Arts and Entertainment Books

The literary and mountaineering worlds beware. Bernadette McDonald has found her muse with the new Mountaineers Books `Legend and Lore' series. It seems as if I just shelved "I'll Call you in Kathmandu" when, to my amazement, Bernadette McDonald releases yet another great biography "Brotherhood of the Rope."
What an adventure. What a man. Charles Houston's life is a life that has truly been lived, a life full of adventure, scholarship, compassion, and deep friendships. What I most admire about Mr. Houston is his dedication and unrelenting passion for all of his many pursuits. I felt goose bumps when I read of his early expeditions to Alaska, deep sortie's and climbs in the Himalaya, his medical practice, and naturally his unforgettable K2 epic.
And, I must admit, a real sense of jealousy when reading of his treks across Afghanistan and the Middle East. I'm half tempted to jump on a plane this very minute to sit at Charles Houston's side and listen to his endless supply of yarns. I can only imagine what he has done, seen, and felt in his long and well lived life. He is a living legend in my mind. And...Bernadette McDonald captures his extraordinary life so well in her writing; it is obvious that she truly understands Charles Houston's importance in the mountaineering and medical world. Also, she has the unique ability to "open up" her subject matters, a rare gift that serves her well and allows for a story authentically told.
Bravo Bernadette McDonald!!! I await your next book with palpitating anticipation.

- Rob Torkildson

In 1953 Charles Houston participated in what may be the most famous--and most admired--failed attempt on a mountain, when he and his fellow expedition members turned back on K2. Their decision to try to save the life of their climbing partner, Art Gilkey, by lowering him progressively down the mountain--despite the altitude, despite the storm and the danger of avalanches, despite their complete exhaustion and despite the ensuing accident that nearly killed them all--reflects a heroism whose scope may be nearly unimaginable today.
Bernadette McDonald's book, Brotherhood of the Rope, takes the premise that Houston's "entire life had prepared him for this moment [the rescue attempt], and the choice he made was the culmination of the values instilled in him by his family, his traditions, his friends and his experience." As she retells the stories of his childhood, climbing and medical practice, she builds up, layer by layer, the rich experiences of what created the potential for Houston's selfless courage. Despite her clear admiration for her subject, the end result is not a hagiography, but a humorous, lyrical and compassionate record of a climber, a time and a genuine human being.
In the process McDonald does a great service to the climbing world, to historians and to the larger public by preserving the memory of an era and its values that go against today's talk-show-style focus on "personal journeys"--on summits and self-fulfillment at all costs--and by reminding us that the greatest accomplishments take place within the web of connections and responsibilities that form our human community.
Her book is also a great read. McDonald's richly textured prose recreates a time before crowded base camps and normal routes when the highest peaks were still unclimbed and seemed just at the edge of possibility, when any expedition represented an exploration of lands that, to many Westerners, were still largely unknown. The book gives us more than just the external details of a life, it reveals the inner world of someone who has always looked at his surroundings--whether the Himalaya or Exeter or Aspen--with unceasing wonder.
The author's extensive use of Charles Houston's own spoken words makes the book serve as an oral as well as a written history. By the end, we feel as though we've taken part in a long, deeply affectionate and honest conversation between friends, who, like all good storytellers create a world that somehow seems richer--both brighter and darker--than our everyday life.

Katie Ives

Charles Houston is best known for his failed attempts to summit K2 in 1938 and again in 1953. The latter climb involved a dramatic rescue attempt of climber Art Gilkey and featured probably the most famous belay in history when Pete Schoening single-handedly kept the entire team from sliding off the mountain. Climbing was an important part of Houston's life and McDonald's biography of him does an excellent job covering his career. Beginning with his discovery of the French Alps and the confidence climbing gave him in his awkward teenage years and continuing to his Alaskan and Himalayan expeditions, Houston's mountaineering life makes for great outdoor reading.

