The Films of Sam Peckinpah

A detailed look at both the films and the man. One of America's most intriguing directors of Westerns and films of violence, Peckinpah created a highly influential body of work, including Ride the High Country, Major Dundee, The Wild Bunch, Straw Dogs, and The Getaway. Illustrated with 50 stills, the book includes a biographical account of Peckinpah, including his early years in television, and a chronological examination of his films, placed in the context of their production and critical reception. There are fascinating accounts of Peckinpah's approach to film direction and on-set behavior, as well as of studio interference during editing. An analysis of the iconography of his films illuminates the director's recurring themes and preoccupations.