Customer Reviews

Hollywood Trail Boss

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Burt Kennedy writes a fast-paced, fun-filled book about behind the scenes events in his great old westerns and TV shows. Find out how they did those war sceens in Combat, how to find a train to use in a movie and what John Wayne was like to work with. Then of course, there's the scene of Angie Dickinson emerging from her bath, that was cut--check the pictures in the middle of the book for this vintage shot. Becky Reid

Burt Kennedy has directed many famous stars and made many famous Westerns. He may be a great story-teller in person however this does not come through in this book. There are many things he says are funny before relating a particular anecdote, but I can't really remember laughing once during this book. All the stories seemed to fizzle out and the punch-line seemed to leave the anecdote unfinished. You all know the type of thing I mean. Think of the last party you went to that had the guy who couldn't tell a joke to save his life.

Mr. Kennedy does give some insight into the business of movie-making, and this is interesting, but not enough so to save this effort. I have to wonder after reading some of the other reviews if we all read the same book....

This work of vignettes of Burt Kennedy's life and times as a Hollywood Movie Director gives the reader an inside look at Hollywood without the usual petty back biting. Burt keeps the reader interested and amused throughout without having to resort to the more tawndry side of the picture business. A great work to keep at bedside and reread regularly.

Burt Kennedy's HOLLYWOOD TRAIL BOSS is great inside stuff on some of the great Stars, their personalities, quirks, and talents. Kennedy's style of writing is easy reading, often funny and full of intimate humor. His 50 years of producing, films and directing many of the Greats gives him a unique personal insight to Stars like John Wayne,Glenn Ford, Henry Fonda,James Garner, Frank Sinatra, Alex Baldwin, and some sexie gals like Raquel Welch, Angie Dickinson,Ann-Margret, and scores of others. Reading his book is like sitting across from a very nice easy talking guy and having an intimate gabfest about the personal thoughts and behavior of some of Hollywood's most notable Stars. HOLLYWOOD TRAIL BOSS is a terrific read to be enjoyed by just about anyone who is a movie buff, past or present. This is written by a bonafide veteran producer and director with a noteworthy Filmography to his credit. His anecdotes about the Hollywood scene and actors are memorable. Though his book you'll see the Stars as they are in real life. The book is full of very enlightening stories that are fun and revealing.

Burt Kennedy has written excellent screenplays for Budd Boetticher, but it does not show here. Perhaps he wrote this small book during two or three evenings. He did not care to check facts. There is no plot, just some stories in no particular order. Some are fairly interesting, but the whole is not good. I expected more stories about Scott and Boetticher. If you want a good book about film-making, buy Harry Carey's book. There is a good filmography, but one can get it from IMBD, too. It is again interesting to observe, how differently one can experience a book or a film. Some liked this book very much, some didn't. These kind of ratings are not very helpful. But I did read it, though, but expected much more. I liked his honest evaluations of some some poor films. For me one of those poor ones is the Train Robbers.