But what makes this biography so enthralling is the attention it devotes to the rest of Houston's life, in particular his medical career. Houston was a pioneer in high altitude medicine working first for the Navy and then later with the High Altitude Physiology Study (HAPS) on Mt. Logan in Canada. In between, he had organized the Peace Corps in India, founded the doctors unit of the Peace Corps, researched artificial hearts, taught at universities, and was one of the founders of group medical practices in the United States. In all it was an outstanding career and one that deserves recognition far beyond what he has received for his climbing adventures.

But Houston's life also saw many setbacks. Ever an idealist and a visionary, he could be difficult to work with. He certainly never mastered the political skills needed to be successful in Washington. Indeed, towards the end of his remarkable career, a college friend suggested he make a graduation speech. His perseverance in the face of a lifetime of failures, a friend suggested, would make a good message for contemporary graduates. Grudgingly, Houston agreed, and accepted the commencement address offer.

This volume includes a DVD with footage from some of Houston's more dramatic climbs. It adds a nice touch to the book. I would recommend the book for climbers and armchair afficiandos of the sport. (I am in the latter category). But I think the book also summarizes a significant contribution to the history of American medicine and deserves a wide academic audience for those interested in that field.

In what is apparently the first of four books with the scripts from Season Two of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the one-liners come fast and furious with a liberal dose of drama.

The book begins with "When She Was Bad." At the end of Season One, Buffy was killed by the evil vampire known as the Master (albeit just for a minute) and this episode deals with the aftermath of that trauma. Buffy's friends try to find out why she's being such a...er, witch...to them while a group of vampires tries to revive the Master.

The second episode is "Some Assembly Required." Although well-written, it's probably one of the less impressive episodes in the book. It features Buffy and gang trying to find the secret behind grave robbers who now have their sights set on a living person...acerbic queen Cordelia.

"School Hard" introduces Spike and Drusilla, two of the series' mainstay villains (and sometimes hero, in Spike's case). Parent-Teacher Night at Sunnydale High happens to correspond with the Night of St. Vigeous, the day when vampires' power is at its peak. Needless to say, things get a little hairy in what is probably the best episode of the bunch.

Regular guy Xander gets a showcase in "Inca Mummy Girl". He's finally found a girl he likes (who isn't a giant praying mantis). Unfortunately, she's an ancient mummy who must survive by draining people's life force. Is it any surprise that it doesn't end well?

"Reptile Boy" is probably the worst episode in the book. It's still good, but not up to par with the other five. In it, evil frat boys are planning to sacrifice Buffy and Cordelia to a gigantic snake.

And finally, in "Halloween" one of Giles' old friends comes to town, and as a result everyone turns into their costumes - Willow becomes a ghost, Xander becomes a military private, and Buffy becomes a helpless aristocrat from the eighteenth century. It drops hints of Giles' past, which will come back to haunt him later in the season.

Without a doubt, a good buy for anyone who enjoys Buffy or wants to see what the fuss is all about (although newcomers might want to start with the Season One scripts).

As fine as Season One of BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER had been, it was nonetheless at the start of Season Two merely a very good show. During the second season, however, Joss Whedon and his stable of crack writers would transform the show into something truly great. Nonetheless, it took some time for Season Two to achieve the greatness that it ended up being. So, in a sense, the scripts in this volume represent the last shows where Buffy was struggling to realize its enormous potential. Not that they aren't very good, or even in a couple of instances quite exceptional; they simply aren't as stellar as what immediately followed.

"Lie to Me" is, like many season openers, the product of Joss Whedon. As fine as other writers on the show are, I don't think anyone would question that Whedon always remained the King of the Hill. This script provides a marvelous transition from "Prophecy Girl," the Season One finale. Buffy returns to Sunnydale after spending the summer in L.A., and she is obviously reexperiences the trauma of her encounter with and death by the Master. She completely supplants Cordelia as the Queen [word that rhymes with "witch"] of Sunnydale high. Not only is she indifferent to almost everything, she is positively nasty to Cordelia, and engages in an over-the-top sexy dance with Xander that both unmercifully steams him up only to dash him with cold water, and cruelly makes Angel jealous. As Xander and Willow agree, Buffy has always been different, but she had never been mean before. But when vampires kidnap Willow, Giles, Jenny, and Cordelia to perform a ritual to resurrect the Master, Buffy not only saves her friends, but as Xander puts it "works out her issues" by killing all the vampires.

