I got this fair-condition ex-library hardcover from Better World Books. It's about the making of the classic 1956 film based on Alan Lemay's novel. (I enjoyed both, but the film's a must-see!)

This book is actually two books in one. Half of it deals with a historical Comanche raid in east Texas in 1836, in which 9-year-old Cynthia Ann Parker was taken captive and eventually assimilated into the tribe. Her history, that of her descendants, and that of her surviving family and their search for her, became the inspiration for Lemay's novel and, eventually, for the film - though the story soon parted company with the historical details, to the degree that they're known.

Parker's story is harrowing, in the double-edged way that many captive-children tales are: she had to suffer the original attack, being parted from her family, and being brought up among people whose customs she had to learn from scratch. And then, as an adult, she was "rescued" - but by that time it seemed to her that she was captured again, by another tribe whose customs were, by now, as strange to her as those of the Comanche had been.

The part of the book that deals with the making of the film is also quite fascinating, though perhaps not as deeply involving as Parker's story. But as I adore the movie, I was delighted to see the many photographs (some never before published) from the set, and the detailed account of how director John Ford went about choosing his cast, dealing with the ups and downs of shooting on location, and coping with his backers and his own personal issues.

The film includes what is perhaps John Wayne's best role, mixing his iconic tough-and-stoic-loner image with some very poignant emotional scenes. The book touches on that as well, and includes comments from many of the cast and crew and their families and friends. A very interesting look behind the scenes.

[There's a TV Tropes page on the film, with some interesting tidbits.]

I'm adding this book to the Biographies of Things bookbox, which will be on its way to its next stop soon. Enjoy!

*** Released as part of the 2016 Heads, Shoulders, Knees, Toes release challenge, for the embedded "ear" in the title. ***

I've never seen this movie or heard of this particular story, but it does sound interesting. My guess is that I'll read the "real" story and skip the part about the making of the film...but I might just surprise myself and read it all!

To the finder of this book:

This book is gift, no strings attached, from me to you. You may keep it forever, pass it along to a friend, or release it into the wild to be found by someone else.

If you are new to BookCrossing, welcome! Enjoy the site, the book, and the BookCrossing community. I hope you'll join us...it's free! If you do, please consider using me, elizardbreath, as your referring member. You can even remain anonymous if you wish!

I hope you'll make a brief journal entry so all the previous and future readers can track this book's journey.

Thanks, and Happy BookCrossing! :)