Noir Western

The author of multiple books on film history, David Meuel has also published two books of poems, more than two dozen short stories, and hundreds of articles on subjects ranging from U.S. national parks to high technology. He lives in Gig Harbor, Washington.

• Table of ContentsPreface 1Introduction: The Dark Cowboy Rides into Town 51. The Darkening West: Conscience and Cruelty Collide in William Wellman’s The ­Ox-Bow Incident, Yellow Sky and Track of the Cat 212. The Tyranny of Troubled Pasts: Escape and the Futility of It in Raoul Walsh’s Pursued and Colorado Territory 383. Where Treachery Springs Eternal: Staying Human in the Harsh Worlds of André de Toth’s Ramrod and Day of the Outlaw 554. “The topography of menace”: Painting the Western Black in Robert Wise’s Blood on the Moon 705. Westerns Shaken and Stirred: Sam Fuller Upends Genre Conventions in I Shot Jesse James and Forty Guns 816. Delving Deeper into the Dark Side: Gregory Peck’s ­Noir-ish Heroes in Henry King’s The Gunfighter and The Bravados 977. Deliverance on a Down Note: The Tortured, Grimly Determined Heroes of Anthony Mann’s Devil’s Doorway, The Naked Spur and Man of the West 1158. Nightmare in Broad Daylight: Evil Poses as the Law in Allan Dwan’s Silver Lode 1409. Helping the Western to Grow Up: The Complex, Shaded Characters in Delmer Daves’ 3:10 to Yuma and The Hanging Tree 15010. “They’re going to kill us, Mrs. Mims”: Horror and Absurdity Ride Together in Budd Boetticher’s The Tall T and Ride Lonesome 16811. Darkness in Shinbone: Noir Is Busting Out All Over in John Ford’s The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 185Conclusion: Ride On, Dark Cowboy 197Fifty Additional ­Noir-ish ­Postwar Westerns Worth Seeing 199Chapter Notes 205Bibliography 209Index 211

“At last, a film noir book this year worth recommending. The territory Meuel covers has not been written about at any kind of length before, especially in book form, so we get a fresh perspective on these films...significant...his analyses are intelligent, thoughtful, and to the point. Meuel is an excellent writer...insightful...will enlighten even the most well-read noir fan Few books actually break new ground, but this one does...a sharp, concise discussion on the films and what makes them noir”—Classic Images; “the ‘best film noir book’ of the year.”—Examiner; “recommended”—ARBA; “excellent”—Western Clippings; “this book is both for scholars and film enthusiasts, especially fans of westerns and noirs. Meuel makes one want to discover or rediscover noir elements to add to their value in film culture”—Journal of American Culture.