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Why Theatre Matters
by Kathleen GallagherWhat makes young people care about themselves, others, their communities, and their futures? In Why Theatre Matters, Kathleen Gallagher uses the drama classroom as a window into the daily challenges of marginalized youth in Toronto, Boston, Taipei, and Lucknow. An ethnographic study which mixes quantitative and qualitative methodology in an international multi-site project, Why Theatre Matters ties together the issues of urban and arts education through the lens of student engagement. Gallagher's research presents a framework for understanding student involvement at school in the context of students' families and communities, as well as changing social, political, and economic realities around the world.Taking the reader into the classroom through the voices of the students themselves, Gallagher illustrates how creative expression through theatre can act as a rehearsal space for real, material struggles and for democratic participation. Why Theatre Matters is an invigorating challenge to the myths that surround urban youth and an impressive study of theatre's transformative potential.
Why Wakanda Matters: What Black Panther Reveals About Psychology, Identity, and Communication
by Sheena C. HowardIn 2018, the Marvel Cinematic Universe finally delivered on something fans had long been waiting for: a feature film with a solo Black superhero. Black Panther introduced viewers to the stunning world of Wakanda, a fictional African country with incredible technological advancements, and to T'Challa, a young man stepping into his role as king and taking up the mantle of the Black Panther title from his late father. The unforgettable story, coupled with the film's mega-success, has undoubtedly shaped the future of superhero cinema, in addition to genuinely changing viewers' lives. Why Wakanda Matters gives this iconic film the in-depth analysis it deserves under the lens of the latest psychological concepts-as well as delving into the lasting cultural impact of this unforgettable story. Edited by Sheena C. Howard, an award-winning author, filmmaker, and scholar, Why Wakanda Matters: What Black Panther Reveals About Psychology, Identity, and Communication features a collection of essays from leading experts in a variety of fields who offer insightful perspectives on topics such as: Cognitive dissonance: The important messages within T'Challa's nuanced identity and eventual shift from nationalism to globalism. Intergenerational trauma and resistance: How N'Jadaka (aka Erik/Killmonger) identifies with the trauma that his ancestors have suffered. Social identity: How Nakia, Shuri, Okoye, and Ramonda—all empowered, intelligent, and assertive women of color—can make a lasting impression on women and girls. Collective identity: How Black Panther has created a shared fantasy for Black audience members—and why this is groundbreaking. Cultural and racial identity: What we can learn from Black Panther's portrayal of a culture virtually untouched by white supremacy. Fans of the movie and those interested in deeper discussions about the film will revel in this thought-provoking examination of all aspects of Black Panther and the power of psychology.
Why We Dance: A Philosophy of Bodily Becoming
by Kimerer LaMotheWithin intellectual paradigms that privilege mind over matter, dance has long appeared as a marginal, derivative, or primitive art. Drawing support from theorists and artists who embrace matter as dynamic and agential, this book offers a visionary definition of dance that illuminates its constitutive work in the ongoing evolution of human persons. Why We Dance introduces a philosophy of bodily becoming that posits bodily movement as the source and telos of human life. Within this philosophy, dance appears as an activity that humans evolved to do as the enabling condition of their best bodily becoming. Weaving theoretical reflection with accounts of lived experience, this book positions dance as a catalyst in the development of human consciousness, compassion, ritual proclivity, and ecological adaptability. Aligning with trends in new materialism, affect theory, and feminist philosophy, as well as advances in dance and religious studies, this work reveals the vital role dance can play in reversing the trajectory of ecological self-destruction along which human civilization is racing.
