Greatest Westerns Ever Made and The People Who Made Them

The Greatest Westerns Ever Made and the People Who Made Them provides an eclectic review of the Western film and television genre, from John Ford’s classic, black and white films, to Deadwood and indie darlings. Screenwriter Henry C. Parke presents a nuanced look at Hollywood’s dramatization of historic events, the common themes and archetypes of Western movies, and the characters we love (and sometimes love to hate). This book also features essays and interviews with influential Western filmmakers, character actors, the women of Western films (in front of and behind the cameras), and the Native American perspective on Western films and Hollywood’s portrayal of Native American people.

Author: Henry C. Parke and True West Magazine
Published by: TwoDot; 2nd edition (February 6, 2024)
Cover Type: Soft Cover
Page Count: 256 pages

Editorial Reviews

“Film and TV critic for True West, Parke presents a collection of his essays that will be a treat for western film fans… There’s plenty of behind-the-scenes detail and also sharp examination of the cultural impact of western films and of the social changes that affected their content… Parke’s enthusiasm is infectious.”

― Booklist

"A great read... a comprehensive, carefully curated look at the western genre on film and television. Chock full of personal anecdotes that bring humanity to its pages."

-- Patrick Wayne, Actor, The Searchers

"Honored to be featured in this new book by Henry C. Parke, film and TV editor for True West magazine. It’s an in-depth, on point, and eclectic review of the Western film and TV genre, from John Ford to Taylor Sheridan. If you love Westerns, you’ll get lost deep in this one."

-- John Fusco, Writer, Young Guns and Young Guns II

About the Author

Brooklyn-born, L.A.-based screenwriter and wanna-be cowboy Henry C. Parke graduated from New York University’s School of Film and Television. He has been Film & TV Editor for True West since 2015, has written Henry’s Western Round-up, the on-line report on Western film production, since 2010, and writes twice-monthly articles for the INSP Channel’s blog. His screenwriting credits include Speedtrap (1977) and Double Cross (1994). He’s the first writer welcomed into The Western Writers of America for his work in electronic media.

Henry has done audio commentary on about twenty Western Blu-rays and was interviewed in the Turner Classic Movies documentary short TCM Movie Fanatics: Westerns.

True West Magazine has been bringing the history of the American frontier to readers since 1953. For over 65 years True West has been telling the stories of the American West. Whether it's Wyatt Earp and the cowboys behind the OK Corral or Wild Bill Hickok's final "dead-man's" hand, True West brings the unvarnished truth of the American West to readers around the world