WINNETOU-PALOOZA!

If you’re planning to be in Croatia later this month, you can take part in what sounds like a fascinating event called FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF WINNETOU! While many of us are fans of Spaghetti Westerns, a lot of folks don’t know that a series of German Westerns were such a success that they inspired the Italians to get into the sagebrush business.

At the turn of the 20th Century, novelist Karl May was a German combination of Zane Grey and Edgar Rice Burroughs. His stories about the American west, focusing on Winnetou the Apache Chief, and pioneers Old Shatterhand and Old Surehand, have never waned in their popularity in Europe, and are finally being translated into English. In the early 1960s, about a dozen films were made from them, starring Pierre Brice as Winnetou, opposite such American actors as Lex Barker, Stewart Granger (okay, English) and Rod Cameron, many of them directed by Robert Siodmak, a German-born director who’d had great success in America before returning to Germany. Many of them have been dubbed into English, and not long ago TCM showed several.

Just as the Italian filmmakers went to Spain to make their Westerns, the Germans went to Croatia, and from April 16th through the 24th, you can visit locations and sets, and be entertained and enlightened by cast and crew members! And it’s all for 559 euros! That’s about $795.00, which sounds damned good for eight days including accommodations and food. If you’d like to learn more about the package, go HERE.

If you’d like to learn more about the films of Karl May, there’s a wonderful website from Holland HERE.

To see a trailer for WINNETOU III (in German) CLICK HERE.

To see a terrific three-minute montage of scenes from the Winnetou films, CLICK HERE.

You’ll see a lot of others on Youtube if you want more. And you can buy DVDs on eBay, but be careful, because many are not available in English, and almost all of them are in PAL format.

(Photos top to bottom: two pictures from the 2010 Winnetou Celebration; poster and still from Winnetou movies; C. Courtney Joyner; James Russo and Christopher Backus in YELLOW ROCK; Andy Garcia in CRISTIANA; Morgan Woodward; Man and Chief, Pawnee; Many Horns, Blackfeet Sioux)

JOYNER REVEALS HOW TO BREAK INTO WESTERN PRINT

On March 27th, C. Courtney Joyner met with a bevy of experienced and wannabe writers at Out West, at 24262 Main Street in Newhall. With over two-dozen produced screenplays to his credit, Joyner is clearly a successful writer. And with his fine book of interviews, THE WESTERNERS (CLICK HERE to see our review), he certainly has demonstrated an admirable knowledge of the Western movie. But since he is on the eve of having his very first Western novel published, he might seem an odd choice to lecture on breaking into Western print. But in fact, he’s in a perfect position to advise the even newer newcomers in a publishing world that’s changing from day to day.

“The reason that Bobbi-Jean (owner of Out West) thought about my doing this is because I’m so new to it – I’ve kind of wormed my way in when a lot of (the publishing business) was collapsing and other (companies) were starting up -- that it seemed to go along with the idea of what we have to do to break in.” A dozen years ago, freshly divorced and living in North Carolina, Court had been reading popular series like THE BADGE and STAGECOACH WEST. “I wrote a novel, and tried to get it to Warner Books. I thought I’d score one of these gigs. Nothing could have been further from the truth – I couldn’t even get an editor to read anything. Because there was a company called The Book Factory that had authors under contract, who would then be given the assignments. (Those series) were strictly in-house. The listed authors were all pseudonyms for this stable of four or five guys who were writing all of the mass-market paperbacks.”

It was while he was interviewing Western filmmakers and actors, and getting those articles published, that he heard of The Western Writers of America. He immediately applied for membership, and was quickly turned down, due to lack of fiction-publishing experience. But as he gained greater success with his articles and interviews in various magazines, especially WILDEST WESTERNS, he was eventually allowed to join their non-fiction section. This led to attending conventions, and meeting other writers and editors face to face, and learning about the marketplace at a time when the world of mass-market paperbacks was starting to shrink.

To his amazement, he learned that the best opportunity for a new Western writer was to be found not in ‘The West’, but on the other side of the pond. “I discovered some writers who were busy working on Black Horse Westerns. The novels are short – about 50,000 words. These are published in England, distributed in English-speaking parts of Europe, primarily as library books. Black Horse publishes about fifty-five titles a year.”
When he went online to get the writer’s guidelines, he also learned about Blackhorse Express, the company’s plan to sell mass-market paperbacks in the U.S. (all of their British editions have been hardback).

