"Best of the Badmen"
by: Boyd Magers, Bob Nareau, Bobby Copeland

Book Review

Reviewed by: Crystal Samuelian

    Best of the Badmen is a collection of information and filmographies of a wide variety of Western heavies. Each of the 315 entries includes a picture so you can match the description with a face. Details of the lives of some of the most talented badmen of Western film and television history practically burst out of this attractively covered book.

    Boyd Magers, Bob Nareau and Bobby Copeland researched, compiled and wrote this incredible collection to include, not only “The Badmen”, but also “The Rest of the Gang” of lesser-known heavies who tended to play supporting roles. Much of the information had to be dug up from original sources to ensure accuracy, so this book is indeed a great reference.

    While the filmographies are not complete (the book would have been far too long) they represent the better-known films or the best work of the actor. This book is definitely a good starting point for those who are interested in this too often overlooked aspect of the Western.                                                                     

    With 350-plus pages of Western thrills, Best of the Badmen is a steal. It is now available for $39 from Empire Publishing, Inc., P.O. Box 717, Madison, North Carolina, 27025-0717 and via www.empirepublishinginc.com.