Why We Don't Suck: And How All of Us Need to Stop Being Such Partisan Little Bitches
by Denis LearyFrom the author of the bestselling Why We Suck comes a searing comic look at these divisive times, skewering liberals and conservatives alike with a signature dose of sarcasm and common sense.In an America so gluten-free that a box of jelly donuts is now a bigger threat than Vladimir Putin, where college kids are more afraid of Ann Coulter than HIV, it’s time for someone to stand up and make us all smell the covfefe. Dr. Denis Leary is that guy. With Why We DON’T Suck: And How All of Us Need to Stop Being Such Partisan Little Bitches, Denis is on a devoted mission to #MakeAmericaLaughAgain. Using the clamorous political atmosphere as a starting point, he takes a bipartisan look at the topics we all hold so dear to our patriotic hearts—including family, freedom, and the seemingly endless search for fame and diet vodka. Denis will answer important questions like: When will Hillary blame herself? Why does Beyoncé think he’s Bryan Adams? And why doesn’t he follow the millennial lead and post pictures of his food on social media? (Spoiler alert: He’s too busy actually eating it.) Not that Denis has anything against millennials: “When it comes to science, math, and technological advances, this generation has done more in three and a half decades than any other age group in history. What did my generation do? Cocaine and quaaludes mostly. With a side order of really stupid haircuts.” Dr. Leary is here to remind us of what truly makes America great, even though we’re #7 on the most recent list of Best Countries to Live In. Which may sound bad but means we still make the playoffs.
Why We Fought: America's Wars in Film and History (Film and History #Fmhi)
by Peter C. Rollins John E. O'ConnorA &“wide-ranging and sophisticated anthology&” comparing theaters of war to wars in the movie theater (Dennis Showalter, author of Patton and Rommel). Why We Fought makes a powerful case that film can be as valuable a tool as primary documents for improving our understanding of the causes and consequences of war. A comprehensive look at war films, from depictions of the American Revolution to portrayals of September 11 and its aftermath, this volume contrasts recognized history and historical fiction with the versions appearing on the big screen. The text considers a selection of the pivotal war films of all time, including All Quiet on the Western Front, Sands of Iwo Jima, Apocalypse Now, Platoon, and Saving Private Ryan—revealing how film depictions of the country&’s wars have shaped our values, politics, and culture, and offering a unique lens through which to view American history. Named as a Choice Outstanding Academic Title
Why We Love Back to the Future: 40 Years of Fandom, Flux Capacitors, and Timeless Adventures
by Brad GilmoreA Fan&’s Look at the Back to the Future Franchise&“Brad Gilmore's book not only offers new perspectives and a deeper understanding of Back to the Future, it reminds us why we fell in love with it in the first place." ─Mark Ellis, Comedian & Movie Critic#1 New Release in Science Fiction & Fantasy MoviesThere&’s a host of information out there on the Back to the Future trilogy, but never before has there been a book like this.The history of the films, cartoons, toys, and more. The Back to the Future series is a timeless collection greatly revered by all audiences. The beauty of this book by Brad Gilmore is that it doesn&’t present the history of the film as textbook information. He discusses these films from a place of passion and so effectively reveals how the history behind the movies is just as engaging as the films themselves. Unheard details and trivia. Gilmore, a radio and television host and host of Back to the Future: The Podcast, is an expert on all things Back to the Future. Pairing his knowledge with his passion for the films, Gilmore uses this book to discuss details and movie trivia that reveal just why the trilogy has stood the test of time. As a fan speaking to fellow fans, he dives into fan theories and provides answers to many questions readers have—because they are the very questions he himself has asked. Check out this must-have book and learn things you never knew: Completed timelines of all the main characters from the franchise In-depth studies of various Back to the Future fan theories that will surprise and intrigue you A detailed comparison of the films&’ predictions of the future to our world today Fans of books like Back to the Future: The Classic Illustrated Storybook, Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History, Back to the Future: Untold Tales and Alternate Timelines, or We Don&’t Need Roads: The Making of the Back to the Future Trilogy, will love Why We Love Back to the Future.