"Some Assembly Required" is one of the weakest episodes in the entire run of the show. When fans are polled on the worst episodes ever, it usually garners one of the highest vote totals. As a rule, Buffy is a highly nonderivative show, but this episode is a fairly lame updating of BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN. It does contain one of my all time favorite exchanges. Upon seeing Giles, who is trying to work up the nerve to ask out Jenny Calendar, Xander says: XANDER: And speaking of love . . . WILLOW: We were talking about the reanimation of dead tissue. XANDER: Do I deconstruct your segues?

"School Hard," written by David Greenwalt, is a very good episode, with several memorable moments. I don't think it is quite up to the level of the better scripts later in the year, but it is still extremely fine. Two things make it especially memorable. First, we meet Spike and Druscilla for the first time. Spike's part is especially well written, but reading the script demonstrates just how much James Marster's brings to the role. All the performers bring a great deal, but I believe he adds more to his part than any other performer. The second great thing in the episode is Spike's killing "the Annoying One" near the end of the episode. The episode is also crucial for reemphasizing the nontraditional nature of our heroine. Most heroes are loners, bereft of friends and family, but Buffy is great because of her friends and family. As Spike remarks, "A Slayer with family and friends. That sure as hell wasn't in the brochure."

"Inca Mummy Girl," written by Matt Kiene and Joe Reinkemeyer, continues the pattern of the first season and a half of Buffy, of one very strong script followed by a fairly weak one. This episode isn't as bad as "Some Assembly Required," but it is one of the weakest of the season.

David Greenwalt's "Reptile Boy" is an odd bird: unpleasant story with a bevy of absolutely great lines. If you focus on the story, this isn't a very good episode, but if you focus on the lines, it is great. The opening bit with Buff, Will, and Xander watching TV is a stitch. The episode contains one of the greatest of all Angel/Buffy exchanges: ANGEL: This isn't some Fairy Tale: when I kiss you you don't wake up from a deep sleep and live happily ever after. BUFFY: No. When you kiss me, I want to die.

"Halloween" was the only script that Carl Ellsworth wrote for Buffy, and while it isn't an especially great one, it is definitely a lot of fun. The idea of people becoming who or what they dress up as on Halloween seems a tad familiar, but it is all done in fun fashion. One of the great things about the show is the continuity from one episode to another. On several occasions in the future, Xander's having been a soldier briefly plays a crucial role in plotlines.

So, overall, not nearly as strong a group of scripts as we would see later in the season. Season Two is unquestionably great, but it is on the basis of what came after what we find here. In fact, the greatness would start with the very next script that follows these: "Lie to Me."

The writing of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the Television series is much celebrated by fans and critics alike. This book is a collection of the original shooting scripts for the first 6 episodes of season two. Included are When She Was Bad, Some Assembly Required, School Hard, Inca Mummy Girl, Reptile Boy and Halloween. Some of these scripts contain dialogue or scenes which were cut due to time or other concerns. This volume is a must for the Buffy collector and wonderful for anyone that appreciates quality television.

Yes OJ's an interesting character, and you learn plenty about the Las Vegas robbery here. But the back story is just as interesting, especially for card collectors or memorabilia people. The busting out of jail parts are crazy (you gotta read it to believe it) and so is Tom's lotto/gambling tales. Luck is a funny thing and Tom Ricico has had plenty of it on his side. A controversial guy who's lived a wild life--it's all in the book.

Thats how I would sum up this book. The OJ robbery is really inconsequential to the true story of this book. It's only a backdrop to a life that was lived to the fullest (sometimes foolishly) straight from the man who lived it. Truly an amazing tale of love, luck, money, and greed. Its a terrific book from someone that lived a life that Hollywood probably wouldn't be able to create in any movie. Good Luck with the rest of it Tom!

