James Stewart Archives - Author Tony Piazza

Beau L’Amour, Louis son, has started releasing some of his dad’s lost treasures. I picked up one of them, “How the West Was Won.” It’s not one of his original stories, but a novelization of a screenplay written by James R. Webb for M.G.M. and Cinerama Productions.

Author Louis L’Amour

I love the stories of Louis L’Amour and read many of them throughout the 1980s. He was a fantastic storyteller. One of his quotes even applies to my own aim as a writer; “I think of myself… as a troubadour, a village storyteller, the guy in the shadows of the campfire.”

One of many excellent westerns by L’Amour

“How the West Was Won,” is a broad story, perhaps over-ambitious, but improved immensely by L’Amour’s adaption of Webb’s screenplay.

Aside from the enjoyment factor, reading “How the West Was Won,” also awakened some sentimental memories. I saw it at the Orpheum Theater in San Francisco when it was originally released in 1962. I was with my parents and a relative from out of town who came specifically to see the film. In those days big budget films had exclusive engagements in select theaters, in what was known then as a roadshow venue. “How the West Was Won” was one of these productions, with the added enticement of the CINERAMA format. For those readers not familiar with CINERAMA, it was a process whereby a film was shot with three synchronized cameras sharing a single shutter. During the showing, the film is presented on a large, curved, screen utilizing three projectors- also carefully synchronized. The effect was awe-inspiring- and with the addition of surrounding stereo, the audience really felt like they were right in the middle of the action. For “How the West Was Won,” this was particularly spectacular. Imagine being in the center of a buffalo stampede, or running the rapids in a raft, or racing along the rails during a train robbery. In this film, CINERAMA also presented breathtaking vistas of vast stretches of an untouched western frontier. Imagine John Ford images on steroids! It was truly a motion picture experience.

“How the West Was Won” follows the story of the Prescott family through several generations and in turn, examines the Westward expansion from the Erie Canal through the Gold Rush, Civil War, and ending in San Francisco of the 1880s. The film was more Hollywood than history, but that was the style of movies during that era. However, what more than compensates for its lack of realism is the pure entertainment value and wonderful performances of actors such as Stewart, Malden, and Fonda, whose likes we will never see again. Yes, its Hollywood’s version of history, but at its very best.

Composer, Alfred Newman’s soundtrack for “How the West Was Won” is phenomenal. It leaves a lump in your throat. Especially the finale when it accompanies images of the present day West- its bridges, cities, and byways (here you’ll notice that the traffic on the LA freeway wasn’t much better- even in 1962 when it was filmed!). There are wonderful songs written for the film by Sammy Cahn and performed by Debbie Reynolds, and The Ken Darby choir also add their voices to several sentimental numbers that you’ll find yourself humming long after the film has ended.

The film won three Oscars: Best Writing, Story and Screenplay – Written Directly for the Screen by James R.Webb; Best Sound- Franklin Milton; and Best Film Editing, Harold F. Kress. Four directors were hired for the production, each assigned to specific segments: John Ford (Civil War segment), Henry Hathaway (The Rivers, The Plains, The Outlaws), George Marshall (The Railroad), and Richard Thorpe (Transitional historical segments).

“How the West Was Won” boasted a multitude of fine talent: James Stewart, Henry Fonda, John Wayne, Gregory Peck, Carroll Baker, and Debbie Reynolds just to mention a few.

This film was also special to me because of my good friend, Karl Malden. He played Zebulon Prescott in it. As usual, he delivered an outstanding performance alongside Agnes Moorehead, another powerful actor.

Karl Malden as Zeb

Autographed photo of Karl

Another connection was Robert Preston, who portrayed wagonmaster, Roger Morgan. He was a friend of my father, and elsewhere on this website, I tell the tale of how he signed my copy of the “Music Man” novel.

Autographed by Robert Preston

I can’t write about “How the West was Won” without mentioning a well-publicized accident that had occurred during the filming of the train segment. Bob Morgan, the husband of actress Yvonne de Carlo, was doubling George Peppard when the logs on a flatbed car suddenly shifted and dumped him on to the tracks. The axels rolled him under, and he lost a leg, some bones from his spine, and partially disfigured his face.

“How the West Was Won,” certainly opened up a plethora of memories. My thanks to Beau L’Amour for re-releasing his dad’s adaption and reawakening those experiences for me.

