Customer Reviews

Peckinpah: A Portrait in Montage

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Peckinpah, written by Garner Simmons and published by the Universtity of Texas Press in 1982,is a no-nonsense, non-opinionated look at the life and work of director Sam Peckinpah. The first few chapters are devoted to his early life: parents, childhood, growing up, early TV work, etc. The rest of the book is presented in a movie-by-movie format, with one chapter being devoted to each film. The chronological discussion of each film pays great attention to detail form pre to post production. Lots of good insight from cast and crew members help make this book really special! There is little info on Peckinpah's final film, "The Osterman Weekend", as it had not been released at the time of this book's publication. The book is dedicated to the memory of Jerry Fielding, the extremely talented composer who worked with Peckinpah on several films.

This is one of the first and best Peckinpah's biographies. Written a few years before his death but with a new preface and postscript it is a superb account about the life and films of Sam Peckinpah. Garner Simmons talked to many friends, family, actors and producers to make this a wonderful readable experience.If you are in the films of Sam Peckinpah get this book!

This is the kind of bio that should be written about every important film director. Simmons is just detached enough to be objective, but not cold and removed so as to miss the color and flavor of this remarkable man. Highly reccommended for all interested in films - not just Peckinpah geeks.

Someone should get this guy to do a series of books on directors.

I'm a person who reads for information 98% of the time. If a book does not bring my level of education up a notch from when I started, I put it down, usually before I finish it.

I have long been drawn to the adventure films of Sam Peckinpah, and like most Americans, I think, have an interest and curiousity concerning the Motion Picture Industry.

In Mr. Simmon's book, "Peckinpah, A Portrait in Montage", I found his forthright honesty refreshing, and his attention to detail very commendable.

Beginning his work in the historical period before Sam's birth in northern Calif., Simmons gives us an intrieging look into the life and customs of the rough and tumble times that shaped the pioneer spirit of his family, thus shaping and molding Sam into becoming the man he was, and which his pictures reflected.

The book travels from there to picture after picture, recounting each one as a separate episode complete with both sucesses and failures. For me, it was a facinating look at the process which brought some of my favorite movies, such as "The Wild Bunch" & "Major Dundee", to the screen.

Simmons does not pull punches, and makes no attempt to idealize, or grandise Peckinpauh beyond the truth. His human faults and imperfections are evident as they are in us all, and are so portrayed. Mr. Simmons even goes so far as to critize himself for the mistakes he made in putting his work together. I can't help but admire that.

In conclusion......"Peckinpauh, A portait in montague", fits my criteria completely as a very fine historical and biographical work. Well written and honestly presented, I have learned a great deal about a man whose work I have long admired AND about the internal work'ns of an industry long shrouded in mystery [for me anyway]. Carl R. Dillenback