If a bland life story "Catch Me If You Can" can be made into a movie, this book should be too. Riccio's life story would be unbelieveable if it wasn't true: escaping from jail, winning the lottery, beating Vegas, successful entrepenuer and a life filled with being in the middle of breaking news events from OJ Simpson to Anna Nicole Smith. Truly a one-of-a-kind story. This book is a page turner and an easy read and better entertainment then the 10 bucks you would pay to see any of the lousy movies that are out now.

John Ardoin's recent death is a real loss for opera buffs everywhere, as it means that there will be no more updated editions, at least by him, of this exhaustively researched guide to the recordings of arguably the greatest, certainly the most famous opera singer of the twentieth century.

At the time of its publication this incarnation had the most complete data about the diva's recordings on compact disc then available, including newly discovered complete performances of Aida and La Traviata. Even when the information goes out of date, as it inevitably will (new incarnations of live performances will appear, and perhaps rumored unpublished material will surface), Ardoin's gracefully written, knowledgeable and balanced commentaries on Callas' work will remain an endless source of pleasure. May _The Callas Legacy_ come back into print, and soon!

If you are a Callas fan or are planning to become one, this book is indispensable. One is faced with so many Callas recordings, both studio and live, that it is very hard to choose which ones to get without a good guide. And this book is the best you can find around. Ardoin leads you through every recording that Callas made, and he offers an objective and detailed analysis of her accomplishments. So if you are trying to decide which one out of her dozen or so Normas should be joined to your collection, you can read all about the pros and contras of every single recording. For the ones who already own an older edition of this book that dealt with Callas on records, this volume won't offer much new, there are new reviews on recently-surfaced Aida and Traviata, as well as a few concert arias, but the bulk of the book is the same as in older editions.

This is not just an invaluable introduction to the greatest opera singer of the century. It is also a guide through those works, so that the more you know about Callas, the better this book gets.

Cary Grant was such a gentleman, so gay, charming and debonair. The pictures show him at his homoerotic best, to the delight of all his hardcore fans. This book is great, with nice writing and not a juicy detail left out (and were they ever juicy...*slurp*) Cary Grant is the man! Giddy-up, dah-ling! Ride 'em cowboy!

This is a great chronological account of CG's movies and his life in between and during each one as he made them. There are lot of common pictures, and some you rarely see. All the same, though, it's a wonderful biography, one of the best I've read.

I found this book to be a wonderful insight into the glorious life of Cary Grant....many have said it before ,however the combination of wonderful photographs and truthful respectful
wording makes this a must for Cary Grant Fans ....just great!!!

After reviewing the Cash Family Scrapbook, I must say I enjoyed it!!! Seeing the old photos of Johnny, his boyhood growing up, his children and grandchildren...my only regret is that I wish I could have met him in person! He is and will always be my hero!!! I highly recommend this scrapbook to all those Johnny Cash fans. I only wish it was not so expensive!!

I used this book, for research during the pre-production on 'Walk The Line'. Having grown up in a southern family, the Carters and the Cash family music and lore were know and spoken of quite frequently.
The photos of the family and the insight into this unique and loving family will be of great interest to fans and serious students of the southern music tradition.

I must also HIGHLY reccomend Cash by Johnny Cash with Patrick Carr. Because of my parents and grandparents, I grew up with a knowledge of the Carter family and Johnny Cash. After reading Cash, I really felt like I really understood some of the journey that Johnny had been through. If you're really interested in what forces drove the man with the man with the venerable voice, read this book! Cash: The Autobiography

This is an excellent buy for any Cash fan. The photos are great, the poetry is beautiful, and the family history is more than adequate for getting a good feeling of where the man in black came from. The early promotional photos from Sun Records are just awesome and from reading the poetry it seems as though everyone in the Cash family has a knack for words. This book really has it all, insight into the lives of each Cash family member, poems written for mothers, fathers, grandfathers, a family tree, and even photos of former spouse's children! Just a great book to have.

As a degree level theatre studies student, this was an invaluable text which gave a welcome insight into the Forced Entertainment theatre phenomenen. Not only does it offer analysis of their working process, it also offers an amusing collection of experiences and feelings that make the book thoroughly readable. A gem.