Black Horse accepted one of Court’s short stories for an anthology, and his first novel, TRACKING THE DEVIL, will soon be published by Black Horse. This is truly a European operation. Editor Nik Morton, who recently moved to Solstice Publishing, is Scottish, and lives in Spain. Although there are other Americans involved, “Most of the other writers are in Ireland, there are a few who are French, one is Italian. They’re writing Westerns because that’s what they love.”

In the meantime, another of Court’s short stories, TWO-BIT KILL, is in a stateside anthology, LAW OF THE GUN, published by Pinnacle, and he has a contract with them for a western novel for next year. That short story, incidentally, has just been nominated for a Peacemaker Award as Best Short Story of the Year by The Western Fictioneers. “It was all because of this networking, and this getting over the initial wall – I was stunned that it was so hard to get over.”

And the changes in the publishing world don’t stop. Court explained that they key players in Western publishing are Berkeley, Kensington-Pinnacle, and Leisure. “Leisure decided they could no longer sustain mass-market paperbacks – no more series Westerns, and they decided to go entirely e-book and trade paperback.” And the trade paperbacks have, in fact disappeared. What will be the next step in the changing Western publishing world? Court will be speaking on the subject again at the end of the month, at the Santa Clarita Cowboy Festival, which will take place at Melody Ranch from April 27th through May 1st. The Festival is a must-see event under any circumstance, but especially if you’re planning to crack the Western writing market, you need to be there to hear Court.

‘YELLOW ROCK’ LAUNCHES SITE

YELLOW ROCK now has an on-line presence HERE. The soon-to-be-seen Western stars Michael Biehn, James Russo and co-writer Lenore Andriel. To read my two-part article on the production, CLICK HERE (part 1) and HERE (part 2). The score by Randy Miller is a knock-out!

‘CRISTIADA’ RELEASES TRAILER

The little-known story of the Cristeros War (1926-1929), when the Mexican government’s attempts to secularize the country touched of a rebellion, is the subject of this film from special-effects-whiz turned-first-time director Dean Wright. Written by Michael Love, the picture stars Oscar Isaac, Peter O’Toole, Andy Garcia, Eva Longoria and Ruben Blades. It was shot in Durango, Mexico, reportedly under extremely tight security, since the area has been a flashpoint of violence during the ongoing Mexican drug wars. To see the trailer, CLICK HERE.

TCM MARKS 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CIVIL WAR

Turner Classics will screen 34 movies on Mondays and Wednesdays during April to mark the Anniversary of the War Between The States. Starting on Monday, April 4th with GONE WITH THE WIND and RAINTREE COUNTY, they will follow on Wednesday the 6th with four films about life on the home front, FRIENDLY PERSUASION, BAND OF ANGELS, OF HUMAN HEARTS and LITTLE WOMEN. April 11th will showcase five Civil War silents, the 13th will feature comedies and musicals, and the 18th and 20th will both feature westerns. On the 25th there will be battlefield stories, and on the 27th the topic will be Reconstruction.

MAGNIFICENT 7 AT THE AUTRY SATURDAY APRIL 8TH

Aside from Eastwood, John Sturges is probably the last great American Western director to emerge, and one of his finest works, THE MAGNIFICENT 7 (1960) will grace the big screen at the Wells Fargo Theatre at 1:30 p.m. A re-make of Kurosawa’s 7 SAMURAI, it’s the story of some kind-hearted gunmen who agree to defend a poor Mexican town being ravaged by banditos led by the wonderfully despicable Eli Wallach. The seven are Charles Bronson, Robert Vaughn, Brad Dexter, James Coburn, Horst Buchholtz and in the leads, Yul Brynner and Steve McQueen. Yul and Steve, both extremely competitive actors, hated each other, and it’s a joy to watch them try to steal scenes from each other.

