Responsible for some of the greatest films of the 20th centurymdash;The Grapes of Wrath; How Green Was My Valley; and The Quiet Man among othersmdash;John Ford was best known for motion pictures that defined the American West and the face of wartime military. A Hollywood celebrity; Ford lived his life against the background that Twentieth Century-Fox fashioned for him. As he did; the facts of his life merged withmdash;and became inseparable frommdash;his multifaceted legend; fostered by Hollywoodrsquo;s studio culture and his own imagination.In The Westerns and War Films of John Ford Sue Matheson offers an engaging look at one of Americarsquo;s greatest directors and the two genres of films that solidified his reputation.Drawing on previously unreleased material; this volume explores the man; the filmmaker; the veteran; and the legendmdash;and the ways in which all of those roles shaped Fordrsquo;s view of America; national character; and his creative output. Among the films discussed here in depth are Fordrsquo;s early productions; such as The Iron Horse and Drums along the Mohawk; his military films; such as Submarine Patrol; The Battle of Midway; and They Were Expendable; and his Westerns; including Fort Apache; She Wore a Yellow Ribbon; The Searchers; and Cheyenne Autumn. Ford imbued many of his creations with a point of view that represented his ideals; and the films discussed here illustrate their directorrsquo;s distinct vision of American life on the frontier and in service of the country. That visionmdash;Fordrsquo;s idealization of the American Charactermdash;would; in turn; shape the worldview of several generations. The Westerns and War Films of John Ford will appeal to critics and scholars; but also to any fan of this iconic filmmakerrsquo;s work.
#1244299 in eBooks 2015-09-05 2015-09-05File Name: B01B2CBTU4
Review
3 of 7 people found the following review helpful. A Romp Through Georgian LondonBy Old School but KickingThis book is of interest to anyone who cares about 18th century England but it also could work well for someone looking for an introduction to those extraordinary days. The struggle to survive has never been more acutely portrayed than in this remarkable and yet true story of a daughter spurned by a famous but cold hearted father. You will laugh and cry with and about Charlotte but you cannot come away from this book without a deep appreciation for just how easy our lives are today.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Who Wouldnt Pick Pants Over A Corset?By Bitter LawyerGood historians are often dismal writers; but Shevelows narrative is engaging without veering off into conjecture or baseless fluff. The story of the actress Charlotte is an interesting skeleton which the author uses to support more general historical detail about the period. This context adds greatly to the story. Another strength is that Shevelow never falls prey to the twin failings of biographers - slavering adoration or spiteful condemnation. She also doesnt accept uncritically the image of Charlotte offered by either Charlotte herself or her contemporaries.The book does tend to drag a bit when Charlottes official stage career ends; but that is more due to the factual circumstances of the womans life than the authors fault. In fact people who want insight into the lives and lifestyles of Englands less fortunate citizens may find this section very rewarding. Personal preference really.Overall a well-researched; compellingly-written biography.6 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Well written; definitely not how romantic novellists see it...By A. WoodleyThere is a tendency in romantic novellists to spice up their novels with tales of actresses and cross-dressing young women who make good and marry the handsome peer - this is perhaps a more accurate reflection of what happened in reality to women of their ilk in eighteenth century BritainCharlottes story is probably not typical as such of the period; being a womans lot - but the reactions and results; well researched and written by Shevelow - seem to accurately reflect the period.Charlotte was born of a good family; her father was the poet laureate; and she had all possibility of advantage - however marrying at 17 and later abandoned by both her husband and her father; she was forced to make her own way in the world. she wrote plays (some apparently good for the period) and acted - specialising in male roles. This cross-dressing she later took into her real life.If anything this seems like a slow unfolding and destruction of a life. Much of it seems to be from her original autobiography published in the mid eighteenth century - no doubt to boost her finances as well - but gradually she was forced into all kinds of generally male dominated occupations.Saddening to read; at times heavy going; but enlightening. This is an excellent portrayal of the limitations on women in this period; and the consequences.