I use this book throughout the graduate program with MFA and PhD students in theatre and dance. They find in it things that they have been trying to articulate for themselves and are intellectually challenged and enriched as well as given encouragement for trying to express their own ideas about their practices. Has lots of other good things about it. Great combination of theory and practice and accessibility.

Forced Entertainment and Tim Etchells have been for the past decade or so, chewing on the edges of performance and theatre. This book is an excellent collection of texts that open up and demystify the experimental devising process. Etchells writes his theory much in the same way has he creates performance. A must for anyone into the fuzzy gaps between the various performance disciplines

Great read on the life and career of actor McGraw. With TCM on cable and the glut of DVD's now in circulation, the accessibility to old movies has never been better. McGraw's viscerally gripping performances have always stood out to me, and after reading this fine book I realize I'm not alone. If you can't afford the book, borrow the jack.

Charles McGraw: Biography of a Film Noir Tough Guy (McFarland) relates the startling life of the memorable character actor against the backdrop of the old Hollywood studio system through anti-trust divestiture and the rise of television into the modern era of filmmaking.

Rode examines McGraw's lengthy acting career that began when he hitchhiked to New York at the height of the Great Depression and landed a key role in the hit play Golden Boy alongside such Group Theatre luminaries as Luther Adler, John Garfield and Elia Kazan.

With his rough hewn profile, stocky build and guttural growl, Rode explains how Charles McGraw's acting ushered in a new post war era of authentic screen toughness. After getting his big break from producer Mark Hellinger in The Killers (1946), McGraw parlayed subsequent roles into a starring contract at RKO in 1950.

Rode writes about the evolution of RKO Studios as the "Capital of Noir" dating back to Citizen Kane (1941), the Val Lewton pictures and other classic films including Crossfire, Out of the Past and Blood on the Moon. Rode explains that the distinctive RKO style was more the result of extraordinarily talented cinematographers, such as Nicholas Musaraca, and RKO craft department experts than any specific directorial auteur.

Rode also details the destruction of RKO Studios as a major filmmaking entity due to the bizarre behavior of Howard Hughes who bought the studio in 1948. Even though Charles McGraw would star in acclaimed second features such as The Threat, Armored Car Robbery and The Narrow Margin, and was hailed as the next Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas, he was forced to vacate his contract in 1952 in order to find work as a freelance actor.

As chronicled by Rode, Charles McGraw's hard-won success during the mid-1950's, appearing in The Bridges at Toko-Ri (1956) and starring in two television series, became dissipated by the actor's nihilistic life-style. McGraw's long-term drinking problem resulted in a life filled with promise gradually morphing into a noir-stained tragedy.

Rode documents McGraw's tumultuous personal life from his earliest days in Ohio, his long term marriage with a Eurasian beauty, being stalked by the FBI for alleged Communist ties, through his cinematic comeback in In Cold Blood to his bizarre death. He writes with great detail and passion about an era of stuntmen, cowboys and other irrepressible characters that lived and worked in Studio City, California when the town had a movie studio, a stoplight, and more than a few bars.

We see Charles McGraw as a superb acting craftsman who was a beloved Damon Runyon character, dubbed as "King Charles", but who was actually an inwardly nervous man whose angst was deliberately obscured by the tall tales, bravado and barroom camaraderie.

Alan K. Rode gives us an intimate biography of a familiar, yet heretofore obscure actor, a wonderful narrative history of Hollywood and an incisive look at the evolution of the film noir style.

By: Tommy Garrett, Editor, Canyon News in Beverly Hills
[...]

Being an historian of Hollywood and films, I am always amazed when I run across a great read, as I recently did with McFarland Publishing's "Charles McGraw: Biography of a Film Noir Tough Guy." It was written by fellow historian of Hollywood and fellow author, Alan K. Rode (though I don't consider myself a writer in this man's league). The foreword was by Jim Steranko. Being an avid reader, I found myself engrossed in a story about a film tough guy that I had enjoyed in my youth. Being a fan of film noir, I cannot remember any actor who was cast so perfectly for this genre. And after reading this book, I cannot think of another author better prepared to write about McGraw.


Photo of Charles McGraw. Courtesy of Alan K. Rode.