Why We Love Die Hard
by Kim Taylor-FosterRediscover all the reasons you love Die Hard with this essential illustrated guide to the making of and impact of this quintessential action (and Christmas) flick!Fully loaded with John McClane sarcasm, Alan Rickman as a German terrorist, and Nakatomi Plaza blowing up on Christmas Eve, Die Hard is often cited as the film that took action blockbusters to the next level, but what has earned the film its fiercely devoted fan base? That's the question that Why We Love Die Hard seeks to answer. This is the first and only guide that combines entertaining information about the history and making of the film with a celebratory look at all the different aspects that have helped solidify Die Hard as a must-see film. A Die Hard lover's dream, this guide includes punchy illustrations paired alongside essays exploring the film's history, characters, unique film techniques, and the thematic elements that have helped this film become the beloved classic it is today.
Why We Love Star Wars: The Great Moments That Built a Galaxy Far, Far Away
by Ken NapzokCelebrate the greatest saga ever told with this “intergalactically awesome book” (Tiffany “Smithlord” Smith).The first shots of the ragtag Rebels running from the monstrous Galactic Empire. Young Anakin winning the podrace. The first time we saw the crackle of Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber. All of us who are deeply influenced by the epic saga of Star Wars have our favorite moments, and each time the screen goes black and we see those words—A Long Time Ago, In A Galaxy Far, Far Away—the music blasts through us and we feel like kids again.In this book, Star Wars aficionado Ken Napzok counts down one hundred of those special moments that makes this series not just the best movies of all time, but the Greatest Saga Ever Told. What began as one movie about good people, evil oppressors, and the space wizards that stood between them has exploded into so much more. The moments that continue to inspire are on screen and in the pages of novels. They are found in the panels of comic books and among animated sequences on television. And they all continue to grow in stature, importance, and myth through discussions, debates, and daydreams. Why We Love Star Wars is a joyful journey through the universe we love to inhabit, again and again.
Why We Love The Matrix
by Kim Taylor-FosterRediscover all the reasons you love The Matrix with this unique guide to the cult 90s sci-fi classic, filled with trivia, essays, and behind the scenes looks at characters, production, and so much more. Whether you saw the movie in theaters in 1999 or watched it for the first time at home, there is no denying that The Matrix has had an immense impact on pop culture. A "must-see" of the science fiction genre and Why We Love The Matrix is the first and only guide that combines entertaining information about the history and making of the film with a celebratory look at all the different aspects that have helped solidify this as a beloved favorite of sci-fi fans.Offering entertaining essays about the key features that have helped the film become the classic it is today—like the origins of the plot and characters, film techniques, and the philosophy behind the story—plus quotes, sidebars, and eye-catching two-color illustrations throughout, Why We Love The Matrix is a great gift for both casual and more serious fans of the movie and, let's face it, Keanu Reeves.
Why We Make Movies: Black Filmmakers Talk About the Magic of Cinema
by George AlexanderA sparkling collection of interviews with African American directors and producers. Bringing together more than thirty candid conversations with filmmakers and producers such as Spike Lee, Gordon Parks, Julie Dash, Charles Burnett, and Robert Townsend, Why We Make Movies delivers a cultural celebration with the tips of a film-school master class. With journalist George Alexander, these revolutionary men and women discuss not only how they got their big breaks, but more importantly, they explore the creative process and what making movies means to them. Why We Make Movies also addresses the business of Hollywood and its turning tide, in a nation where African Americans comprise a sizable portion of the film-going public and go to the movies more frequently than whites. In addition, Alexander's cast of directors and producers considers the lead roles they now play in everything from documentaries and films for television to broad-based blockbusters (in fact, the highest-grossing film in Miramax history was Scary Movie, directed by Keenen Ivory Wayans). For film buffs and aspiring filmmakers alike,Why We Make Movies puts a long-overdue spotlight on one of the most exciting and cutting-edge segments of today's silver screen. INTERVIEWS INCLUDE: MELVIN VAN PEEBLES * MICHAEL SCHULTZ * CHARLES BURNETT * SPIKE LEE * ROBERT TOWNSEND * FRED WILLIAMSON * ERNEST DICKERSON * KEENEN IVORY WAYANS * ANTOINE FUQUA * BILL DUKE * FORREST WHITAKER * JULIE DASH * KASI LEMMONS * GINA PRINC-BLYTHEWOOD * JOHN SINGLETON * GEORGE TILLMAN Jr. * REGINALD HUDLIN * WARRINGTON HUDLIN * MALCOLM LEE * EUZHAN PALCY * DOUG McHENRY * DEBRA MARTIN CHASE * St. CLAIR BOURNE * STANLEY NELSON * WILLIAM GREAVES * KATHE SANDLER * CAMILLE BILLOPS * HAILE GERIMA * GORDON PARKS.