ROY RIDES RANGE AT RFD-TV

On Thursday April 7th at 2:30p.m. Western time, it’s ALONG THE NAVAJO TRAIL (1945) starring Roy, Dale, Gabby, sassy spitfire Estelita Rodriguez and ace villain Roy Barcroft. This one concerns Gypsies, ‘worthless’ land, and the people who keep killing each other to own it. On Saturday at 9:00 a.m. it’s BELLS OF CORONADO (1950), written by Sloan Nibley, directed by William Whitney, and starring Roy, Dale, Pat Brady, and the Riders of The Purple Sage. Keep your eyes peeled for Rex Lease, once a Western leading man who plays the shipping-company foreman.

MUTTERINGS

I had planned to have my article on the Los Angeles Spaghetti Western Festival in this week’s Round-up, but I was still editing it when I had to rush off to see Robert Redford’s THE CONSPIRATOR, about the trial of accused Lincoln assassination conspirator Mary Surratt. I’ll have my review, as well as the Spaghetti Western piece, in next week’s Round-up, but for now I’ll just say that it’s well-worth seeing, and beautifully shot.

Also soon I’ll have part two of my coverage of the shooting of THE FIRST RIDE OF WYATT EARP, and my interviews with Earl Holliman and Ty Hardin. I was at the Hollywood Show this Saturday, where folks with more patience than I waited for three hours to get Martin Landau to sign something. Ran into the great screen villain Morgan Woodward (see the picture), who sent greetings to his fans. If you’d like to read my interview with Morgan, CLICK HERE.

Adios, amigos!

Henry

All Contents Copyright April 2011 by Henry C. Parke – All Rights Reserved

IT’LL BE HELL ON WHEELS WHEN MEEK’S CUTOFF MEETS REDFORD’S CONSPIRATOR!

Three major new Westerns, two for the big screen and one for the small, are growing on the horizon! And all are based on historical fact!

MEEK’S CUTOFF

MEEK’S CUTOFF will open on the day taxpayers crave a distraction most, April 15th. The story of a wagon train lost in the Oregon desert in 1845, the film stars the beautiful Michelle Williams of BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN fame, fresh from her Oscar-nominated turn in BLUE VALENTINE. Co-starring is Paul Dano, who startled audiences by playing two roles in 2007’s THERE WILL BE BLOOD, and who will soon be seen in COWBOYS & ALIENS. Also in the cast is stuntman/actor Rod Rondeaux, whose legendary work with horses can be seen in almost every important Western of the last few years, and who played Roman Nose in INTO THE WEST (2005). The film is directed by Kelly Reichardt and written by Jonathan Raymond, whose previous collaboration, OLD JOY (2006) received strong critical notices. You can see the trailer for MEEK’S CUTOFF HERE.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3293026841/

(photos top to bottom: poster and still from Meek's Cutoff; poster and still from Conspirator; still from Hell On Wheels; National Day of the Cowboy poster; WestFest poster and two shots from last year's Rodeo; Kim Darby and John Wayne in True Grit; Kim Darby when I met her and she smiled real nice but still wouldn't give me an interview; Chief John Yellow Flower of the Utes; Chief Keokuk of the Sac & Fox)

THE CONSPIRATOR

Set to open on the same fateful day, and more to the point, the day in 1865 that the President succumbed to his wounds, is THE CONSPIRATOR, the story of the trial of Mary Surratt, one of those accused of conspiring with John Wilkes Booth in the assassination of President Lincoln, and the attempted murders of Vice President Johnson and Secretary of State Seward. Historians have never reached a consensus on Mary Surratt’s guilt or innocence (I think she was guilty as Hell). Directed by Robert Redford, who won the directing Oscar for ORDINARY PEOPLE (1980), and was nominated for QUIZ SHOW (1994), the screenplay is by James D. Soloman, from a story by Soloman and Gregory Bernstein. The film stars Robin Wright as Mary Surratt, James MacEvoy as her lawyer, Rachel Evan Wood as her daughter, with Kevin Kline, Tom Wilkerson, Alexis Bledel and Danny Huston. To see the trailer for THE CONSPIRATOR, click HERE.

