The BFI Companion to the Western

by Edward Buscombe (Editor)

A social history of the Western which looks at three hundred Westerns, with entries on television, Western series, actors, directors and cameramen. Originally published in 1988.

Genres: Film, Westerns, Nonfiction

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1988

Reviews

[Albus Eugene Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore · Rating 5 out of 5]

«The Western is a world of its own»
1988: «The purpose of The BFI Companion to the Western is to act as a comprensive guide to the Myth’s foundations.».
Part I – The Western: A short History
Part II – The Western: A cultural and historical Dictionary
Part III – A select Guide to the Western Film
Part IV – A Dictionary of Western Film Makers
Part V – Television Westerns

In the beginning it was … The Great Train Robbery …
Robert Aldrich, Ward Bond, Walter Brennan, Lloyd Bridges, John Carradine, James Coburn, Gary Cooper, Yvonne De Carlo, Angie Dickinson, Kirk Douglas, Joanne Dru, Jack Elam, Henry Fonda, John Ford, Samuel Fuller, Henry Hathaway, Howard Hawks, William Holden, John Huston, Ben Johnson, Katy Jurado, Burt Lancaster, Steve McQueen, Dorothy Malone, Anthony Mann, Lee Marvin, Virginia Mayo, Vera Miles, Robert Mitchum, Paul Newman, Maureen O’Hara, Sam Peckimpah, Robert Redford, Robert Ryan, Barbara Stanwyck, James Stewart, John Sturges, Claire Trevor, Raoul Walsh, John Wayne, Richard Widmark … afterwards, it came … Dancing With Wolves …
«The Western can be seen as a form of cultural expression ...»
God Bless You, Mr. Buscombe!

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

All of Edward Buscombe's books are worth reading. This is the one for the coffee table or wherever you put the book you occasionally like to dip into. Mine lived in the bathroom for a couple of months. Got into the habit of taking my time in there.

[Jay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a companion piece, so you 'read' it loosely over time. All in all it's solid and very complete. The Western Film Genre pretty much came and went and this book concisely encapsulates all you need to know. Sweet pictures too.

You're not going to buy this book, you're not going to check it out at the Library, and you probably won't even stumble upon it at a random desert bookstore (like I did). So really...what is a review of something like this?

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever loved John Wayne--you will after a quick look at this book!