Why We Suck: A Feel Good Guide to Staying Fat, Loud, Lazy and Stupid
by Denis LearyOne of America’s most original and biting comic satirists, Denis Leary takes on all the poseurs, politicians, and pop culture icons who have sucked in public for far too long. Sparing no one, Leary zeroes in on the ridiculous wherever he finds it—his Irish Catholic upbringing, the folly of celebrity, the pressures of family life, and the great hypocrisy of politics—with the same bright, savage, and profane insight he brought to his critically acclaimed one-man shows No Cure for Cancer Lock ’n Load.<P> Proudly Irish-American, defiantly working class, with a reserve of compassion for the underdog and the overlooked, Leary delivers blistering diatribes that are both penetrating social commentary with no holds barred and laugh-out-loud funny. As always, Leary’s impassioned comic perspective in Why We Suck is right on target.<P> Leary is the star and co-creator of the Emmy-nominated television show Rescue Me.
Why You Crying?
by George Lopez Armen KeteyianIn this eagerly awaited autobiography, comedian and prime-time television star George Lopez tells the heartbreaking yet humorous story of his inspirational rise from dead-end kid in the Valley to giving a command performance before the president of the United States. It is a rare story that touches us so deeply with its humor, sadness, and powerful message that it transcends the walls of race, culture, and class that divide us. Why You Crying? is just such a story. Abandoned by his migrant-worker father at the tender age of two months, deserted by a wild, mixed-up mother at the age of ten years, Lopez grew up angry, alone, teased, and tormented in California's San Fernando Valley, raised by grandparents who viewed love as a four-letter word. Inspired by his idols, Freddie Prinze Sr. and Richard Pryor, Lopez sets out on a tumultuous twenty-year journey into the manic world of stand-up comedy -- trying to learn a skill nobody can teach; scoring one night and bombing the next; fighting anger, alcohol, depression, and doubt all while battling the barriers built to keep Chicanos from breaking through, especially on network TV. Today, the George Lopez show is a prime-time hit on ABC and his sold-out stand-up performances attract thousands of fans of all ages, each drawn to the sidesplitting riffs mined from a life so sad it had to be funny. Why You Crying? takes an outsider from the San Fernando Valley to Warner Bros. studios to inside the Emmys to plush Pebble Beach and all the way to the halls of Harvard. Along the way it's pure G. Lo -- raw, real, and, ultimately, uplifting.
Why You Should Never Beam Down in a Red Shirt and 749 More Answers to Questions About Star Trek
by Robert W. BlyWith new movies, TV shows and books appearing all the time, the popularity of Star Trek is at an all-time high. Now, following his bestselling "The Ultimate Unauthorized Star Trek Quiz Book", Robert W. Bly provides 750 more multiple choice, fill-in-the-blank and mix-and-match questions covering the entire spectrum of Star Trek lore. Including information on the new series, Star Trek: Voyager, and film, Star Trek: Generations. Why You Should Never Beam Down in a Red Shirt also provides complete coverage of the final season of The Next Generation, more from the current season of Deep Space Nine and questions and answers from a variety of new sources-- including several recently published autobiographies by stars of the original series. In addition, the book contains a host of new features-- a listing of companies selling Star Trek collectibles, an appendix listing Star Trek fan publications, a Star Trek bibliography and more. "Why You Should Never Beam Down in a Red Shirt" is one book no Star Trek fan should be without.