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Tony Piazza is a Central Coast mystery writer, film historian, presenter, and skilled storyteller well-known for his passion for writing and movies. An author of four mystery novels, and the memoir, “Bullitt Points,” which is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the classic Steve McQueen movie “Bullitt.” He is also a contributing author to two anthologies and has done many interviews for television, radio, and the print and electronic media. Piazza worked regularly on many Hollywood movies and television shows filmed in San Francisco during the 1970’s, including “Magnum Force,” “Towering Inferno,” and “The Streets of San Francisco.” He now blogs regularly about his Hollywood experiences at authortonypiazza.com. Piazza is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and SLO NightWriters. His latest Tom Logan detective mystery, “Murder Will Out,” has just been released. Find it on Amazon website.

A Writer’s Journey: From Stargazer to Chronicler and Back. Updated.

By Tony Piazza

The San Francisco bay area has played host to a number of motion picture and television production companies over the years. Why? A cinematographer once told me that San Francisco with its’ numerous hills and magnificent views of the bay made it the second most photographed city in the world, with Rome being awarded the first. I would like to add is a former citizen, both born and raised there, that San Francisco, with its Barbary Coast history, dark foreboding alleys, and fog-shrouded streets was chosen by production companies because it provided the perfect backdrop for their films dealing in crime, detection, and mystery. A few motion pictures that come to mind is D.O.A, Dark Passage, The Lady from Shanghai, The House on Telegraph Hill, and most notably The Maltese Falcon. Author Dashiell Hammett had his roots in the city, and even though Nick Charles’s first case for The Thin Man was in New York, its movie sequel landed the detective, wife Nora, and dog Asta with relatives in the bay area. Television also viewed San Francisco as a prime candidate for their crime series; San Francisco Beat a.k.a., The Lineup and Sam Benedict being two early examples.

I was extremely fortunate as a youth and young adult to share in this history. My father was a San Francisco police officer who was assigned back in 1959 to act as liaison to visiting film companies. He provided security, crowd and traffic control, technical advice- in essence, anything that involved the logistics of assisting with their film production. He worked closely with directors searching out locations and with stunt coordinators orchestrating car chases. This assignment gave my mother and me under the rope access to these productions and the unique opportunity to meet stars, directors, and technicians. He did this for seventeen years, and in the process made a name for himself. I eventually became directly involved in the 1970s, working as an extra, stand-in, and bit actor. Signed with the largest of the modeling/casting agents- the Brebner Agency, I was given opportunities to work on such shows as Magnum Force, The Streets of San Francisco, and The Enforcer, and becoming friends with the likes of Clint Eastwood, Karl Malden, and Michael Douglas. It was quite a surreal experience for a man in his early twenties. When I sat in theaters or watched television I saw myself up on the screen opposite these great ones. Even today, when I sit down and pop a DVD of Streets into my player I’m not just watching a show, but reliving memories. It’s like viewing home movies.

Working on “Magnum Force”

My first recollection of being on a film location was in the late fifties. I was taken by my mother to Candlestick Park to visit my dad on the set of Experiment in Terror. The film starred Glenn Ford, Lee Remick, and Ross Martin. Somehow during our visit, we ended up being an extra in the audience at the ballpark under the direction of Blake Edwards. What a thrill, but I didn’t really understand that then. As an inquisitive four-year-old, I was just confused why we were cheering for a ball team that wasn’t there.

As time passed, however, I did become more cognizant of events around me, and totally appreciative of the opportunities that my dad’s associations brought me. I got to meet my heartthrob Ann Margret filming Once a Thief, visit with the very cool Steve McQueen at San Francisco General Hospital on location for Bullitt, joke around with Raymond Burr and the cast of Ironside, and nearly bought the car that Dirty Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood) drove in the film of that same name. And although I was too young when the Master of Suspense, Alfred Hitchcock filmed Vertigo, I did see him later on the set of his last film, Family Plot. Marching down the center aisle of Grace Cathedral on his way to his director chair, Hitch red-faced, and huffing and puffing reminded me of an Archbishop on his way to conduct mass. Later, when I became part of the crew of The Streets of San Francisco (initially as a stand-in for Michael Douglas and then Richard Hatch) I was able to live out my childhood fantasies, by playing cops and robbers right up there on the screen. Not too many young men can say that. I also had the privilege to visit with Steve McQueen again on Towering Inferno and be invited for a drink “with the guys” by Paul Newman.

