New book about Andrew V. McLaglen…

Andrew V. McLaglen (center) directed Rock Hudson and Edward Faulkner in "The Undefeated."

Nancy Larsen from Griffin Bay has a special event to tell you about – featuring one of the island’s more distinguished gentlemen:

Griffin Bay Bookstore and San Juan Island Library are co-sponsors of a special evening with islander &  Hollywood director Andrew V. McLaglen and film historian Stephen B. Armstrong on Saturday, September 3, 7:00 pm. They will appear together at Griffin Bay Bookstore to sign copies of Armstrong’s new book, Andrew V. McLaglen: The Life and Hollywood Career.

McLaglen and Armstrong will begin the evening with a presentation that focuses on the director’s lengthy career, screening clips from two of McLaglen’s best films, “Shenandoah” and “Fools’ Parade.” Following this, they will sign copies of Andrew V. McLaglen: The Life and Hollywood Career, available for purchase at the store.

Acclaimed director Andrew V. McLaglen is the subject of a new book by film historian Stephen B. Armstrong. Titled “Andrew V. McLaglen: The Life and Hollywood Career” (McFarland & Co., 2011), the book is the first of its sort, providing readers with a comprehensive survey of McLaglen’s experiences in the movies, television and the theatre. Born in 1920, Andrew V. McLaglen emigrated to the United States as a young boy, after his father, the British actor Victor McLaglen, relocated from London to Hollywood. From an early age, Andrew expressed an interest in directing motion pictures. In 1945, he landed a job as a production clerk at Republic Pictures. Over the next ten years, he found work as an assistant director, a unit production manager and a producer. Among the movies he worked on during this period were several classics: “The Quiet Man,” “Hondo” and “The High and The Mighty.”

In the mid-50s, McLaglen began to direct movies himself. One of his earliest pictures was a Western called “Gun the Man Down,” which featured James Arness in the lead. Arness at the time was starring as Marshal Matt Dillon on the “Gunsmoke” TV series. Upon Arness’s recommendation, McLaglen was invited by CBS Television to direct for “Gunsmoke.” He would subsequently helm more than 250 television programs, working on not only “Gunsmoke,” but also “Have Gun, Will Travel,” “Perry Mason,” “Banacek” and “The Wonderful World of Disney.”

By the mid-60s, McLaglen had come to be recognized as one of the most talented directors working in television. His success led to numerous offers to direct feature films. A favorite of both John Wayne and James Stewart, he had hits with the pictures “McLintock!” and “Shenandoah” in the mid-60s. Later he worked with stars like Doris Day, William Holden, Richard Burton and Roger Moore.

McLaglen retired from filmmaking in 1989 with more than 30 credited feature films. In 1992, he turned his attention to the stage, lending his talents as a director to San Juan Community Theatre. The plays he’s directed have ranged from a musical adaptation of his own film “Shenandoah,” to the Neil Simon comedies “Rumors” and “The Odd Couple.” McLaglen has been a resident of Friday Harbor since 1977.

An associate professor of English at Dixie State College in St. George, Utah, Stephen B. Armstrong grew up in Annapolis, Maryland. He earned his Ph.D. in English (Creative Writing) from Florida State University in 2004. His articles and reviews about the cinema have appeared in numerous publications, including “Film Score Monthly,” “Classic Images” and “Film Quarterly.” His first book—“Pictures About Extremes: The Films of John Frankenheimer”—was published by McFarland & Co. in 2008.

Armstrong spent nearly three years writing “Andrew V. McLaglen: The Life and the Hollywood Career.” “I’ve always been a fan of Mr. McLaglen’s movies,” Armstrong said. “When I was a boy, I remember being deeply moved by “Shenandoah.” And as a lifelong fan of Westerns, I’ve always thought that pictures like“The Undefeated” and “Chisum” were great.

“I started thinking about writing a book about Mr. McLaglen after I saw a WW II picture he made in the eighties called “Breakthrough.” This is a film few people have heard about, but it’s a masterpiece–thrilling and very sad at the same time. Anyway, as I watched more and more of Mr. McLaglen’s movies, as well as his television work, I realized that he is one of Hollywood’s most undersung directors. And so to help remedy that, I wrote this book.”

Armstrong interviewed McLaglen extensively, making two trips to the director’s home in Friday Harbor. “I remember vividly the first time I came up to the San Juans to meet with Mr. McLaglen. I live in the desert, you see, and the lushness of this area absolutely knocked me over. I was struck, as well, by how green the land looks up here—and I’m colorblind.”

Armstrong also had a chance to meet several of McLaglen’s friends who live in Friday Harbor, including actors and staff from the San Juan Community Theatre. “The people up in this corner of the state are great. Very thoughtful, very generous. San Juan Island is a real jewel.”

Stephen Armstrong comes to the island to share his book about Andrew V. McLaglen...

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