Books on John Ford Movies
JOHN FORD'S STAGECOACH
Barry Keith Grant (2002)
(Cambridge Film Handbooks)
Stagecoach is one of the classics of Hollywood cinema. Made in 1939,
it revitalized the Western genre, served as a milestone for John Ford's career, and made John Wayne a star.
This volume offers a rich overview of the film in essays by six leading film critics.
Approaching Stagecoach from a variety of critical perspectives, it considers it within
the contexts of authorship, genre, American history and culture.
It also examines the film's commentary on race, class, gender and democracy,
while remaining attentive to the film's artistry.
So far it's pretty interesting - the kind of stuff I think you'd enjoy reading. It consists mostly of critical essays written by various film scholars/historians. For example, "Stagecoach and Hollywood's A-Western Renaissance," "Powered by a Ford?: Dudley Nichols, Authorship, and Cultural Ethos in Stagecoach," "That Past, This Present: Historicizing John Ford, 1939," "A Little Bit Savage: Stagecoach and Racial Representation," "Be a Proud, Glorified Dreg: Class, Gender, and Frontier Democracy in Stagecoach," & "Stagecoach and the Quest for Selfhood." There are also three contemporary (i.e., 1939) reviews of the film.
YORK FILM NOTES: STAGECOACH
Elizabeth Bowen. (2000)
York Film Notes published by Longman York Press.
This is a serious book for anyone studying the film
with 88 pages first published 2000.
Discusses Stagecoach from a broad academic and critical perspective, setting plot, themes and techniques in context and exploring the film’s significance. This York Film Note encourages students to appreciate differing interpretations of each film and to develop their own critical thinking.
STAGECOACH
Richard J. Anobile. (1975)
(Film Classic Libraries) Illustrated Screenplay
This volume contains frame blow-ups and dialogue from the classic 1939 United Artists film STAGECOACH. The film was produced by Walter Wanger and directed by John Ford. John Wayne starred with Claire Trevor.
John Ford's Stagecoach (Starring John Wayne), 1975 1st Edition, edited by Richard J. Anobile. Book is all about the making of the famous movie and is generously illustrated with pictures from the movie. Hardcover with 256 pages, published by Universe Books.
The Film Classic Library presents the most accurate and complete reconstruction of a film in book form: over 1,200 frame blow-up photos shown sequentially and coupled with the complete dialogue from the original soundtrack, allow you to recapture this film classic in it's entirety -- at your leisure.
Before everybody had a VCR this was the book to have – and it’s still wonderful: the whole film in photographs, every scene of it, along with the dialogue, and a text about the making of the classic.
STAGECOACH
Edward Buscombe.(1992)
From the BFI Film classics series
Shedding new light on an old favorite, this is an enjoyable account of how "Stagecoach "was made. This book combines a with a careful scene-by-scene analysis, a wealth of illustrations and the most complete credits yet assembled.
Analyze this! A scene by scene analysis.
STAGECOACH:
a Film by John Ford and Dudley Nicholls
(Classic Film Scripts)
David Newman/ Robert Benton.(1939)
The complete film script with added information for film scholars.
MY DARLING CLEMENTINE
Robert Lyons. (1984)
Published by Rutgers University Press New Brunswick New Jersey. 196 pages.
This volume contains a full transcript of the film as released and significant material from Fords shooting script. A 1964 interview with Ford on making westerns and a recent (then) inteview with Winston Miller, the film's scriptwriter, supply valuable background to the film. Essays by the noted British director Lindsay Anderson and by several distinguished film scholars establish 'My Darling Clementine's'place in Ford's career and in the tradition of the Hollywood Western. Robert Lyons, the editor of this volume, provides an introduction that explores Ford's use of Western history and familiar Hollywood conventions in creating this remarkable film.
THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE QUIET MAN
Des McHale. (2002)
Amazingly and astoundingly in-depth. Includes the short story by Maurice Walsh that inspired the film, a complete cast list (including the names of stunt doubles, the names of all the horses, the names of extras, the names of everyone in any way [no matter how insignificant] connected with the film and their entire life story, it would seem), complete & detailed maps of locations in case anyone wants to do a pilgrimage, new photos of all the locations... it's mind-boggling. There are also some great photos taken behind the scenes and lots of behind the scenes anecdotes. Every scene and practically every shot and every word of dialogue is analyzed in depth - from perspectives varying from historical, to symbolic, to Irish folkloric, to technical... the guy makes a big deal about a stupid little fly landing on Maureen O'Hara's cheek, for cryin' out loud.
But it's a lot of fun if you love this movie, and who doesn't love this movie?
