ebooks Publics and the City (RGS-IBG Book Series) by Kurt Iveson in Arts-Photography

Review

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. A Legend and a Legendary DirectorBy Michael SamerdykeIve seen two versions of "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" over the years. It is not my favorite Sam Peckinpah film; but I remembered Seydors book on Peckinpahs westerns with fondness and decided to give this one a try."The Authentic Death and Contentious Afterlife...." is a very good; very passionate book that explores Peckinpahs long relationship with the Billy the Kid story; from the Fifties; when he wrote the movie that eventually became "One Eyed Jacks;" through the Seventies; when Peckinpah filmed "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid;" and on to the 2005 DVD release of the film.Seydors book not only tells you about movie-making but storytelling (and mythmaking) as well as how artists relate to their work and to the era in which they work; and how others make sense of an artists work. Seydor writes with a great knowledge of and enthusiasm for Peckinpahs work; but he isnt blind to Peckinpahs shortcomings; and he makes it very clear that Peckinpah is responsible for the flaws in this movie.Parts of this book drag a bit; but the concluding 10 thoughts on "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" bring everything back into brilliant focus. Seydors work here should refire an interest in Peckinpah. A terrific job.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Where is a oneyed SOB when you need him?By Dr. James Gardneree cummings said ndash;ldquo; who cares if some oneeyed son of a bitch invents an instrument to measure Spring with?rdquo;; but sometimes you are looking for that oneeyed SOB and not an adolescent love sonnet writer.So when I heard that there was a book about Peckinpahrsquo;s ldquo;Pat Garrett and Billy the Kidrdquo; that would be a definitive analysis of the various versions; I was delighted. I expected to know what they were; how long they were; who was in them; why they appeared and disappeared; and what the film looked like when all of them were put in. I was even hoping; my heart be still; that some of the floor cuttings might be talked about.Irsquo;m a big fan of Sam Peckinpah. Two of his films (Ride the High Country; The Wild Bunch) are among the best westerns every filmed and his TV show; The Westerner; was far superior to just about anything on TV even during the halcyon 50s. Irsquo;ve seen at least 2 versions of Pat Garrett and though I loved the film; I was acutely aware of its unfinished look: unfinished for Peckinpah; because when you produce masterpieces; everything else pales in comparison.Seyboldrsquo;s book gives me almost none of what I expected or wanted.He does give the reader a lot of stuff; but a great deal of it bears little on the film itself. Half the book deals with previous book versions of the life of the principals. Surely these are important; but not in a book about missing scenes from a film. Really; one has to wonder whether or not a book written 100+ years ago and read by Pechinpah 30 years ago; actually had some reality on the troubled; physically sick; and drunk director as he was trying to make a film in Mexico.Not only is much of this book unrelated to the missing scenes; there are some really poor conclusions being drawn by the author. He thinks that Peckinpah changed the nature of Western films. Irsquo;d go earlier and say ldquo;Stagecoachrdquo; was a pivot point; and then ldquo;High Noonrdquo;; maybe even ldquo;Naked Spurrdquo;. Westerns did not suddenly change or even finish when Peckinpah came on the scene. Notwithstanding that comment; I think 2 of his westerns are among the very very best; and his body of work is second only to John Ford.Another problem with Seyboldrsquo;s book is his reverence for Pat Garrett. Not much is known about him before he came to New Mexico; but after he killed Billy he became a celebrity and much is known about him after that. He was involved in a bunch of failed business schemes; and as Customs Inspector in El Paso he was removed from office. He left his wife to live with a prostitute; declared bankruptcy; embarrassed President Roosevelt and New Mexico Governor by associating with nersquo;r do wells; etc. Garrett is hardly the kind of person Seybold makes him out to be.More things disappoint me in the book. There is almost nothing from any of the actors; some of whom are still alive. If yoursquo;re trying to understand how Peckinpah conceived of Billy; why not ask Kristofferson? Why not ask Dylan where he got the words from to portray Billy? Seybold thinks Billy wasnrsquo;t free. Dylan sings ldquo;Billy; they don lsquo;t like you to be so freehellip;rdquo;Irsquo;m also disappointed that some time is not spent on looking at previous film portrayals of Pat and Billy.The book is certainly worthwhile if yoursquo;re interested in reading about Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid and how they were portrayed in books. Otherwise; give it a miss.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Good EffortBy John P. MarshThis gets a little wearisome for me when its talking about some of the original source material upon which PGBtK is based... Id like a tad more about the film and the dynamics on the set. But Seydor is very good; and his writing style engaging (and I do appreciate him having restored a quasi directors cut which is on DVD along with the Turner cut. When will a Blu Ray of this great film surface; is my real question?