The Western

by David Carter

From the very beginnings of cinema in America the Western has been a central genre. The hazardous lives of the settlers, their conflict with Native Americans (the Indians), the lawless frontier towns, outlaws and cattle rustlers, all found their way into the new medium of film. Folk heroes and heroines, such as Jesse and Frank James, Wild Bill Hickok, Wyatt Earp, Calamity Jane and Annie Oakley, were all eagerly seized on by filmmakers. From the popular to the more literary, writers such as Zane Grey, Owen Wister and James Fennimore Cooper were plundered for storylines. The Western became popular worldwide because it offered escape, adventure, stunning landscapes and romance; also themes that resonated such as survival, law and order, defence of family, and dreams of a new and better world. David Carter's book starts with an introduction to the real American West and its famous historical figures, and traces the development of the genre from popular literature, through the early silent films, the sound era, the Golden Age of classic Westerns, TV and 'spaghetti westerns', to the self-reflexive and revisionist Westerns of recent decades. It provides a basic work of reference for all the major directors and noteworthy films of the genre. The great Hollywood directors are all here, such as John Ford, Howard Hawks, Raoul Walsh, Michael Curtiz, Sam Peckinpah and Henry Hathaway, and great stars including John Wayne, James Stewart, Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, Jane Russell and Clint Eastwood.

Genres: Westerns

309 pages, ebook

First published April 28, 2008

Reviews

[Tristram Shandy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing of Interest for the Western Buff

I was sent this book by mail this morning and had half a mind to return it straight away because it hardly contains anything new to anybody who has even superficially dedicated themselves to the wonderful genre of the western movie.

After a short introduction, Carter summarizes the plot of lots of westerns and deigns to give a brief comment on the films in question. In a way, the book is like, let's say, Buscombe's "100 Westerns", which did not impress me too much, either, or Joe Hembus's masterful western encyclopedia. However, Hembus is far, far more detailed and a quarry of information, whereas this book can easily be replaced by a look into the Internet Movie Database.

So, my fellow-western fans, save your money and avoid a disappointment!

[Simon · Rating 1 out of 5]

As close to a pointless book as you can find. Hard to imagine anyone aware enough to consult a book on westerns not knowing this stuff already. Little more than a run through of some films giving some indication that the author may have at one time read something about them. Shakespeare equivalent would run something like: Hamlet; a play with some people in it where the title character is sometimes played by an actor wearing black. Can sometimes be quite popular with some people if they are in that sort of a mood. Julius Caesar; a bit of a daft title because he dies before the play really gets going. Sometimes the lighting is quite interesting and evocative.

If you are interested in westerns do not buy this book. A complete waste of money.

Some nice pictures.