Bøger af Michael F. Blake

This work is a behind-the-scenes look at the making and influence of three classic Western movies bound together by the "code of honour" that they explore. "High Noon", "Shane", and "The Searchers" resonate with the rugged simplicity and honesty typifying the genre.

The Cavalry Trilogy captures the genesis of Fort Apache (1948), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), and Rio Grande (1950), from pre-production to theatrical releases. Along the way, readers learn why Ford loved his favorite location (Monument Valley), how various stunts were achieved, and how Ford used his unique style in various scenes (called a "Fordian touch" by film critics and scholars). In addition, each film includes an analysis of Ford's scene construction and character development. Illustrated with numerous behind-the-scenes photographs, many which have never been published before, and screen captures from the cutting room floor, this book is the ultimate gift for John Ford fans and readers who love to discover the grit and glamour of Hollywood's Golden Age.

The Cowboy President: The American West and the Making of Theodore Roosevelt reveals how Roosevelt's time spent in the Western Dakota Territory helped him recover from an overwhelming personal loss, but more importantly, how it transformed him into the man etched onto Mount Rushmore, a man who is still rated as one of the top five Presidents in American history. Unlike other Roosevelt biographies, The Cowboy President details how the land, the people and the Western code of honor had an enormous impact on Theodore and how this experience influenced him in his later years.

Examines eight movie renderings of the legendary gunfight. Produced from 1939 to 1994, these movies each use Wyatt Earp and other real-life characters as their sources. This work focuses on the filmmakers' treatment of the history and the skill with which each balances fact with the necessity of entertainment.