Back in the Saddle Again: New Essays on the Western [Hardcover]

Edward Buscombe (Editor), Roberta E. Pearson (Editor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0851706606 | ISBN-13: 978-0851706603 | Publication Date: August 1998

This collection of essays, commissioned for the book, covers aspects of the Western genre such as the early silent western, the western in German cinema, the television westerns of the 1950s, and the singing cowboys of the 1930s. It examines the topic of Native Americans and looks beyond America to examine the European western and to consider the significance of Mexico. The work also looks at the role of westerns in magazine advertising and in fashion, and the spate of TV documentaries on western topics.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

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 Most books on Hollywood Westerns are now out of date or out of print.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., PA
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"[E]xtremely thoughtful, thought-provoking pieces of writing." -- Uncut --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 218 pages
• Publisher: British Film Inst (August 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0851706606
• ISBN-13: 978-0851706603
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,306,163 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Off the Beaten Trail, November 18, 2006

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Michael Samerdyke (Big Stone Gap, VA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Back in the Saddle Again: New Essays on the Western (Paperback)

Edward Buscombe is one of the best scholars writing about Westerns today, and he adds to his reputation by putting together this anthology of scholarly articles that explore topics general histories of the Western genre tend to ignore.

There is a marvellous essay on Douglas Fairbanks (Sr.) as a Western star in his pre-swashbuckler career. Also I was fascinated by the piece on Gene Autry and why the singing cowboy craze began when it did. The essay on the extraordinary popularity of TV Westerns in the late Fifties showed why this was due to the economic factors facing the TV networks then.

In short, the pieces collected here avoid the tried and true topics that have been talked to death elsewhere. For the most part, they are void of academic jargon and can be read with enjoyment by the general reader with an interest in the Western genre.