Michael F. Blake

Well researched book on John Ford's Calvary Trilogy which were the films Fort Apache, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, and Rio Grande. All films had John Wayne as well as members of Ford's stock company, i.e., Ben Johnson, Harry Carey Jr, Victor McLaglen, and others. The author provided info on what was in the script and what Ford actually shot, showing how Ford eliminated unnecessary dialogue and scenes in order to tighten the story. Information on location work and accommodations, casting decisions, and salaries was included. Interviews with some of the cast members was also included. There was then a complete credit list for each film as well. This really gives you a good look at what made John Ford a master filmmaker even though he did not always treat his actors well. Highly recommended.… (plus d'informations)

Splendidly researched, this biography of the masterful star of silent films and genius at makeup is an incredibly valuable asset in the library of film history. With special insights drawn from his own years as an actor and makeup artist, Michael F. Blake provides much more than most biographers can to a subject in this field. Marred only by too many misspellings of names and the unfortunate small size of many of the photographs, Blake's first of three books on Chaney is nevertheless THE great source of information on this great figure in movie history.… (plus d'informations)

Despite the title this is more an examination of how the legend of Wyatt Earp has evolved in Hollywood’s hands rather than representations of the mythic gunfight (although the two are inextricably linked.) By my calculations there have been 32 movies made to date that include Earp as a character. This volume takes a deep dive into perhaps the 8 best known ones.

If you’re the sort of person who enjoys lengthy plot descriptions and detail comparisons of scenes from various drafts vs what ended up on screen, then this is the book for you. Personally I found that aspect of each essay a bit tedious.

However I did enjoy the back stories on how each movie came to be made, it’s reception at the time, as well as the author’s views on where it worked (or didn’t). Blake doesn’t hold back on his opinions as both a film industry professional and Earp scholar.… (plus d'informations)

(NOT the author of "Dances With Wolves")

Amazon:
"Code of Honor: The Making of High Noon, Shane and The Searchers" is the first book to provide a detailed history of the struggles and triumphs in the production of these three classic Amerian Western films. With access to the collections of directors Fred Zinnemann George Stevens and John Ford, author Michael F. Blake incorporates script drafts, memos, personal notes and daily production reports to explain how each film was made. Rare photos include behind the scenes shots, memorabilia.… (plus d'informations)