Actors, writers, directors and producers who helped define the genre offer unique insight about western movies from the early talkies to the present. Interviewed here are Glenn Ford, Warren Oates, Virginia Mayo, Andrew V. McLaglen, Harry Carey, Jr., Julie Adams, A.C. Lyles, Burt Kennedy, Edward Faulkner, Aldo Sambrell, Jack Elam, Andrew J. Fenady, and Elmore Leonard. Movies they discuss include Red River, The Searchers, 3:10 to Yuma, High Noon, Bend of the River, Rio Bravo, The Wild Bunch, and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, among many others.

C. Courtney Joyner is a screenwriter with more than 20 produced films to his credit. He has contributed chapters to a number of books on film history and his articles have appeared in Wildest Westerns, Fangoria and Famous Monsters of Filmland.

C. Courtney Joyner
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 266
Bibliographic Info: 70 photos, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2009
pISBN: 978-0-7864-4303-1
eISBN: 978-0-7864-5568-3
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vii
Foreword by Miles Swarthout      1
Introduction: How Dracula Really Met Billy the Kid      3

1. Glenn Ford—Quiet Star      7
2. Warren Oates—Character as Star      29
3. Virginia Mayo—Tough Cookie      47
4. Andrew V. McLaglen—The Pro      62
5. Harry Carey, Jr.—Born to the West      82
6. Julie Adams—Brains and Beauty      97
7. A.C. Lyles—Gentleman of the West      112
8. Burt Kennedy—The Yarn Spinner      129
9. Edward Faulkner—The Good Lieutenant      153
10. Aldo Sambrell—Bandito Number One      170
11. Jack Elam—Best of the Bad Men      182
12. Andrew J. Fenady—Man of Many Parts      205
13. Elmore Leonard—Master’s Touch      230

Bibliography      245
Index      247

“it must have been a wonderful privilege to sit down with the likes of Jack Elam and Warren Oates to hear their anecdotes about the making of classic Westerns. Fortunately, Joyner gives us the next best thing through his remarkable book, which is essential readers for all fans of the Western genre”—Cinema Retro; “might represent [the author’s] best work in the field…interesting…fascinating anecdotes…a most highly recommended book”—Rogue Cinema; “some of these veterans” careers have been covered elsewhere, but it’s a treat to ‘hear’ them talking about their work with a true film buff”—Leonard Maltin.com.