Francis M. Nevins – författare

The first full-length account of the life and work of Joseph H. Lewis, the noted director of films such as My Name is Julia Ross (1945) and The Halliday Brand (1957). Because most commentators and interviewers have focused on Lewis' contributions to film noir and particularly Gun Crazy and The Big Combo, Nevins tries to give equal time to Lewis' early B westerns and television series episodes, including episodes of The Rifleman and Gunsmoke that he directed at the end of his career. Nevins's narrative is interspersed with Lewis's own reflections on his life and career, adding a personal element that enlivens the text. A detailed filmography includes Lewis's editorial work, feature films, and episodes of TV series.

If you were first exposed to television as a child in the early 1950s when your parents bought their first set, you probably saw the words "directed by Paul Landres" on the screen several times a week. His name became familiar by sheer repetition on the end credits of episode after episode of what youngsters were watching in those days: The Cisco Kid, Boston Blackie, The Lone Ranger, Sky King, Cowboy G-Men, and Ramar of the Jungle. Francis M. Nevins grew to know Landres' name then, and later in his life when he watched other series directed by him—Westerns including The Rifleman and Bonanza and detective shows like 77 Sunset Strip and Hawaiian Eye. Nevins had the pleasure of later meeting Paul Landres and was able to tap into his memories, insights, and professional knowledge to create this enjoyable biographical account. This book is organized as a sort of prose documentary, with Landres' reminiscences interspersed with Nevin's own narration. Includes photos and a filmography.