A perfect blend of characterization, action and poetic images, John Ford's Stagecoach (1939) made "A" Westerns a viable product for Hollywood in the sound era. By 1990, the Western had again been on a downswing when Dances with Wolves became both a critical and commercial success. This work examines these two films and twelve others--Red River, High Noon, Shane, The Searchers, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, The Alamo, The Magnificent Seven, Ride the High Country, How the West Was Won, The Wild Bunch, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and Unforgiven--that hold unique spots in the genre's history. Full filmographic data are provided for each, along with an essay that blends plot synopsis, historical perspectives and the movie's place in the Western genre.

The Lone Ranger has endured as an iconic figure in American popular culture, from his 1933 premier as a radio serial hero through a highly-rated television series (1949-1957) to a 2013 feature film. Created by script writer Fran Striker and radio station owner George W. Trendle, the character was meant to embody courage, fair play and honesty, and writers had to adhere to specific guidelines: "he never smokes ... he uses precise speech ... he never shoots to kill." The popularity of the Ranger and his companion Tonto inspired later crime fighting duos like Batman and Robin, and The Green Hornet and Kato. This book examines the franchise in detail, with summaries and production details of the original radio episodes.

From the French and Indian War to the Civil War, well over a hundred years of American history is reflected through the lives of six bold and famous men: Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, Sam Houston, Jim Bridger, and Kit Carson. Here is a book that details their lives, their legends, and the many films and television shows their stories inspired. A biography of each frontiersman in followed by a detailed examination of films and television shows featuring that man as a character. Discussion of films includes cast and credit listings, synopses, and notes on the production, including comments on accuracy and interpretation. Television coverage includes listings of episode titles and discussion of each series' history. The book is illustrated with both film stills and contemporary drawings and paintings of the frontiersmen. An appendix of documentaries and a bibliography are included.