Broncho Billy and the Essanay Film Company

Rating:
Summary: World's First Western Hero
Review: This book sets the record straight on all the mis-information and incorrect dates about G. M. Anderson from his date of birth to the end of his career. It is a wonderful read about his three roles in "The Great Train Robbery," to his action filled days in Nile, California, to his last days in the rest home. David Keihn has captured Anderson's movie creativity and presented it all in a month by month, year by year sequence. It is a silent screen history lesson that reads like a book of fiction. The beautiful photographs and complete filmography makes this book a must buy for any fan of Western movies or the silent screen.

Rating:
Summary: A very readable history of the first movie cowboy.
Review: This is a well told story of the first movie cowboy hero and about the original development many aspects of how to tell a story with moving pictures. It is a well researched book, but is quite readable. It would be of interest to the casual fan of the movies, not just the serious student silent film. There are many beautifully detailed stills and publicity shots.

"Broncho Billy" Anderson was at one time famous around the world. Now he may be forgotten, but much of the language of the movies that we take for granted was invented by him and by his contemporaries. Broncho Billy was in many ways ahead of his time, understanding right away the value of realism and authenticity and the importance of involving the camera as closely with the action as possible.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of the movies or the West.