If They Move... Kill 'Em!: The Life and Times of Sam Peckinpah

by David Weddle

Book Overview

Now in paperback comes the first major biography of Sam Peckinpah, who began writing scripts for Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, and The Westerner and went on to direct phenomenal films such as Riding the High Country, Straw Dogs, The Getaway, Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid, and The Wild Bunch. of photos.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0802137768
• ISBN13: 9780802137760
• Release Date: February 2001
• Publisher: Grove Press
• Length: 592 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.0" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

Tragic examination of the Sam Peckinpah myth

David Weddle's fine biography of director Sam Peckinpah "If They Move...Kill'em!" is a harrowing book, detailing an extraordinary professional life wrought with alcoholism, drug addiction, rage and eventually paranoia. This book doesn't attempt to brush Peckinpah off the mountain he will forever possess, but it does detail his inspirations, influences and life-long battle with the demons within. Peckinpah was indeed tortured, an Ernest Hemingway or even Jack Kerouac of his time. He was also one heck of an SOB.As a fan of Peckinpah's extaordinary films, including "The Wild Bunch," "Cross of Iron," "Straw Dogs" and "The Getaway," I was always perplexed by the erratic quality of the films later in his career and his eventual disappearance from the filmmaking scene. I suppose Weddle's work provides an uneasy answer to these questions, and I think his arguments about Peckinpah living the life of the characters he created in his films is valid.Peckinpah's legend has always overshadowed Peckinpah's work, which is why such underrated jewels as "Noon Wine," "Junior Bonner" and "The Ballad of Cable Hogue" have been overlooked. I appreciate Weddle's attempts at exposing this myth, and revealing the troubled inspirations and obsessions of Peckinpah. I have problems with the way Weddle skims the surface of many of his films, rarely providing much critical insight or interpretation. But to do so would be treading on the groundbreaking territory of Garner Simmons' ultimate work "Peckinpah, A Portrait in Montage." Weddle should be applauded for avoiding areas that perhaps have already been covered.To support his argument, Weddle ignores films from Peckinpah's resume, and makes several generalizations which are not entirely accurate. As the years go by, curious viewers will eventually realize that "Cross of Iron" was one of his great films, just as they will also begin to appreciate the gritty greatness of "The Getaway." These films will never serve as examples of the eroding talent of Peckinpah. Though I do agree with Weddle that "Bring Me the Head of Alfred Garcia, "The Osterman Weekend" and "Convoy" are hollow shells of a once-great talent."If They Move...Kill'Em!" is eye-opening and disturbing. It needed to be written. Many artists who rose to prominence during the 1960s and 1970s suffered a similar Peckinpah fate - cocaine addiction, alcoholism, a life of excess. That he was still able to make his films was a stunning achievement. That he took 10 years and 5 films off of his life (at the very least), is an American tragedy. Weddle has done a good job at revealing a man who not only was his own worst enemy, but who lived the ignoble life of the tortured artist to the extreme. To know Peckinpah the man, is to eventually understand his utterly unique films.

A masterful innovator

I am an avid reader of biographies. They are a difficult genre to critique because everyone has their own ideas about what parts of an individual's career and what works of the individual should be focused on. My indicator of a great biography is how well the biographer can flesh out personal history to not only help us understand the individual but to demonstrate how the individual's character eventually infuses his works. With accuracy and grace, David Weddle taps into the events of Sam Peckinpah's life and lays out the specific moments that molded the man and his works. Weddle wields a mastery of lyricism in prose that makes the ride all that more enjoyable. Compared to previous works about Peckinpah's life, this work is a compassionate study of a complex human being who made films that moved people. We now can understand an otherwise misunderstood man. Also, Weddle shows how Peckinpah attempted to utilize all that he had learned in theater, televison and life to tell his stories in film as truly as possible. Weddle's biography is a must read for film students, film makers and any person who loves the movies. I highly recommend it.

Peckinpah in paperback

this is a terrific book - a model movie biography. the author seems to have the perfect distance from Peckinpah - knew him personally but not so intimately as to get sucked into the emotional maelstrom that the director seemed to engulf his associates and family in. At the same time he has obviously done his leg work. What is worth noting is how he always sets Peckinpah in the context of his times throughout his life. You get the feeling that Weddle could have doubled the length of the book and still kept it riveting. It's a good thing this book has finally come out in paperback since the hard back edition seems to be out of print.

The definitive Sam Peckinpah Biography

This biography is the best I have read on Sam Peckinpah. I was enthralled to read on about Sam's life through the voice of David Weddle, the author. Weddle caught the essence of Peckinpah in a very realistic way, almost as if Peckinpah had written this himself. It was very enjoyable, and I wished that the book was even longer.

One of the greatest Biographies on Sam Peckinpah

When I read this biography on Sam Peckinpah I was unable to put the book down. It was energetic in the portrayal of Sam Peckinpah and told his story through his eyes instead of the authors. I was excited to read a biography that detailed Sam's life so completly without leaving out any main events about his life. I highly reccommend this book to eveyone.