My favorite McGraw film was "Blood on the Moon." Rode has a very extensive collection of photographs of the actor, both candid and action packed. I was pleased to see a still of the actor from this film. But reading the book, I found myself mystified by some of the new things that I learned about Charles McGraw. The word "spellbinding" is an appropriate way to describe the style of writing and the way Rode entices the reader to continue chapter after chapter.

McFarland Publishing always puts together great books for the educational oriented reader, but in hatching this story, they are now on a new publishing level. The iconic actor Charles McGraw appeared in over 140 roles on film and television, including the classic noir pictures "The Killers" 1946 and "The Narrow Margin" 1952. The man became an incredible presence on the screen whenever he was cast in a role and worked with some of the most beautiful ladies in Hollywood. McGraw was not a pretty boy, his looks were rugged and grizzled many say, but he was the master of making us feel fear and shock with the bat of an eye.

Author Alan K. Rode chose to emphasize the impact this actor had on the movie industry, especially that of noir. He describes and explains the actor's long career with detail and perfection. The book is exhaustively researched by Rode, who interviewed many surviving friends, intimates, close acquaintances and co-workers. McGraw's tumultuous personal life is detailed with great detail and the extensive biography is hard to put down. And for those who would like to see some previously unpublished film stills and personal photos, this tome is for you.

While reading this book, certain chapters stand out, including Bright Boy Gets a Break, The Other side of the Hill and Single Actor, Needs Work. But every page of this book is incredible in it's depth of research, showcasing Rode's impressive style of writing. Even down to the actor's tragic accidental death, this book never fails to capture the attention of the reader. Rode is able to hit the high and low points of the actor's life and career with such amazing detail, you can envision it as you are reading it. This is a talent few writers have, and Rode employs it at the best points in the book, where he's intentionally trying to get your interest. He held my interest all the way through.

When asked, why he had decided to write about this great star, Rode responded, "Serendipity and timing. After a happenstance meeting with McGraw's last significant other in 2002, we became close friends. Her numerous stories combined with my other research on McGraw, film noir and Old Hollywood struck me as a story I wanted to tell. I started it around my other work and then went to work on it full time in November 2005."

Here's hoping that Alan K. Rode publishes even more books on other lesser known stars of the past who made an enormous impression on film noir fans.

Actually, we called him "Fatty". When I was a kid in the 1950's our small town theater still showed the old westerns on Sat. When we played cowboys one of us would have to be "Fatty". It was usually a neighbor boy named Teddy ,who could have whupped us in real life but didn't mind playing the bad guy and getting beat up in our pretend fist fights. The book is great and well researched. God bless Mr. Copeland for his good work.

Unquestionably, author Bobby J. Copeland has filled in a gap in B-Movie western film scholarship with this sketchy but insightful look at the life of a veteran badman who mixed it up with some of the greats in B-Movie western circles. The biggest problem with Copeland's book is simply the dearth of information about Charlie King. I wasn't around when B-Movie westerns galloped across the silver screen like the shaggy buffalo that once roamed the western plains. Nevertheless, I have been watching these art-ifacts with great interest and Charlie King is one of the unsung cowboy bad guys. If you get around to watching these novelty items from the past, Charlie King throws a long shadow over the B-movie westerns. Copeland's book isn't so much the work of an objective cinematic scholar, but he does answer many questions about the little known life of King. Deplorably, Charlie King emerges as a pathetic figure behind-the-scenes. According to Copeland's research, King was an alcoholic who borrowed money from his friends but rarely repaid them; his wife would accompany him to the studio to pick up his paycheck before he drank it away. As sad as these revelations are to learn about this fabulous character actor, "Charlie King: We Called Him 'Blackie'" stands as a tribute to one of the top heavies in the B-Western business. Copeland's filmography of King is useful; this actor appeared in 300 B-movie westerns. Wherever Charlie King is now, he would be grateful to know that this nifty little tome qualifies as a tribute to a badman. Mind you, this isn't an exercise in scholarship with footnotes galore, but it's the nuggets of information that make it a useful contribution to field of criticism that sorely lacks substance. I doubt that this brief biography can be surpassed and I know that it cannot be overlooked by serious B-Movie western history. Anybody that wants to catch up on the life and times of B-Movie cowboys will get their money's worth out of this unique text.