http://www.imdb.com/video/imdb/vi3695417881/

HELL ON WHEELS

AMC, reportedly delighted with the pilot, has ordered a full season (with the pilot that makes ten episodes) of HELL ON WHEELS. The story is set just after the Civil War, during the building of the Transcontinental Railroad – the title refers to the make-shift, portable towns that sprung up along the way to service the railroad-workers’ needs. It stars Anson Mount as an ex-Confederate whose quest for revenge has led him to a job on the railroad. Rapper and DATE NIGHT star Common plays a freed slave, and also in the cast are Colm Meany of Star Trek fame (and also in CONSPIRATOR) and Eddie Spears of INTO THE WEST and the up-coming YELLOW ROCK. The series is being shot in Alberta, Canada, with financial help from the Alberta Film Development Program. The pilot is directed by David Von Ancken, who brought you SERAPHIM FALLS (2006). It’s created and written by Joe and Tony Gayton, brothers known for big action movies like BULLLETPROOF (1996) and FASTER (2010). An airdate has not yet been announced.

NATIONAL DAY OF THE COWBOY RIDES THROUGH NEW MEXICO!

Another state gets with the program, designating July 23rd to be the National Day of the Cowboy. As Santa Fe campaign-worker Richard Beal reports, the events of Wednesday, March 2nd, “Representative Brian F. Elgof talked for five minutes about the history of NDOC and why he thought it was important. The clerk then read the resolution. About 20 legislators stood up and told storoies about how their grandfather had been a cowboy, or they were a rodeo queen back in the day, etc., and each thanked Egolf for doing this and honoring the many cowboys in New Mexico. At the end, they presented us (NDOC) with the official certificate and the entire legislation sang Home on the Range.” Incidentally, Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who is still recovering from the assassination attempt against her, has been a longtime supporter of NDOC.

On Monday March 7th, in Austin, Texas, the legislature will be meeting on the same matter. If you’d like to take part in this movement to make the National Day of the Cowboy an official national holiday, visit the official website HERE, and find out if your state is on board yet.

http://www.nationaldayofthecowboy.com/cms/

PALM SPRINGS ‘WESTFEST’ MARCH 24TH-27TH

There’s going to be so much going on at the Palm Springs Convention Center from Thursday through Sunday that I hardly know where to begin. There will be a PRCA Rodeo every day – including bareback riding, steer wrestling, team roping, saddle bronc riding, tie-down roping, barrel racing and bull riding; the Twangfest musical festival; Western Design Expo; a rodeo parade; barbecue; chili cook-off; a carnival; a Gene Autry Film Fest; talks by Bob Boze Bell of True West Magazine; talks by John Wayne co-star Eddie Faulkner remembering the Duke…. So much more than I can’t begin to fit it all in here – and aside from the rodeo, admission to everything is just five bucks a day! Also, although they officially say Westfest starts on March 24th, their event schedule starts on March 20th. CLICK HERE to go to the official site and learn more!

http://palmspringswestfest.com/index.php/home

KIM DARBY'S NOT TALKING

Apparently I lack grit. When I met Kim Darby recently I snapped a picture (see left), and asked for an interview. She referred me to her manager, who just called and told me, “Sorry, but no. I just got off the phone telling U.S.A. Today the same thing.” I can’t really blame her – with the huge success of the Coen Brothers’ TRUE GRIT remake, Kim has spent the last four months answering questions about the original film she made in 1969 with John Wayne and Henry Hathaway. She feels there’s nothing I can ask her about TRUE GRIT that she hasn’t answered a dozen or more times, and maybe she’s right. (I’ll try again later, with some really obscure and pointless questions like what kind of shoes Strother Martin wore, just to be different.) But if you’d like to get her take on the movie, CLICK HERE to visit her website, and follow the links to several recent interviews.

http://www.kimdarby.com/

ON THE TUBE

HAPPY TRAILS THEATER ON RFD-TV THURSDAY, MARCH 10TH

When Roy Rogers heard that Cole Porter had written a Broadway musical parody of B westerns, but couldn’t get it financed, he contacted Cole, and bought the theme song, which was the genesis of DON’T FENCE ME IN (1945), the story of reporter Dale Evans’ search for retired outlaw Wildcat Kelly. It also features great non-Cole Porter songs like The Last Roundup and Tumbling Tumbleweeds, and the cast includes Gabby Hayes, Robert Livingston, and one of the greatest of all screen gangsters, Marc Lawrence. At RFD-TV they pre-empted the Saturday morning airing, and the midnight one as well -- something with a title like The Country Family Reunion is returning to that slot, so the only time to catch DON'T FENCE ME IN is Thursday at 2:30 pm eastern and 5:30 western. I've sent an inquiry to the good folks at RFD-TV to ask, what gives?

