From High Noon to Unforgiven, the “A” Western represents the pinnacle of Western filmmaking. More intellectual, ambitious, and time-consuming than the readily produced “B” or serial Westerns, these films rely on hundreds of talented artists. This comprehensive reference work provides biographies and Western filmographies for nearly 1,000 men and women who have contributed to at least three “A” Westerns. These contributors are arranged by their role in film production. Cinematographers, composers, actors, actresses, and directors receive complete biographical treatment; writers whose work was used in at least two Westerns are also featured. An appendix lists well-known actors who have appeared in either one or two “A” Westerns, as specified.

Henryk Hoffmann was born in Poland. He teaches Latin and German at the Perkiomen School in Pennsburg, Pennsylvania, where he also coaches soccer and oversees the editorial staff of the school magazine. An active member of the Western Writers of America, he lives in Lititz, Pennsylvania.

Henryk Hoffmann
Format: softcover (7 x 10 in 2 vols.)
Pages: 662
Bibliographic Info: 59 photos, filmographies, bibliography, appendices, index
Copyright Date: 2008 [2000]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-3742-9
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0864-8
Imprint: McFarland

Volume 1
Acknowledgments      viii
Preface      1
Part One : Writers (Original Authors)      5
Part Two : Screenwriters      69
Part Three : Directors      111
Part Four : Cinematographers      187
Part Five : Composers      233
Part Six : Leading Men (A–I)      265

Volume 2
Part Six : Leading Men (K–Y)      325
Part Seven : Leading Ladies      387
Part Eight : Supporting Actors      445
Part Nine : Supporting Actresses      571

Appendix A : Major Actors Who Have Appeared in One Standard “A” Western      593
Appendix B : Major Actors Who Have Appeared in Two Standard “A” Westerns      594
Select Bibliography      595
Index      597

“recommended”—Booklist; “detailed…a substantial and credible directory…highly recommended…essential”—ARBA; “absolutely fascinating”—Roundup Magazine; “men and women who contributed to a minimum of three A-Westerns”—Big Reel; “worthwhile purveyor of reference not usually found in the average work of the once popular genre and, in consequence, should delight the A-buffs. Those wishing to research and cross-reference these principle history-makers of A-Western productions will want to have this alphabetic list of achievers within arm’s reach…an enormous index. Recommended”—Wrangler’s Roost.