Bad at the Bijou - William R. Horner

This book is about a group of actors who bring drama to the big screen the way the fair haired hero never could. The granddaddies of Darth Vadar and J.R. Ewing--villains of the Westerns. Witty interviews with ten Hollywood heavies--Lee Van Cleef, Jack Elam, Strother Martin, others--about their backgrounds, and feelings about themselves, their families, and playing bad guys. Horner asks the right questions, pulls out good answers and shows a fondness for controversial and sensitive issues. Two sections contain 43 photos of these familiar grisly characters in well known roles. All in all a splendid portrayal of a bunch of fine fellows who make a living convincing audiences they are despicable, degenerate and mean. A thorough filmography and a solid index are included.