Books By Frank Thompson
All prices include postage in the United States. If ordering from outside the U.S. please contact us for shipping costs.
For PayPal, use this email address:
thompsonesque@gmail.com
Send check or money order to:
Frank Thompson
17 Shelby Drive
Asheville NC 28803
COMING SOON! THE COMPLEAT BEAU GESTE
An in-depth and profusely illustrated look at all of the adaptations of Percival Christopher Wren's immortal novel of mystery and adventure as well as its two sequels, Beau Sabreur and Beau Ideal.
Herbert Brenon’s Beau Geste (1926)
Beau Sabreur (1928)
She’s a Sheik (1927), The Arabian Shrieks (1932)
Beau Ideal (1931) and its Mexican remake,
Hermoso Ideal (1948)
Stage Productions 1927-1930, including Basil Dean's disastrous London production with Laurence Oliver, Madeline Carroll, and Jack Hawkins.
Radio Adaptations from around the world from 1931 to 2009
William A. Wellman’s Beau Geste (1939)
Wade Miller’s Beau Geste (1940)
Douglas Heyes’ Beau Geste (1966)
Marty Feldman’s The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977)
Douglas Camfield’s Beau Geste (1982)
Plus Galleries and Appendices:
Books
Comics
Toys
Stamps
Television References, from Gilligan's Island to The Man From U.N.C.L.E. and more.
Parodies That Aren’t Parodies, including Laurel and Hardy's Beau Hunks.
Miscellany - weird and fascinating tidbits
THE COMPLEAT BEAU GESTE will feature hundreds of stills, posters, lobby cards and rare behind-the-scenes photographs. The entire book will be published in full color.
Available in the Fall of 2022.
Asheville Movies: The Silent Era
$16.95 Paperback 104 pages
Discover a nearly-lost era of filmmaking in Asheville, North Carolina, the scenic "Land of the Sky," from the first actuality in 1900 to the final Asheville silent in 1929.
Illustrated with 133 rare photographs, ads, posters and more.
First Edition 2017
The Star Film Ranch: Texas' First Picture Show
$20 Paperback 243 pages
In the winter of 1910, Gaston Melies, brother of cinematic pioneer Georges Melies, sent a troupe of actors and filmmakers to San Antonio, Texas to make westerns, comedies, and stories of Old Mexico.
They established a moving picture studio -- the first ever in Texas -- near Hot Wells Hotel and called it the Star Film Ranch.
Among the more than 70 films they made there before leaving for California in April, 1911, was "The Immortal Alamo," the first film made about the iconic battle.
This is the first book on this historic studio. Researching and writing it remains one of the happiest, most rewarding times in my career.
First Edition 1996
Nothing Sacred: the Cinema of William Wellman
$175 Hardcover 640 pages
"Fantastic! Its picture research and reproduction are breathtaking. I'm absolutely thrilled to have it." -- Kevin Brownlow
“As good a book as I’ve ever read on any individual director” -- Joe Dante
Asheville Movies: The Silent Era
$16.95 Paperback 104 pages
Discover a nearly-lost era of filmmaking in Asheville, North Carolina, the scenic "Land of the Sky," from the first actuality in 1900 to the final Asheville silent in 1929.
Illustrated with 133 rare photographs, ads, posters and more.
First Edition 2017
The Star Film Ranch: Texas' First Picture Show
$20 Paperback 243 pages
In the winter of 1910, Gaston Melies, brother of cinematic pioneer Georges Melies, sent a troupe of actors and filmmakers to San Antonio, Texas to make westerns, comedies, and stories of Old Mexico.
They established a moving picture studio -- the first ever in Texas -- near Hot Wells Hotel and called it the Star Film Ranch.
Among the more than 70 films they made there before leaving for California in April, 1911, was "The Immortal Alamo," the first film made about the iconic battle.
This is the first book on this historic studio. Researching and writing it remains one of the happiest, most rewarding times in my career.
First Edition 1996
The Alamo: The illustrated Story of the Epic Film
$25 Hardcover 160 pages
$20 Paperback 160 pages
A deep dive into the making of the great film "The Alamo" (2004) features 125 behind-the-scenes photographs and memories of the production from director John Lee Hancock (who also wrote the foreword), costume designer Daniel Orlandi, production designer Michael Corenblith, and others.
As a bonus, the entire screenplay is included.
And oh yes, there's a picture of the book's author on page 125 which, needless to say, is worth the price of the book all by itself
First Edition 2003
William A. Wellman
$55 Hardcover 325 pages
Not only my first published work but the first book-length examination by anyone of the tumultuous life and career of Wild Bill Wellman.
While not as lavish (or huge) as "Nothing Sacred: the Cinema of William Wellman" (see above), I remain proud of this now-rare volume.
I'm also proud that the legendary Barbara Stanwyck provided the affectionate foreword.
"William A. Wellman" is hard to come by now -- in fact, I have only two spare copies in my own collection. So if you've ever wanted to add this one to your library, now's the time.
First Edition 1983
No dust jacket, as published
The Alamo: A Cultural History
$19.95 Hardcover 264 pages
Having already written a book on Alamo Movies (you can find it right here on this page), I devoted this book to all aspects of the Alamo as a cultural object with chapters on films, plays, poems, Alamo replicas, toys, games, music and much more.
The book is illustrated with more than 150 photographs, many of them in color.
First Edition 2001
Alamo Movies
$29.95 Paperback 128 pages
Published in 1990 and long out-of-print, "Alamo Movies" covers every film about the battle of the Alamo from "The Immortal Alamo" (1911) to the IMAX epic, "Alamo...the Price of Freedom" (1988).
Loaded with more than 100 stills, this book features a foreword by Fess Parker, King of the Wild Frontier.
First Edition 1990 Old Mill Books