Front and back covers in full-color, as illustrated. Black-and-white photographs in text. Includes Filmography. Includes annotated listing of television episodes.
FREE Two-Day Shipping for students on millions of items. Learn more |
| |||||||||||||||
Book Description
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Grand memories-Hoppy rides again,
By
This review is from: Films of Hopalong Cassidy (Paperback)
For over half a century the name Hopalong Cassidy meant something to either readers,movie-goers, radio listeners or TV viewers.The fictional book hero, created by Clarence E.Mulford,first appeared in 1905 and lasted until 1941. By that time the red-thatched, hard-cussing cowpoke had been transformed by actor William Boyd into an urbane, polished knight-gallant. This is the Hoppy that Francis Nevins looks at and, as the name of his book implies,the author exhaustively details all 66 of these superior B grade western Cassidy films,between 1935-48.These films continued to be run into the 1960s such was the great popularity of Boyd's Hoppy, in the 1950's, via TV, radio and the actor's marketing genius in promoting a plethora of Hoppy goods, including food, toys, clothing etc.Nevins also catalogues the TV Cassidy series but does not engage in detailed information on these as many of the early TV Hoppy shows were cut-down versions of the earlier films. The book is extensively laced with large black and white photos, from all the movies and, together with a lively text, brings back some great memories to all the Hoppy fans the world over who were growing-up in the 1950s,or earlier. As Nevins notes, 'the best of the Hopalong Cassidy movies are among the finest westerns ever made.'However this book is not just a puff-job. Nevins is also critical of some of the films and dismisses the TV series as amongst the worst westerns (that view of course was not shared by 1950's children who couldn't get enough of their hero-and of course the TV series was pitched at a juvenile audience). Although forgotten today, Bill Boyd was a huge-star for over 20 years as Hopalong, completely fusing his persona with that of the cowboy.The role seemed to change the man. From a frivolous silent-era heart-throb(with 4 failed marriages) whose career seemed over, until he accepted the Cassidy role in 1935, Boyd became the epitome of everything wholesome and decent.In 1937 he started two enduring partnerships,one with his fifth wife,the actress Grace Bradley,the other with Topper, his four-legged ghostly grey co-star. These partnerships were severed only by death-Topper's in 1961 and Boyd's in 1972 (Grace is still alive).Boyd's acts of kindness to children, particularly the sick, are legendary and in films and life Boyd represented the best of American values. Thus, whilst making a store-appearance in the Deep-South, Boyd refused to allow the segregation of children waiting to see him. Hoppy, as always, continued to 'ride-tall'. The Cassidy films too showed great sensitivity in portraying Indians and Afro-Americans in an era not particularly known for such portrayals.A minor criticism of this detailed book relates to Boyd's birth and death. Nevins, like a majority of writers on William Boyd, states the actor was born in 1898. In fact, Boyd was born in 1895. Likewise, Nevins states that Boyd died on 13 September 1972 whereas all other references I have read state he died on 12 September. Nevertheless, Nevins has written an interesting book on a great western star analysing the films in the context of the times.
Footnote: Grace Boyd died 21 September 2010 - on her 97th birthday- surviving her husband by 38 years.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
"1895-1972 William Boyd ~ 1935-1954 Hopalong Cassidy",
This review is from: Films of Hopalong Cassidy (Paperback)
Francis M. Nevins book on "The Films of Hopalong Cassidy", a detailed account and loaded with photographs of the Paramount Pictures and Producer Harry Sherman days and our leading Western hero "Hopalong Cassidy" (William Boyd)...our silver-haired, black clothes wrangler and his white horse (Topper) rode into our lives and we've never been the same since...when the good guys always won and their hat never fell off in a fist-fight and the moral to the story was fair-play
Hopalong Cassidy films were always first class and the early years had some of the best of the best...actors and actresses from the series Ted Adams, Morris Ankrum, Roy Barcroft, Rand Brooks, Edgar Buchanan, Jan Clayton, Andy Clyde, Jimmy Ellison, Douglas Fowley, Gabby Hayes, Russell Hayden, Earle Hodgins, Brad King, Jay Kirby, Robert Mitchum, George Reeves, Duncan Renaldo, Jimmy Rogers, Glenn Strange and Britt Wood...they all appeared in various films during the series loved and looked up to Hoppy...top-notch film-making, outstanding directing from Derwin Abrahams, George Archainbaud, Howard Bretherton, Joseph A. Henabery, Lesley Selander, David Selman and Nate Wate...Boyd gave his character life, his word was his bond...Hoppy never quit on a friend in need, always giving the other fellow an even break...this was the way of the early West...the code he lived by, they'll never be another Hopalong Cassidy or Hoppy as his friends knew him. Paramount Pictures and Clarence E. Mulford's fictional western character "Hopalong Cassidy" comes to life through the producing of Harry "Pop" Sherman and the realistic performance of William Lawrence Boyd...as Hoppy aims to do some trailing for cattle rustlers, clean up a wild town and save the under-dog...always filmed in the great outdoors of Lone Pine, California at the foothills of Mount Whitney..."Hopalong Cassidy" (1935) features Jimmy Ellison (Johnny Nelson) always hot-headed & getting into trouble...but the scene stealer is George "Gabby" Hayes, as the old-timer Uncle Ben, gives the a film shot in the arm with his down-to-earth humor and sentimentality, as the father figure to Hoppy the interaction with Boyd's character is pure Americana! Brings back many good memories of my years with Hoppy...William Lawrence Boyd was born in Cambridge, Ohio on June 5, 1895 and left us on September 12, 1972 in Palm Desert, California...filmed 66 episodes from 1935 until 1948...then went into the television series 1952-1954 with over 40 episodes... Don't miss this one...now appearing on Amazon as a used copy...Don't hesitate pick up your copy today...Great reading in the days and weeks to come...I guarantee it! Total Pages: 324 Pages ~ World of yesterday 0-936505-09-5 ~ (6/01/1988)
3.0 out of 5 stars
The films of Hopalong Cassidy,
By
This review is from: The Films of Hopalong Cassidy (Hardcover)
I dont want to write no review whatsoever, but I want only THE FILMS OF HOPALONG CASSIDY. Is that possible ? Ricardo.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
