• Photographs-- introduction-- H. Bruce Humberstone-- Henry King-- Alfred Hitchcock-- Howard Hawks-- John Huston-- Orson Welles-- Roman Polanski-- Sam Peckinpah-- Filmographies by Karl Thiede.
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This study of the careers of 8 prominent Hollywood directors is based on personal acquaintance, on formal and informal interviews conducted over a period of several years, and on scholarly research on the directors and their films. In each case, Tuska presents a study of the artist in terms of his creations, surrounding the chronology of his work in film with an appraisal of it and an informal portrait. Eschewing the subjective approach to film study akin to literary analysis, in which a critic projects sometimes alien theories on a film, Tuska proceeds from the premise that one cannot understand a filmmaker's craft without coming to terms with his personality and understanding how he went about achieving the results he sought. The particular directors were chosen because their careers parallel the development and growth of the motion picture industry from the silent era to the present. The earlier directors, H. Bruce Hubmerstone and, to a lesser extent, Henry King, Alfred Hitchcock, Howard Hawks, John Huston and Orson Welles, had to struggle, each in his own way to liberate themselves from the restrictions of the studio system; Roman Polanski and Sam Peckinpah came on the scene in the era of the independent director but faced other difficulties. Each was able to overcome obstacles and produce films of enduring artistry. Their output is documented in detailed filmographies prepared by Karl Thiede, and a photo section provides a graphic dimension to the "portraits" of the directors, often showing them on the set and with actors or production staff.
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• The league of the old men / Jack London
• The Trail of 'Ninety-eight (ballad) / Robert Service
• The test / Rex Beach
• The strength of men / James Oliver Curwood
• The man who goes alone / Max Brand
• The great hunger / Dan Cushman
• Mush fast or die! / Les Savage, Jr.
• Cheechako trouble / James B. Hendryx
• Color at Forty-Mile / Tim Champlin.

The Northwestern story emerged full-blown from the pen of Jack London, and his "The League of the Old Men" is a fitting introduction to these rigorous action tales, in which the inhospitable climate strips away civilized veneer and individuals must live or die by their cunning, instinct, and sometimes ruthlessness. The bond between man and dog, and the character flaws revealed under the stresses of extreme isolation are just two of the classic themes explored in these works. The collection comes to a fitting climax of a century's worth of development with a new story by Tim Champlin, commissioned for this volume. Most of these stories were originally published in magazines and were heavily edited to meet space and style concerns. "Stories of the Far North" restores each work to its original form, uncut and as each author intended. Jon Tuska has written and edited numerous works about the American West, including "The Western Story: A Chronological Treasury (Nebraska 1995)".
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

This volume of Max Brand's short fiction is chock full of the fast paced, deftly plotted stories that made Brand famous. "Cayenne Charlie" tells the story of Charlie Bird, a redheaded cowpoke so accustomed to trouble he treats jail like a hotel. "The Bells of San Carlos" introduces Fray Luis, a most formidable member of the clergy. The novella "Between One and Three" is part Western, part mystery, a story of counterfeiters who elude detection. "The Gift" features Happy Jack, one of Brand's most fascinating characters. Happy Jack is on the trail of Sandy Crisp, whose crimes include shooting one of Jack's friends. "The Bells of San Carlos and other stories" offers stories and novellas long out of print or never printed in their entirety. At first publication, the stories often suffered from editors' cuts to make them fit available page space. Editor Jon Tuska has returned to the original manuscripts to restore Brand's full texts.Max Brand was the favourite pseudonym of Frederick Schiller Faust (1892-1944), whose novels have been reprinted again and again, translated into every major language, and adapted for film. Jon Tuska is the editor of "The Western Story: A Chronological Treasury", also available in a "Bison Books" edition.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

• The black rider
• The dream of Macdonald
• Partners
• The power of prayer.

"The Black Rider and Other Stories" collects three short novels and one short story by Max Brand originally published in magazines and never reprinted before; they appear here for the first time in book form. At first publication the stories often suffered from editors' cuts to make them fit available page space. Editor Jon Tuska has returned to the original manuscripts to restore Brand's full texts. The stories are set in that land Brand called the 'mountain desert', a timeless and magical place for him. In addition to mapping a geographic region, these stories show the extent to which Brand was exploring the corridors of the human spirit. The story of Lucia d'Arquista's confrontation with her own soul, "The Black Rider", originally published in 1925, is set in Spanish California at the time when the eastern colonies of this country were still ruled by Great Britain.The feud between Red Macdonald and the Gregory clan disrupts the quiet town of Sudeth in "The Dream of Macdonald" (1923). As this short novel progresses, Macdonald's dream increasingly takes possession of his very being. In a few deft pages, Brand takes up the challenge of the most demanding form of fiction in "Partners", a 1938 short short story that sketches a murderous relationship between two men. "The Power of Prayer", which first appeared in the 1922 Christmas issue of "Western Story Magazine", concerns Gerald Kern, a real gentleman who is also a gunman. His tale is not unlike that of the true and imperishable gentleman of darkness from the "Book of Job". 'Max Brand' was the favorite pseudonym of Frederick Schiller Faust (1892-1944), whose works have been reprinted again and again, translated into every major language, and adapted for film.Jon Tuska is the author of "Billy the Kid: A Handbook" (Nebraska 1986) and the editor of "The Western Story: A Chronological Treasury" (Nebraska 1995).
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• The ghost wagon
• Rodeo Ranch
• Slip Liddell
• A matter of honor.

"The Ghost Wagon and Other Great Western Adventures" collects four additional short novels by Max Brand not previously published in book form. These novels represent some of the best of Brand's western writing. They illustrate the expansiveness of Brand's imagination and the fecundity with which he would vary his themes, examining the human condition from numerous disparate viewpoints. In Max Brand's stories no character is either a hero or a villain, and most are mixtures of both. That is certainly the case in "The Ghost Wagon", first published in 1921. Both Lew Carney and Jack Doyle love Mary Hamilton - and she has plans of her own. "Rodeo Ranch" proved one of Brand's most popular short novels the year it first appeared in "Western Story Magazine" (1923). "Slip Liddel" (1938) is set during the depression and centers on a poor man's revenge. It is reminiscent of Brand's own unhappy early years as a farm and ranch laborer."A Matter of Honor" was published under the title "Jerico's Garrison Finish" in 1921. The story has much more to do with Jim Orchard's struggles to distinguish between honor and pride than with mere horse racing. Brand's fiction was frequently amputated by magazine editors seeking to fit it to the page, and his titles were often changed to appear more exciting or appealing. Jon Tuska has returned to the original manuscripts, restoring the full texts and original titles.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

Jon Tuska is the author or editor of numerous works about the American West, including "Stories of the Far North" (Nebraska 1998).
(source: Nielsen Book Data)

This companion serves to tell readers of the various works of Frederick Schiller Faust, known to most by one of his many pseudonyms, "Max Brand". It tells of his life, his work, its derivations and credits the man with many famous works that may surprise many people.
(source: Nielsen Book Data)