on the geothermal wonders of Yellowstone, tips for stargazing, and identifying rock formations and ancient petroglyphs. ● INSPIRATIONAL “BEST OF” LISTS identify the best things to see, do, eat, drink, and more. ● MULTIPLE ITINERARIES for various trip lengths help you maximize your time. ● MORE THAN 70 DETAILED MAPS help you plot your itinerary and navigate confidently. ● EXPERT RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS offer options for every taste. ● TRIP PLANNING TOOLS AND PRACTICAL TIPS include: guides to getting around, saving money and time, and beating the crowds. ● LOCAL INSIDER ADVICE tells you where to find under-the-radar gems, along with the best campsites and lodges in each park. ● HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL OVERVIEWS add perspective and enrich your travels. ● NEW FEATURES like the best site in each National Park; A SPECIAL GUIDE to river-rafting in the Colorado River. ● COVERS: Yellowstone, Glacier and Waterton Lakes, Grand Teton, Zion, Olympic National Park, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, Rocky Mountain National Park, Mesa Verde, Badlands National Park, Great Basin, Crater Lake, and more. ABOUT FODOR'S AUTHORS: Each Fodor's Travel Guide is researched and written by local experts. Fodor’s has been offering expert advice for all tastes and budgets for over 80 years. Planning on visiting more of the West? Check out Fodor’s California, Fodor's Utah, Fodor's Colorado, and more.

The story behind The Magnificent Seven could have been a movie in itself. It had everything—actors’ strike, writers’ strike, Mexican government interference and a row between the screenwriters that left one removing his name from the credits, all under the lingering gloom of post–McCarthy era Hollywood. A flop on release, it later became a box office hit. This book tells the behind-the-scenes story: how Yul Brynner became the biggest independent producer in Hollywood; why John Sturges was not the first choice after Brynner surrendered the director’s chair; why Sturges quit; the truth about the Mirisch Company (producers); the details of the film’s botched release and unlikely redemption; the creation of Elmer Bernstein’s classic score; and how internecine fighting prevented the making of the television series in 1963. Myths about Steve McQueen, his feud with Brynner and the scene-stealing antics of the cast are debunked. A close examination of the various screenplay drafts and the writers’ source material—Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai—shows who wrote what. Extensive analysis of Sturges’ directorial work is provided.

The early history of American settlement, pioneering, and independence is marked by fascinating characters and events often shrouded in legend. Filmmakers have sought to capture these characters, as diverse as Daniel Boone, Francis Marion and Pocahontas, and events, as disparate as the Lost Colony, the Boston Tea Party and the French and Indian War. This comprehensive filmography provides production information and commentary on all films and television episodes set during the years between the first settlements in the future United States and the fledgling country's War of 1812 with Britain. Films are arranged alphabetically, and a detailed introduction provides a thorough overview of the period, with references to films chronicling specific events.

Many people have fond memories of Friday nights and Saturday afternoons spent in theatres watching cowboy stars of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s chase villains across the silver screen or help a heroine out of harm's way. Over 2,600 Westerns were produced between 1930 and 1955 and they became a defining part of American culture. This work focuses on the idea that Westerns were one of the vehicles by which viewers learned the values and norms of a wide range of social relationships and behavior, and thus examines the ways in which Western movies reflected American life and culture during this quarter century. Chapters discuss such topics as the ways that Westerns included current events in film plot and dialogue, reinforced the role of Christianity in American culture, reflected the emergence of a strong central government, and mirrored attitudes toward private enterprise. Also covered is how Westerns represented racial minorities, women, and Indians.