Sam Peckinpah: Interviews

Conversations With Filmmakers Series

by Kevin J. Hayes (Editor)

Sam Peckinpah (1925-1984), an accomplished writer and director of television westerns, did not attract media attention until the release of his second feature-length film, the award-winning Ride the High Country . Peckinpah revealed in early interviews his deep knowledge of film history, an uncompromising aesthetic, and an intolerance for any crew members who did not share his capacity for hard work. As his career progressed, he began having increasingly difficult times with producers who did not share his vision. His problems with them emerge as a major focus of his interviews. Sam Interviews features the combustible director discussing his best-known films, including the gory western The Wild Bunch , the unsettling and controversial Straw Dogs (which Pauline Kael described as "the first American film that is a fascist work of art"), and the crime thriller The Getaway . In these conversations, Peckinpah's candor--about himself, filmmaking, studios, male/female relations, violence, and contemporary politics--provides a thoughtful portrait of a polarizing filmmaker. Kevin J. Hayes is professor of English at the University of Central Oklahoma. His previous books include Poe and the Printed Word , Folklore and Book Culture , and An American Cycling Odyssey, 1887 , among others. He edited Charlie Interviews and Conversations with Jack Kerouac, both from University Press of Mississippi.

Genres: Film

192 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2008

Reviews

[Christian Hamaker · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Repetition across interviews hurts the overall book just a bit, but for the most part, these interviews are a reminder of why Peckinpah's films are often brilliant and sometimes infuriating. Reading the book made me want to rewatch his movies.

[Hugh's BigBookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam Peckinpah remains the most lucrative and controversial filmmakers to this day. His gritty, dirty, manly reputation preceding him in most of his films and all his interviews, his films have struck a note in my life. From the bloody orgy of brutality that is The Wild Bunch, to the savage sex and violence in Straw Dogs to the filthy and bombastic daring of The Getaway, to the blurred lines between morality and ruthlessness in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, name one of his films and I will express both enjoyment and disgust towards its factors. These interviews display the man's intelligence as an artist and a storyteller, digging deep into his drives and motivations. A bit repetitive, sure but still a fun and out-of-the-box perspective of its subject which amounts to an expressive read as evolving and outlandish as the interviewee himself.

[Brett · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best installments of the Conversations With Filmmakers series I've read (and I've read a lot of them). Peckinpah has a habit of contradicting himself, and some of his views are monumentally un-PC, but his tough-guy talk and swagger always makes for an interesting read.

[Jason Callen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Terrific, except there is no interview for my favorite of his films, JUNIOR BONNER. Lame.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enough tidbits for the rabid fan, and conveniently puts all these interviews in one place.