Last of the Cowboy Heroes: The Westerns of Randolph Scott, Joel McCrea, and Audie Murphy (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

An elaborate filmography and dozens of great stills... sparkles brightly -- Film & History

In-depth...absorbing read -- Wranglers Roost

Remarkable... commentary is sharp... very colorful... makes you think about the films--all aspects of them... an intelligent study -- Classic Images

Product Description

In the world of Western films, Randolph Scott, Joel McCrea, and Audie Murphy have frequently been overlooked in favor of names like Roy Rogers and John Wayne. Yet these three actors played a crucial role in the changing environment of the post-World War II Western, and, in the process, made many excellent middle-budget films that are still a pleasure to watch.

This account of these three Western stars careers begins in 1946, when Scott and McCrea committed themselves to the Western roles they would play for nearly twenty years. Murphy, who also joined them in 1946, would continue his Western career for a few years after his cohorts rode into the film sunset. Arranged chronologically, and balanced among the three actors, the text concludes with Audie Murphy's last Western in 1967. Covering both the personal and professional lives of these three Hollywood cowboys, the book provides both their stories and the story of a Hollywood whose attitude toward the Western was in a time of transition and transformation. The text is complemented by 60 photographs and a filmography for each of the three.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 205 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company, Inc. (January 20, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786422610
• ISBN-13: 978-0786422616
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #698,680 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Last out of the old corral..., August 14, 2000

By	Rory Coker (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Last of the Cowboy Heroes: The Westerns of Randolph Scott, Joel McCrea, and Audie Murphy (Hardcover)

Apart from John Wayne, there were only three cowboy stars who hung on in the late 50s and early 60s, before spaghetti westerns briefly revived the genre, and created a new cowboy hero, Clint Eastwood. These were Randolph Scott, Joel McCrea and Audie Murphy. The films made by Scott between 1956 and 1960, directed by Budd Boetticher and written by Burt Kennedy, are among the best westerns ever put to film. What Nott has done here is to briefly survey the careers of all three performers before the late 50s, then give a detailed look at their final films. His research is excellent (I only found one error, the often repeated nonsense that Billy the Kid was born in New York City or Brooklyn) and his writing style is coherent and clear. Although Nott clearly loves these performers and these films, this is not a gushing fan publication... a comment that cannot be made for much of the output of this particular publisher. Recommended.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shooting Stars - Golden Age of The Western Film, June 25, 2000

By	Bv Lander (England) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Last of the Cowboy Heroes: The Westerns of Randolph Scott, Joel McCrea, and Audie Murphy (Hardcover)

With "LAST OF THE COWBOY HEROES" Robert Nott pays a long overdue tribute to three of the most enduring stars of the Western film genre. Each of the three stars has his career in the westerns covered in the period 1946-67 fully detailed,with a brief plot synopsis of each film and its making. Additional anecdotal material by colleagues and supporting actors in the trio's films provides a fascinating insight into their personalities. The book is written by Mr.Nott in a thoroughly readable style and in chronological order,like many of his readers he obviously has fond memories of the three stars and their films. The book is a must for anyone who enjoys western films and even more so for those of us who can remember seeing these movies back in the Golden years of the Western Movie. Excellently illustrated with movie stills and off screen shots this book sets a standard for others to follow.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Riding high!, July 30, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Last of the Cowboy Heroes: The Westerns of Randolph Scott, Joel McCrea, and Audie Murphy (Hardcover)

Entertaining and well-written book about the 3 movie-cowboys: Randolph Scott, Joel McCrea and Audie Murphy. Book tells not so much about their private lives and relations - but focuses on all the westerns they made since 1946. The writer tells detailed about each film and gives his personal opinion. Don't think that he considers all of them to be masterpieces - far from that! So, if these actors were some of your movie heroes from the 50's and 60's, the book is recommendable and easy read (even for a foreigner).