John Ford's Oscar-winning `The Quiet Man' (1952), based on the story by Maurice Walsh, is one of the best-loved and most popular films of all time, and nowadays one of the best-selling videos also. `The Complete Guide To The Quiet Man' is a celebration of every aspect of the film - the background, the stars, the shooting, the screenplay, the influences, and the many legends and stories that have grown up around it. This book could just as easily have been called "Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About The Quiet Man" - the shooting locations with dozens of detailed maps; a very comprehensive cast and crew list; hundreds of previously unseen photographs taken by both amateurs and professionals; a detailed analysis of every word of the dialogue; video timings of all the scenes; and above all the inside story and a thorough discussion of the whole `Quiet Man' phenomenon, which have all led to one of the greatest cult movies of all time.
If you are already one of the many millions of "Quiet Maniacs" who already know and love the film then this book is a must for you. If you are not yet a fan, then maybe it is time you learned why John Ford is regarded as one of the greatest film directors the world has ever known; why the electric partnership of Maureen O'Hara and John Wayne was one of the silver screen's most erotic combinations; how the beautiful scenery of the West of Ireland first came to international attention as a result of the Oscar-winning colour cinematography of Hoch and Stout; and why Barry Fitzgerald and Victor McLaglen became two of the cinema's best-loved character actors.
We can confidently predict that `The Quiet Man' will be around as long as there are moviegoers to watch it, a monument to the genius of John Ford, Maurice Walsh and its many stars. In the case of this western shot in Ireland, we can justly say "This is the West of Ireland - when the fact becomes legend, print the legend!"
PICTURE THE QUIET MAN: An Illustrated Celebration
Des McHale. (2005)
Written by a true fan, this reflection on one of the most loved Irish films of all time collects mementos from John Ford's Oscar winning The Quiet Man. Although made more than 50 years ago, this romance, starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara, continues to fire the imaginations of Ireland's visitors, would-be visitors, and lovers of cinema. This collection serves as a photo album, with candid shots from behind the scenes and stills from the film itself, a miscellany of little-known facts about the locations, bit parts, costumes, and directorial commentary, and never-before-published material that will charm film buffs and engage film historians.
About the Author
Des MacHale was born in Castlebar County Mayo, not far from where The Quiet Man was filmed. He is a professor of mathematics at University College—Cork and the author of more than 50 books, including The Complete Guide to The Quiet Man.
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF THE QUIET MAN
Gerry McNee. (1991)
Turned down by all the major film companies, The Quiet Man brought together John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara for only the second time on screen, won two Oscars and was showered with both critical and popular praise on both sides of the Atlantic. Even today, its worldwide video and DVD sales are quite outstanding. The Quiet Man is rightly hailed as a Hollywood classic. Set in the 1920s and shot in the 1950s, the timeless, fairy-tale character of director John Ford's Ireland is as captivating now as it ever was.Gerry McNee first saw the movie when he was very young and it has intrigued him ever since. In the Footsteps of the Quiet Man is a tribute to the film and all those involved in its making, for the story behind the story, the off-screen drama, is a fascinating tale in itself. McNee has researched his subject thoroughly and conducted countless interviews to produce a stimulating and compulsive homage to what critic and author Andrew Sarris called 'a retreat into the pastoral and horse-driven past [but] very much ahead of its time'. In the Footsteps of the Quiet Man is a revealing and touching account of when Hollywood came to beautiful Connemara in the West of Ireland.
That’s what you want to call a labour of love. A filmfan who goes and writes a book about everything to know about the making of this classic. You should read it before you visit Ireland – it’ll help you along a great deal. Great photos, sometimes provided by the towns-folk themselves.
"THE QUIET MAN" Quiz 1000
Des Byrne. (1992)
A unique quizbook centred entirely on questions about the John Wayne film, The Quiet Man.
Kinda different trivia book which you’ll probably get only in Ireland:
Questions you might be able to answer when you’ve seen the film about a 1000 times
(and some of us are almost there, no?)
THE QUIET MAN: Movies Made in Ireland
Small book you might want to buy just as a souvenir when in Cong, Ireland.
THE SEARCHERS:
Essays and Reflections on John Ford's Classic Western.
(Contemporary Approaches to Film and Television)
Arthur M. Eckstien and Peter Lehman. (2004)
A series of in-depth examinations of the motion picture many consider to be Hollywood’s finest western film.
THE SEARCHERS
Edward Buscombe. (2000)
From the BFI Film classics series
This is a detailed commentary on all aspects of the film, "The Searchers", and makes full use of material in the John Ford archive in Indiana, including Ford's own memos and the original scripts, which differs in vital respects from the film he made.
JOHN FORD: LA PRISONNIERE DU DESERT Une Tapisserie Navajo
(Collection " Un sur Un " )
Jean-Louis Leutrat.(1990)(France)
Over-analytical French publication about the meaning of The Searchers in metaphysical ways: the scalping of Scar compared to the beheading of the Medusa. Tough stuff.
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Edited and updated by ethanedwards
Copyright-©dukewayne.com.2017
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The books highlighted in all the book forums, are intended as a guide to the many books released.
However it also worth noting, that there are also many, that may be now out of print.
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