Why the Long Face?: The Adventures of a Truly Independent Actor
by Craig ChesterCraig Chester's witty and wry observations on his life and those who have occupied it come together to create this funny, sentimental, yet irreverent collection of essays. From the backroads of Texas to the boardrooms of Hollywood, Craig Chester is unabashedly honest about the pain and the unique rewards of remaining an outsider in an insider's world.While his family prepares to watch the apocalypse from their rooftop with a bucket of KFC, Craig is trying to climb the social ladder at school by saving his neighbors from their sinful ways and speaking in tongues (with not-so-successful results). Along the way Craig experiences gender confusion at grade-school summer camp and has massive reconstructive surgery to correct his deformed teenage face, only to emerge and realize that Hollywood success isn't always measured in externals, but also in the machinations of the heart and how much you don't show. All along he expertly captures the feeling of what it's like to not always fit in—and have that be okay—with a comic timing that's tuned in to the heart and soul of trying to get by day to day.His tales of life, from growing up in the Bible Belt to starring in nine films, prove that the average American life is anything but normal.
Why the Theatre: In Personal Essays, College Teachers, Actors, Directors, and Playwrights Tell Why the Theatre Is So Vital to Them
by Sidney HomanWhy the Theatre is a collection of 26 personal essays by college teachers, actors, directors, and playwrights about the magnetic pull of the theatre and its changing place in society. The book is divided into four parts, examining the creative role of the audience, the life of the actor, director, and playwright in performance, ways the theatre moves beyond the playhouse and into the real world, and theories and thoughts on what the theatre can do when given form onstage. Based on concrete, highly personal examples, experiences, and memories, this collection offers unique perspectives on the meaning of the theatre and the beauty of weaving the world of the play into the fabric of our lives. Covering a range of practices and plays, from the Greeks to Japanese Butoh theatre, from Shakespeare to modern experiments, this book is written by and for the theatre instructor and theatre appreciation student.
Why to Kill a Mockingbird Matters: What Harper Lee's Book and the Iconic American Film Mean to Us Today
by Tom SantopietroTom Santopietro, an author well-known for his writing about American popular culture, delves into the heart of the beloved classic and shows readers why To Kill a Mockingbird matters more today than ever before.With 40 million copies sold, To Kill a Mockingbird’s poignant but clear eyed examination of human nature has cemented its status as a global classic. Tom Santopietro's new book, Why To Kill a Mockingbird Matters, takes a 360 degree look at the Mockingbird phenomenon both on page and screen.Santopietro traces the writing of To Kill a Mockingbird, the impact of the Pulitzer Prize, and investigates the claims that Lee’s book is actually racist. Here for the first time is the full behind the scenes story regarding the creation of the 1962 film, one which entered the American consciousness in a way that few other films ever have. From the earliest casting sessions to the Oscars and the 50th Anniversary screening at the White House, Santopietro examines exactly what makes the movie and Gregory Peck’s unforgettable performance as Atticus Finch so captivating.As Americans yearn for an end to divisiveness, there is no better time to look at the significance of Harper Lee's book, the film, and all that came after.
Why? Because We Still Like You: An Oral History of the Mickey Mouse Club(R)
by Jennifer ArmstrongThis book will tell the behind-the-scenes story of how The Mickey Mouse Club paved the way for all that came after, from its humble beginnings as a marketing ploy, through its short but mesmerizing run, to the numerous resurrections that made it one of television's first true cult hits--all through the recollections of those regular kids-turned-stars who made it a phenomenon. It will reveal, for the first time ever, the untold stories of Annette, Darlene, Cubby and Karen, Bobbie and the rest of the beloved cast. It will explore, through the reminiscences of former fans who grew up to be some of television's finest minds, what made the show so special. And it will examine why the formula the creators of the show invented is more relevant than ever, and whether we'll ever see yet another Club for a new generation.
Wichita's Riverside Parks
by James E. MasonWichita was founded in 1870 at the junction of the Little and Big Arkansas Rivers in south central Kansas. From the very beginning, the rivers have been a focus for social and recreational activity. Parks, both public and private, were established along these waterways near downtown to capitalize on this natural asset and have gone through many changes. Some of these parks are now over 100 years old, but one no longer exists, having literally been dug up and hauled away in wheelbarrows in 1933. This book chronicles many of the colorful activities and events that have occurred in these parks over the years, and shows how vital they are in the Wichita of today.
