Part of the Encore Film Book Classics series, this is a reprint of the original text to The Swashbucklers by James Robert Parish and Don E. Stanke.
Thankfully, movies have always been “behind the times.” Take military science. While advanced aircraft carriers and the newest artillery made the old ways of warfare obsolete, one feisty band of mounted swordsmen continued to flail away on the screen. These were the Swashbucklers—heroes of a thousand exciting films from silents to talkies and on to the latest widescreen epics. Sometimes knighted by their king, but always embraced by their one true love, acclaimed by adoring peasants, these dashing cinema champions nevertheless worked their stirring derring-do adventures without proper recognition—until now.
The Swashbucklers brings you these daring movie heroes up close and personal. Let their names ring out!:
TYRONE POWER—he handled six-shooters, rapiers, horses, and beautiful women with the same wiry and enduring strength.
ERROL FLYNN—hero of a self-destructive lifestyle where the ending could only be tragic, he will always be Robin Hood.
DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS SR.—when Hollywood was truly Camelot, he reigned as the gallant, fun-loving monarch both on and off the soundstage.
RONALD COLMAN—what was the elusive something this charming vivid star added to his every film role?
STEWART GRANGER—he proved to be too dashing and gallant for a mere movie screen.
VICTOR MATURE—this Beautiful Hunk of a Man had a great saving grace: an infectious sense of humor.
CORNEL WILDE—celluloid villains bothered him less than onscreen stereotypes.
TONY CURTIS—Clifton Webb educated the kid from the Bronx on how to wear clothes; Frank Sinatra taught him something more dangerous.
The Swashbucklers contains comprehensive career studies of these eight genre standout actors, including reviews of all their movies, detailed filmographies, and comprehensive accounts of their intriguing offcamera lives. This book captures the thud-and-blunderbuss sagas that turned the Silver Screen into a wonderfully inaccurate history book – where villains paid the price, beggars did ride on horseback, and virtue and gallantry always carried the day.
About the Authors:
JAMES ROBERT PARISH, a former entertainment reporter, publicist, and book series editor, is the author of many published major biographies and reference books on the entertainment industry including Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You; The Hollywood Book of Extravagance; It’s Good to Be the King: The Seriously Funny Life of Mel Brooks; The Hollywood Book of Breakups; Fiascos: Hollywood’s Iconic Flops; The Hollywood Book of Scandals; The Hollywood Book of Love; Hollywood Divas; Jet Li; Hollywood Bad Boys; The Encyclopedia of Ethnic Groups in Hollywood; The Hollywood Book of Death; Gus Van Sant; Whoopi Goldberg; Rosie O’Donnell’s Story; The Unofficial “Murder, She Wrote” Casebook; Today’s Black Hollywood; Let’s Talk! America’s Favorite TV Talk Show Hosts; Prison Pictures from Hollywood; Prostitution in Hollywood Films; The Great Cop Pictures; Ghosts and Angels in Hollywood Films; Pirates and Seafaring Swashbucklers on the Hollywood Screen; Gays and Lesbians in Mainstream Cinema; Hollywood’s Great Love Teams; and The Fox Girls. Mr. Parish is a frequent oncamera interviewee on cable and network TV for documentaries on the performing arts. The author resides in Studio City, California
DON E. STANKE, who lived in northern California and is now deceased, interviewed more than 30 film and stage personalities, and his articles about these luminaries appeared in motion picture journals from coast to coast. He collaborated with James Robert Parish on several books.
Thankfully, movies have always been “behind the times.” Take military science. While advanced aircraft carriers and the newest artillery made the old ways of warfare obsolete, one feisty band of mounted swordsmen continued to flail away on the screen. These were the Swashbucklers—heroes of a thousand exciting films from silents to talkies and on to the latest widescreen epics. Sometimes knighted by their king, but always embraced by their one true love, acclaimed by adoring peasants, these dashing cinema champions nevertheless worked their stirring derring-do adventures without proper recognition—until now.
The Swashbucklers brings you these daring movie heroes up close and personal. Let their names ring out!:
TYRONE POWER—he handled six-shooters, rapiers, horses, and beautiful women with the same wiry and enduring strength.
ERROL FLYNN—hero of a self-destructive lifestyle where the ending could only be tragic, he will always be Robin Hood.
DOUGLAS FAIRBANKS SR.—when Hollywood was truly Camelot, he reigned as the gallant, fun-loving monarch both on and off the soundstage.
RONALD COLMAN—what was the elusive something this charming vivid star added to his every film role?
STEWART GRANGER—he proved to be too dashing and gallant for a mere movie screen.
VICTOR MATURE—this Beautiful Hunk of a Man had a great saving grace: an infectious sense of humor.
CORNEL WILDE—celluloid villains bothered him less than onscreen stereotypes.
TONY CURTIS—Clifton Webb educated the kid from the Bronx on how to wear clothes; Frank Sinatra taught him something more dangerous.
The Swashbucklers contains comprehensive career studies of these eight genre standout actors, including reviews of all their movies, detailed filmographies, and comprehensive accounts of their intriguing offcamera lives. This book captures the thud-and-blunderbuss sagas that turned the Silver Screen into a wonderfully inaccurate history book – where villains paid the price, beggars did ride on horseback, and virtue and gallantry always carried the day.
About the Authors:
JAMES ROBERT PARISH, a former entertainment reporter, publicist, and book series editor, is the author of many published major biographies and reference books on the entertainment industry including Whitney Houston: We Will Always Love You; The Hollywood Book of Extravagance; It’s Good to Be the King: The Seriously Funny Life of Mel Brooks; The Hollywood Book of Breakups; Fiascos: Hollywood’s Iconic Flops; The Hollywood Book of Scandals; The Hollywood Book of Love; Hollywood Divas; Jet Li; Hollywood Bad Boys; The Encyclopedia of Ethnic Groups in Hollywood; The Hollywood Book of Death; Gus Van Sant; Whoopi Goldberg; Rosie O’Donnell’s Story; The Unofficial “Murder, She Wrote” Casebook; Today’s Black Hollywood; Let’s Talk! America’s Favorite TV Talk Show Hosts; Prison Pictures from Hollywood; Prostitution in Hollywood Films; The Great Cop Pictures; Ghosts and Angels in Hollywood Films; Pirates and Seafaring Swashbucklers on the Hollywood Screen; Gays and Lesbians in Mainstream Cinema; Hollywood’s Great Love Teams; and The Fox Girls. Mr. Parish is a frequent oncamera interviewee on cable and network TV for documentaries on the performing arts. The author resides in Studio City, California
DON E. STANKE, who lived in northern California and is now deceased, interviewed more than 30 film and stage personalities, and his articles about these luminaries appeared in motion picture journals from coast to coast. He collaborated with James Robert Parish on several books.