When you think of great badman in films during the '30s and '40s, hands down the name is "Blackie" alias Charlie King. In fact author Bobby J. Copeland's latest book is titled "Charlie King - We called him "Blackie", comprehensive in depth behind the scenes of the baddest of the badmen. We saw him through the eyes of such heroes as Buster Crabbe, Johnny Mack Brown, Buck Jones, Ken Maynard, Dave O'Brien, Tex Ritter and Bob Steele. Bob Steele and Blackies fight scenes were a joy to watch, classic moves that actually looked so real ~ you could feel the punch in the fifth row where I was sitting.

Copeland takes the reader into the life and times of King through sections ~ Where Are The Ashes?, How Many Times Did Charlie Play "Blackie"?, Some of Charlie's Classic Moments, They Worked with Charlie King, They're Writing About Charlie King, The Fans Speak Up for Charlie, Conclusion, Charles King's Sound Filmography, King's Silent Features, Index of Film Companies, Photo Gallery, About the Author as we salute one of the premiere B-Western badmen.

This book includes so many great photos. Also the truth about Charlie's death...including his death certificate...comments by noted Western Film Historians...remarks by co-workers...writers' opinions of Charlie's acting and his career...Cowboys with whom he worked...studios that employed him...filmography. King also worked in silent films, may have also appeared as an extra in the 1915 film "The Birth of a Nation"...if you have a copy look for Charlie. Charlie King certainly left us with many wonderful memories up there on the big screen. One of the great scene stealers, as he got heavier he looked tougher and more menacing. I would put Charlie King up there with Roy Barcroft and Harry Woods...who is number one, is a toss up. Oh, I'm one of the lucky fans who had my book autographed by the author Bobby J. Copeland, gotta love it!

Total Pages: 112 ~ Empire Publishing Inc #0-944019-40-4 ~ (1/31/2003)

In this remarkable memoir, Gus Lee presents a clear and compassionate picture of his parents, grandparents and their 'clans' set in turbulent times. He brings alive the social, historical, religious and cultural context which informs their actions and reactions making them comprehensible to a reader with a totally different cultural viewpoint. It reads like a multi-generational adventure novel where the characters play parts in or are impacted by major events, from the Taiping rebellion through the British opium trade to the civil wars that raged from the early twentieth century through the brutal Japanese occupation in WWII. It is a wild ride and a great read. Gus presents his forbears and related characters warts and all, but always with great compassion and subtlety. There are no cardboard characters. Readers of his novels, which have a strong autobiographical base, particularly 'China Boy', will know what a hard childhood he endured with a stern and distant father, a mother prone to 'magical' beliefs who died when he was five, and a rigid, vindictive step mother. In this memoir, Gus reveals to us what he subsequently discovered about his parents and he honors them both. Gus's own life has been a testament to using adversity to build strength. He has wasted no time blaming, or scoring points off his parents or using his experiences to excuse failings in his own life. There is no 'poor me' here. His story helped me understand a completely different belief system and cultural perspective. And it was at times moving, at other times funny, but always interesting.

Get ready to give up your weekend because once you pick up this book you won't be able to put it down. Lee's dramatic descriptions cover the conflicts between historical Eastern and Western traditions woven into poignant family events. While his relatives and their antics seem quirky and particular, in fact they resonate with all families facing abrupt changes and adaptation --be they generational or cultural. For those who have read and loved China Boy and Honor and Duty, Chasing Hepburn gives us the pre-story we've all been wondering about.

Get ready to give up your weekend because once you pick up this book you won't be able to put it down. Lee's dramatic descriptions cover the conflicts between historical Eastern and Western traditions woven into poignant family events. While his relatives and their antics seem quirky and particular, in fact they resonate with all families facing abrupt changes and adaptation --be they generational or cultural. For those who have read and loved China Boy and Honor and Duty, Chasing Hepburn gives us the pre-story we've all been wondering about.