Wicked Dirty: A spellbindingly passionate love story
by J. KennerFrom J. Kenner, the New York Times and No. 1 international bestselling author of the million-copy selling Stark series, comes Wicked Dirty, a new novel set in the seductive Stark world. For fans of Fifty Shades of Grey, Sylvia Day, Meredith Wild and Jodi Ellen Malpas.Sometimes bad isn't good enough...Lyle Tarpin appears to be a clean-cut Hollywood actor whose star is on the rise. Inside, he's battling demons and finding solace in a string of anonymous women paid well for their discretion. But when he's photographed in a compromising position, the only way to save his career is to claim his companion is his fiancee. Struggling waitress Sugar Laine is the one woman who's ever managed to get under Lyle's skin. She only agrees to spend one night with him because she's desperate to save her family home. Neither expects a night of passion and a pretend engagement will blossom into love. But sometimes love has a price. And is it one Lyle and Sugar can afford to pay? Spellbinding romance. Electrifying passion. Why not indulge in J. Kenner...
Wicked and Weird
by Rich TerfryStar CBC-radio host Rich Terfry presents the true story of his alter ego, musician Buck 65, in this rollicking and wonderfully written memoir of growing up poor, talented, baseball-obsessed, music-mad and girl-smitten on the East Coast. With wit, style and a born writer's knack for telling detail, Rich Terfry gives us the story of his unusual life through the eyes of his shy but brilliant and preternaturally observant alter ego, Buck. Born in a small town to a mother who begins yelling at him the moment he is born and a father who disappears into drink, Buck imbibes fear and insecurity like other kids guzzle milk. Hobbled by his fears and demons, Buck almost disappears into the "evil in the woods" that lurks just beyond the town's border . . . until he is saved by three gifts: baseball, romantic love and music. His journey out of his dark hometown and into the wide world begins with a killer pitching arm (Buck almost makes it to the pros) and continues with his transformation into hip-hop artist Buck 65. Along the way, we watch as Buck develops into a hopeless romantic and an obsessively creative, shape-shifting man who both fears life and dives into it with abandon. Nothing is small in Wicked and Weird--a lively, entertaining, often shocking portrait of a life lived on the edge, by turns devastating and brilliantly funny.From the Hardcover edition.
Wicked: The Grimmerie
by David CoteSo much happened before Dorothy dropped in. Two girls quite accidentally crossed paths: one, pretty and popular; the other smart and ... green. The story of how these two unlikely friends became Glinda the Good and the Wicked Witch of the West has made for the most spellbinding new musical in years: Wicked.
Wiggle
by Doreen CroninDo you wake up with a wiggle? Do you wiggle out of bed? For energetic toddlers (are there any who aren't?), here's a book that invites them to wiggle along with the story. Told in rollicky, wiggly rhyme that begs to be read again and again, Doreen Cronin's latest romp will have toddlers wiggling, giggling, and then (hopefully) falling into bed, blissfully exhausted!
Wigs and Make-up for Theatre, TV and Film
by Patricia BakerThis book teaches the basic skills of theatrical and media make-up and wigmaking. It is ideal for students aiming at a career in the world of entertainment - whether it be theatre, television or film - or those hoping to become make-up artists within these fields.
