{"product_id":"king-of-the-action-thriller-films-from-the-mind-of-alistair-maclean-9781476695334","title":"King of the Action Thriller: Films from the Mind of Alistair MacLean","description":"\u003cp\u003e The Scottish novelist Alistair MacLean didn't speak English until he was six, but he went on to become one of the world's best-selling authors (over 150 million copies sold) and Hollywood's highest-paid screenwriter. His films are the very portrait of action. \u003ci\u003eWhere Eagles Dare\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eThe Guns of Navarone\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003ePuppet on a Chain\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eFear Is the Key\u003c\/i\u003e set the template for \u003ci\u003eDie Hard\u003c\/i\u003e, the \u003ci\u003eBourne\u003c\/i\u003e films, and \u003ci\u003eJohn Wick\u003c\/i\u003e. The cable car fight, speedboat pursuit, and car chase set a new high for action sequences. Movies were sold on his name alone. He achieved Hollywood's highest honor--his name above the title--because he appealed to a vast global audience. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e This is the first book to explore Alistair MacLean's unique magic, detailing how 18 of his bestsellers were transformed into movies and mini-series. His movies starred Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson, Gregory Peck, Donald Sutherland, multiple Oscar nominees Richard Burton and Richard Harris, and two-time Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins. Moviemakers had such faith in MacLean's name as a marketing tool that they also handed leading roles to unknowns like George Maharis or Sven Bertil-Taube. This much-needed work of cinema history fills a gap in the scholarship, telling the full story of the man who dominated the action movie for two decades.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Brian Hannan\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e McFarland \u0026amp; Company\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 02\/19\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 229\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.89lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 10.00h x 7.00w x 0.48d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781476695334","brand":"McFarland \u0026 Company","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45398284927113,"sku":"9781476695334","price":39.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0636\/9240\/6921\/files\/img_678986e6-9bb3-4c37-b6b1-c709a5fa42f1.jpg?v=1773728738","url":"https:\/\/sonsanddaughtersbooks.com\/products\/king-of-the-action-thriller-films-from-the-mind-of-alistair-maclean-9781476695334","provider":"Sons and Daughters Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}