COMING ATTRACTIONS – EVENTS IN MARCH

UCLA EVENTS AT THE BILLY WILDER THEATRE

Screenings as part of their Preservation Festival include, on Saturday, March 12th, a double bill of RAINBOW OVER TEXAS (1947) starring Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, and HEART OF THE RIO GRANDE (1942) starring Gene Autry and the lovely Smiley Burnette. On Monday, March 14th, it’s THE FORGOTTEN VILLAGE (1941) from a screenplay by John Steinbeck, preceded by MEXICO IN THE HEARST METRONONE NEWS COLLECTION. And on Saturday, March 19th at 2:00 p.m. they will present the program BABY PEGGY: HOLLYWOOD’S TINY TITAN. The daughter of a cowboy and stuntman, Baby Peggy, co-starring with Brownie the Wonder-Dog, was a hugely popular star of Western child action comedy films in the 1920s. Few of her films have survived, but Baby Peggy has – she’s now known as Diana Serra Carey, and she will be present for the screening of several of her short films, and existing fragments of several more. (Here’s a historical note: a Baby Peggy film was the first movie to play at the Vista Theatre in Hollywood when it was opened in the early 1920s. The theatre was built at the intersection of Hollywood and Sunset Boulevards, where the Babylon sets for D. W. Griffith’s INTOLERANCE once stood. Over the decades the theatre and neighborhood lost its luster, and the Vista became a gay porn theatre. When it was turned into a revival house in the 1980s, Baby Peggy, who had attended the original opening decades before, attended the new ceremony, where gay porn director Fred Halsted handed the theatre keys over to her.)

LOS ANGELES SPAGHETTI WESTERN FESTIVAL MARCH 19th!

The historic El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood will play host on Saturday, March 19th to the Los Angeles Spaghetti Western Festival. This all-day event will feature live music, screenings, and some very special guest stars, leading men Robert Woods (GATLING GUN, read our review HERE -- read our interview with Woods HERE); Michael Forest (NOW THEY CALL HIM SACRAMENTO, read our review HERE); Richard Harrison ($100,000 FOR RINGO); Brett Halsey (WRATH OF GOD); Dan van Husen (LIGHT THE FUSE…SARTANA IS COMING) and Jack Betts –a.k.a. Hunt Powers (DJANGO AND SARTANA), as well as actor, stunt coordinator and Western historian Neil Summers. The movies to be screened will include the one that started it all, Sergio Leone’s A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS, plus GATLING GUN (courtesy of Dorado Films – click HERE for their site) and DEAD MEN DON’T COUNT (courtesy of Wild East productions – click HERE for their site). A live musical tribute to Ennio Morricone will be presented by The Insect Surfers, playing music from the album FOR A FEW GUITARS MORE. You can save $10 if you register before February 28th, WHICH IS TOMORROW! For all the details, go to the official website HERE.

PAPERBACK COLLECTOR SHOW AND SALE SUNDAY, MARCH 27th

If you’re a reader of Westerns as well as a watcher, here is an event you should not miss! From 9:00 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. you can search the wares of dozens of book dealers from around the country. They run from the very rare and pricey to the battered and cheap. Serious paperback collectors go for unopened books in perfect condition, but I go for what are disparagingly called ‘reader copies,’ and have found dozens of obscure Luke Shorts and Zane Greys for a dollar or two each. Also, more than 45 authors will be signing their books, and unlike other autograph shows, THERE IS NO CHARGE! Most of the authors are sci-fi and mystery types – for a complete list and schedule, click HERE. The event is at the Valley Inn and Conference Center, 10621 Sepulveda Blvd., Mission Hills, CA 91345. For more information, call Tom Lesser at 818-349-3844 or Black Ace Books at 232-661-5052.
http://www.la-vintage-paperback-show.com/