Wilco: Learning How to Die
by Greg KotThe intimate story of one of the great American bands of our time, creators of the controversial masterpiece Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. When alt-country heroes-turned-rock-iconoclasts Wilco handed in their fourth album, Yankee Hotel Foxtrot, to the band's label, Reprise, a division of Warner Brothers, fans looked forward to the release of another challenging, genre-bending departure from their previous work. The band aimed to build on previous sales and critical acclaim with its boldest and most ambitious album yet, but was instead urged by skittish Reprise execs to make the record more "radio friendly." When Wilco wouldn't give, they found themselves without a label. Instead, they used the Internet to introduce the album to their fans, and eventually sold the record to Nonesuch, another division of Warner. Wilco was vindicated when the album debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard charts and posted the band's strongest sales to date. Wilco: Learning How to Die traces the band's story to its deepest origins in Southern Illinois, where Jeff Tweedy began growing into one of the best songwriters of his generation. As we witness how his music grew from its punk and alt-country origins, some of the key issues and questions in our culture are addressed: How is music of substance created while the gulf between art and commerce widens in the corporate consolidation era? How does the music industry make or break a hit? How do working musicians reconcile the rewards of artistic risk with the toll it exacts on their personal life? This book was written with the cooperation of Wilco band members past and present. It is also fully up to date, covering the latest changes in personnel and the imminent release of the band's fifth album, A Ghost Is Born, sure to be one of the most talked-about albums of 2004.
Wild Bill Wellman
by William WellmanThe extraordinary life--the first--of the legendary, undercelebrated Hollywood director known in his day as "Wild Bill" (and he was!) Wellman, whose eighty-two movies (six of them uncredited), many of them iconic; many of them sharp, cold, brutal; others poetic, moving; all of them a lesson in close-up art, ranged from adventure and gangster pictures to comedies, aviation, romances, westerns, and searing social dramas. Among his iconic pictures: the pioneering World War I epic Wings (winner of the first Academy Award for best picture), Public Enemy (the toughest gangster picture of them all), Nothing Sacred, the original A Star Is Born, Beggars of Life, The Call of the Wild, The Ox-Bow Incident, Battleground, The High and the Mighty... David O. Selznick called him "one of the motion pictures' greatest craftsmen." Robert Redford described him as "feisty, independent, self-taught, and self-made. He stood his ground and fought his battles for artistic integrity, never wavering, always clear in his film sense." Wellman directed Hollywood's biggest stars for three decades, including Clark Gable, Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck, John Wayne, Lauren Bacall, and Clint Eastwood. It was said he directed "like a general trying to break out of a beachhead." He made pictures with such noted producers as Darryl F. Zanuck, Nunnally Johnson, Jesse Lasky, and David O. Selznick. Here is a revealing, boisterous portrait of the handsome, tough-talking, hard-drinking, uncompromising maverick (he called himself a "crazy bastard")--juvenile delinquent; professional ice-hockey player as a kid; World War I flying ace at twenty-one in the Lafayette Flying Corps (the Lafayette Escadrille), crashing more than six planes ("We only had four instruments, none of which worked. And no parachutes . . . Greatest goddamn acrobatics you ever saw in your life")--whose own life story was more adventurous and more unpredictable than anything in the movies. Wellman was a wing-walking stunt pilot in barnstorming air shows, recipient of the Croix de Guerre with two Gold Palm Leaves and five United States citations; a bad actor but good studio messenger at Goldwyn Pictures who worked his way up from assistant cutter; married to five women, among them Marjorie Crawford, aviatrix and polo player; silent picture star Helene Chadwick; and Dorothy Coonan, Busby Berkeley dancer, actress, and mother of his seven children. Irene Mayer Selznick, daughter of Louis B. Mayer, called Wellman "a terror, a shoot-up-the-town fellow, trying to be a great big masculine I-don't-know-what. David had a real weakness for him. I didn't share it." Yet she believed enough in Wellman's vision and cowritten script about Hollywood to persuade her husband to produce A Star Is Born, which Wellman directed. After he took over directing Tarzan Escapes at MGM, Wellman went to Louis B. Mayer and asked to make another Tarzan picture on his own. "What are you talking about? It's beneath your dignity," said Mayer. "To hell with that," said Wellman, "I haven't got any dignity." Now William Wellman, Jr., drawing on his father's unpublished letters, diaries, and unfinished memoir, gives us the first full portrait of the man--boy, flyer, husband, father, director, artist. Here is a portrait of a profoundly American spirit and visionary, a man's man who was able to put into cinematic storytelling the most subtle and fulsome of feeling, a man feared, respected, and loved.From the Hardcover edition.