The Films of Sam Peckinpah

By Neil Fulwood

A detailed look at both the films and the man. One of America's most intriguing directors of Westerns and films of violence, Peckinpah created a highly influential body of work, including Ride the High Country , Major Dundee , The Wild Bunch , Straw Dogs , and The Getaway . Illustrated with 50 stills, the book includes a biographical account of Peckinpah, including his early years in television, and a chronological examination of his films, placed in the context of their production and critical reception. There are fascinating accounts of Peckinpah's approach to film direction and on-set behavior, as well as of studio interference during editing. An analysis of the iconography of his films illuminates the director's recurring themes and preoccupations.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 071348733X
• ISBN13: 9780713487336
• Release Date: June 2003
• Publisher: Batsford
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.8" x 0.3" x 7.3"

Customer Reviews

Great book on a very controversial director

Neil Fulwood's book is very, very good and I am very surprised that no one has reviewed it yet. It makes a excellent companion to the other thicker biographies written on Peckinpah and the DVD releases of his movies that have come out in the last few years. Fulwood is very intelligent in his reviews of Peckinpah's films and wonderfully all of the films are represented here. There are discussions on Peckinpah's films from his first- 'The Deadly Companions' to his last- 'The Osterman Weekend'. The movie recaps also have some excellent black and white photographs that accompany them. I really enjoyed the recaps written on Peckinpah's Westerns and which I very much enjoyed Fulwood's interpretations of them. I liked the discussion of one of my favorite off beat films of all time 'Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia' and one of my favorite World War II films of all time 'Cross of Iron'. You may not always agree with Fulwood but he writes very intelligently and very enjoyably. I think this is one of the best books written on Sam Peckinpah and his movies. Highly recommended!