Back in the Saddle Again: New Essays on the Western
The recent deaths of cowboy stars Roy Rogers and Gene Autry have refocused attention on the once thriving Hollywood Western. Despite an unfortunate similarity in titles, these two books cover somewhat different ground. Back in the Saddle consists of biographical essays on film and TV Western stars, including early favorites "Bronco Billy" Anderson, Buck Jones, and Tom Mix, singing cowboys Roy Rogers and Tex Ritter, the Western work of film greats Jimmy Stewart and Steve McQueen, plus a look at the enduring popularity of the TV series Gunsmoke and its star, James Arness. There are also chapters on Western character actors and a review of the increasing importance of Native American actors. Back in the Saddle Again examines the rise, fall, and limited rebirth of the Western's popularity with world film audiences. Despite excessively academic titles, some of these essays will interest general readers. Subjects include John Ford's use of Monument Valley locations, brief histories of TV Westerns and singing cowboy films, the changing portrayal of General Custer in Hollywood films, and a critique of little-known German-made Westerns of the 1960s. Most books on Hollywood Westerns are now out of date or out of print. Though neither book is comprehensive, the first should fill some gaps in public library collections while the second should be considered as a supplementary source for academic libraries only.?Stephen Rees, Levittown Regional Lib., PACopyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.