John Ford (1894-1973) is universally acknowledged as one of the greatest directors in the history of cinema. He is the only person to win four Academy Awards for Direction, for The Informer (1935), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), How Green Was My Valley (1941), and The Quiet Man (1952). This reference book is a comprehensive guide to his career. The volume begins with a biography that looks at Ford as a person, a director, and a cinematic legend and influence. Ford's life is discussed chronologically, but the biography repeatedly considers how his early experiences shaped his creative vision and attempts to explain why he was so self-destructive and unhappy throughout his career. In addition, the biography carefully scrutinizes his methods, styles, techniques, and secrets of direction. A chronology presents his achievements in capsule form. The rest of the book provides detailed information about his many productions and about the response to his works. The heart of the volume is a filmography, which includes individual entries for 184 films with which Ford was involved, as either an actor, a director, a producer, a writer, an advisor, or an assistant. These entries include cast and credit information, a plot synopsis, critical commentary, and excerpts from reviews. The book also includes the most extensive annotated bibliography on Ford ever published, with more than 1000 entries for books, articles, dissertations, documentaries, and even four works of fiction concerning Ford. Additional sections of the book provide information about his unrealized projects; his radio, television, and theater work; his awards and honors; and special collections and archives.

John Ford (1894-1973) directed scores of memorable movies that feature countless scenes that linger in one's memory. He is the only director to have won four Best Director Academy Awards, for The Informer (1935), The Grapes of Wrath (1940), How Green Was My Valley (1941), and The Quiet Man (1952). There have been many biographies and film studies of John Ford and his motion pictures. There has never been a single volume devoted to the stock company of actors and actresses who worked for him, some continually, many intermittently, from his silent westerns of the 'teens to his final films of the 1960s. This book spotlights 112 members of Ford's fluid repertory company and includes a mini-chapter on each member of the troupe. And it was a diverse group. One wrote three books on the Baha'i Faith religion; another boxed the heavyweight champion of the world to a draw; one eloped with Loretta Young when she was seventeen; one participated in the Yukon gold rush; a photograph of one player's ear is the clublogo for a professional wrestling association; another taught Lucy how to jitterbug; one was a legendary undercover agent for the OSS in France during World War II; another was a member of the advisory board to the Bank of America concerning loans to the studios; two were rodeo world champions. All of them, from obscure bit players to barely-remembered character actors to legendary film stars, made substantial contributions to Ford's movie legacy. Bill Levy is the author of John Ford: A Bio-Bibliography and Beyond the Beach: The Wit and Wisdom of Nevil Shute. He has been writing his "Forgotten Gems" column on films of the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s for New Jersey's monthly senior publication, Fifty Plus, since 2001. He lives in Mendham, New Jersey. For further information, see his website: www.BillLevyShares.com.

Bill Levy's "Beyond the Beach: The Wit and Wisdom of Nevil Shute" offers readers the opportunity to experience Nevil Shute. British novelist Nevil Shute (1899-1960) is remembered primarily for his novel "On the Beach." But he wrote over twenty other fascinating novels that are still extremely relevant today. The book is divided into two sections. The first section, "Beyond the Beach," is an overview of Nevil Shute's life and career and consists of (1) a biographical sketch of Nevil Shute including a brief analysis of his work, and (2) a discussion of reasons why he should be read today and tomorrow. The second section, "The Wit and Wisdom of Nevil Shute," is divided up into nineteen sub-sections. Each sub-section contains quotations from one of Shute's books. These quotations demonstrate Shute's perceptions of people, places, and ideas; they also illustrate his subtle humor, his gentle yet masculine use of language, his unique sense of timing, and his genius for succinctly capturing a universal concept with deceptive simplicity. Shute had the unique capacity to combine an astute and pragmatic knowledge of technology with an optimistic humanism and, quite often, with a compelling sense of mysticism. His books continually emphasize the power of the individual to shape history while his genuine and generous protagonists provide excellent heroic prototypes. Nevil Shute had an uncanny ability to predict the future. He also had the skill to sculpt stories that open up his readers' minds. The author states in the Prologue, "Nevil Shute's novels have provided me with a sanctuary from many of the absurdities of contemporary life, given me much of my moral base, and helped to expand my personal horizons. Hopefully, this book will stimulate others to explore and re-explore his world."