For many years, I’d shared these stories with a select few- family, friends, and co-workers, and dusted off my photograph album occasionally for those who might be interested. But, as time went by and gray hairs started sprouting on my head I started thinking about leaving a legacy. With no children to relate my stories, I was afraid that there wouldn’t be anyone left to pass on the unique history that my family was a part of. It was at that moment in my life and in this mindset that I discovered the Turner Classic Movie site, and was introduced to blogging. Presented here was a new venue to tell my stories to interested individuals- and fascinated they were. Quite frankly I was surprised by their response and amazed at the audience which I quickly developed. I had to shake my head, and tell myself that I really had fans, and not just of local friends, but members that stretched around the globe!

We’ve all heard the phrase, “be careful what you wish for,” that certainly applied here, for now, I was expected by my audience to supply regular postings. To fill in-between the stories of my experiences- for ones’ memory can be limited at times, I decided to see how my audience would accept my attempts at writing fiction. My first book, “Anything Short of Murder”- a hardboiled detective thriller set in the Hollywood(land) of the 1930s was the result and became an instant hit amongst the TCM audience. It was their e-mails and messages that convinced me to publish the story from its serialized form into a complete novel. Now some four books later- and working on a fifth, all this has become history. In addition, as a writer, I’ve branched off to form my own author’s site where at last count I share some one hundred plus posts of my film and television experiences. I also published a memoir in e-book length, “Bullitt Points,” the story of my meeting Steve McQueen and a personal account of the making of Bullitt. This experience brought me full circle, for all the proceeds from the purchase of the book goes to McQueen’s charity, The Boys Republic, and that allowed me to once again enter the celebrity circle and meet Steve’s son, Chad McQueen.

Tony Piazza and Chad McQueen

A year later we met again when I was invited to speak about Bullitt at its’ 45th Anniversary event in San Francisco. Chad was the guest of honor- there to accept a proclamation from the city to honor his dad. In every aspect, the celebration was a real thrill!

Chad McQueen and Piazza

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Reflecting back over the last few years I find it amazing how much I’ve accomplished in my writing career. I don’t take credit for it. For what success I’ve had, had more to do with the blessed opportunities given me, and the blood, sweat, and long, tiring devotion that my dad had put into his work. I’m just a storyteller relating his own special tale. My only regret is that my dad couldn’t have been here to share in the joy that the telling and sharing of them has brought me.

Every writer has his or her story to tell. It’s a journey that doesn’t start with fingers on a keyboard, but with the first breath taken in life. Experiences to me as a writer are what bricks are to a mason. I use them to build stories that I hope will leave a lasting impression on my reader’s minds.

For more celebrity posts by Tony Piazza go to:

www.authortonypiazza.com

To help the boys at The Boy’s Republic, and read more about my experiences meeting Steve McQueen:

www.bullittpoints.com . Also available on Amazon & B&N websites.

About the author:

Tony Piazza is a Central Coast mystery writer, film historian, presenter, and a veteran storyteller well-known for his passion for writing and movies.

He is the author of five mystery novels, “Anything Short of Murder”, “The Curse of the Crimson Dragon,” “A Murder Amongst Angels,” “Murder is Such Sweet Revenge,” and “Murder Will Out” available in print and e-book format through Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites. Piazza’s non-fiction e-book, “Bullitt Points,” published through SansTree, provides a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the classic Steve McQueen movie “Bullitt” and the involvement of the Piazza family in the production.

Piazza worked regularly as an extra and stand-in on multiple Hollywood movies and television shows shot in San Francisco during the 1970′s, including “Towering Inferno,” “High Anxiety,” “Magnum Force,” and “Streets of San Francisco.”

His inventory of stories reads like a Who’s Who of Hollywood from that era: Clint Eastwood, Steve McQueen, Darren McGavin, Paul Newman, Karl Malden, Michael Douglas, Raymond Burr, Walter Matthau, Fred Astaire, Robert Vaughn and Leslie Nielsen.

Piazza is a member of Sisters in Crime, Mystery Writers of America, and SLO Nightwriters.

COMING SOON, the audiobook of “Murder Will Out,” read by Broadway actor, James Romick. Watch for it.

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