BREAKING INTO WESTERN PRINT (BOTH ‘E’ AND PAPER) MARCH 27TH

If you’ve ever wanted to write a western novel or story – of if you’ve written it, but don’t know how to get it published (my hand is raised), make plans to go to Out West, at 24265 Main Street in Newhall on Sunday, March 27th at 2:00 p.m. Author C. Courtney Joyner, the very talented and prolific screenwriter and western film historian, will discuss breaking into the western print market, agents, editors, networking, the changes at Leisure Books, ‘E’ publishing, university presses, contests, and publishers across the pond. Mr. Joyner knows whereof he speaks: in addition to a long string of screen credits, both as writer and director, he wrote the fascinating interview-book THE WESTERNERS (see my review HERE), and his excellent tale, The Two-bit Kill, is featured in the new western story collection, LAW OF THE GUN. The event is free. For reservations call 661-255-7087.

THE AUTRY NATIONAL CENTER

Built by cowboy actor, singer, baseball and TV entrepeneur Gene Autry, and designed by the Disney Imagineering team, the Autry is a world-class museum housing a fascinating collection of items related to the fact, fiction, film, history and art of the American West. In addition to their permenant galleries (to which new items are frequently added), they have temporary shows. The Autry has many special programs every week -- sometimes several in a day. To check their daily calendar, CLICK HERE. And they always have gold panning for kids every weekend. For directions, hours, admission prices, and all other information, CLICK HERE.

HOLLYWOOD HERITAGE MUSEUM

Across the street from the Hollywood Bowl, this building, once the headquarters of Lasky-Famous Players (later Paramount Pictures) was the original DeMille Barn, where Cecil B. DeMille made the first Hollywood western, The Squaw Man. They have a permanent display of movie props, documents and other items related to early, especially silent, film production. They also have occasional special programs. 2100 Highland Ave., L.A. CA 323-874-2276. Thursday – Sunday 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. $5 for adults, $3 for senior, $1 for children.

WELLS FARGO HISTORY MUSEUM

This small but entertaining museum gives a detailed history of Wells Fargo when the name suggested stage-coaches rather than ATMS. There’s a historically accurate reproduction of an agent’s office, an original Concord Coach, and other historical displays. Open Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 a.m. Admission is free. 213-253-7166. 333 S. Grand Street, L.A. CA.


FREE WESTERNS ON YOUR COMPUTER AT HULU

A staggering number of western TV episodes and movies are available, entirely free, for viewing on your computer at HULU. You do have to sit through the commercials, but that seems like a small price to pay. The series available -- often several entire seasons to choose from -- include THE RIFLEMAN, THE CISCO KID, THE LONE RANGER, BAT MASTERSON, THE BIG VALLEY, ALIAS SMITH AND JONES, and one I missed from 2003 called PEACEMAKERS starring Tom Berenger. Because they are linked up with the TV LAND website, you can also see BONANZA and GUNSMOKE episodes, but only the ones that are running on the network that week.

The features include a dozen Zane Grey adaptations, and many or most of the others are public domain features. To visit HULU on their western page, CLICK HERE.

TV LAND - BONANZA and GUNSMOKE

Every weekday, TV LAND airs a three-hour block of BONANZA episodes from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. They run a GUNSMOKE Monday through Thursday at 10:00 a.m., and on Friday they show two, from 6:00 to 8:00 a.m.. They're not currently running either series on weekends, but that could change at any time.

NEED YOUR BLACK & WHITE TV FIX?

Check out your cable system for WHT, which stands for World Harvest Television. It's a religious network that runs a lot of good western programming. Your times may vary, depending on where you live, but weekdays in Los Angeles they run DANIEL BOONE at 1:00 p.m., and two episodes of THE RIFLEMAN from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.. On Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. it's THE RIFLEMAN again, followed at 2:30 by BAT MASTERSON. And unlike many stations in the re-run business, they run the shows in the original airing order. There's an afternoon movie on weekdays at noon, often a western, and they show western films on the weekend, but the schedule is sporadic.

Well, March is sure shaping up to be a busy month for Western fans. Hope you're enjoying it!

Adios,
Henry

All Contents Copyright March, 2011 by Henry C. Parke - All Rights Reserved