RIDLEY SCOTT TO RETURN TO THE ALIEN FRANCHISE

Fox are expected to announce later this month the Ridley Scott is to return to the Alien franchise for a prequel to the sci-fi films. Fox would only green light the project if Scott returned the helm the ailing franchise. There has been no official announcement but those in the know, a source at Fox, has assured me that this is a done deal.

BEAR ALLEY BOOKS PROGRESS REPORT

Head over to Bear Alley

For a progress report from Steve Holland on his new publishing venture as well as a cover image from the first title. Things are moving on apace with the first title now registered with an ISBN number -- Keep an eye on The Archive for some words with Steve soon on this new venture.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA

That Tainted Archive wishes America - A HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY

Old West Legends: The Cook Gang

History has not bestowed upon them the notoriety of The James Gang, nor are they as well known as The Daltons but in their day The Cook Gang were every bit as feared as any of the Old West's outlaws.

"They are a stench to the nostril of lawful men." Said one Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) newspaper in 1890. and during the height of their crimes they were pursued by a team of U. S. marshalls, the Army and even The Texas Rangers.

Their leader was William Tuttle Cook but their ranks changed so often that it is impossible to pin down all the names of the actual members.

The first recorded incident of Bill (William) Cook falling foul of the law was in 1892 when the half Cherokee, was charged with selling whisky in Indian Territory. Later Bill worked as a posseman for U.S. Marshall Will Smith. But when his kid brother Jim was charged with larceny and jumped bail in 1894 he moved over to the other side of the law and joined his brother on the lam. It was not too long before the two brothers met and joined up with Crawford Goldsby, an outlaw, better known to history as Cherokee Bill.

Together with other men, drifters mostly, including Jim French, Skeeter Baldwin and The Verdigris Kid (Sam Mcwilliams then only 17 years old), they started stealing horses whilst keeping one step ahead of the law.

In the Spring of 1894 the U.S. Government passed the law that became to be known as, 'Strip Money'. This was $7 million of compensation to be paid to the Cherokee Nation at Tahlequah. Now Cherokee Bill and the two Cook boys were entitled to payment under the scheme but being on the scout, as they called it, they didn't see how they could claim it. They eventually gave written persmission to one Effie Crittendon to collect their shares on their behalf.

When the law learned of this they sent a Cherokee posse out to Effie's home at Fourteen Mile Creek to capture the outlaws. The posse included Effie's husband, Dick Critterdon. There was a shoot out and Sequoyah Houston, a respected member of the Cherokee police, was killed. The two Cook brothers and Cherokee Bill managed to escape. Though Jim Cook was wounded by buckshot.

Following the incident the newspapers were calling the men 'The Cook Gang' and so began a trail of theft, murder and unspeakable violence that would turn The Cook Gang into household names across America.

Yet they are not remembered today in the way other Old West Badmen are -there was nothing romantic about the Cook gang, nothing to really mythologise though some did try - legend says that as Cherokee Bill was finally led to the hangman his last words were - "I came here to die and not make a speech. It is a good day to die." Though in fact documents record that he had no last words.

Bill Cook, leader of the gang, died in prison in 1901. His brother Jim had died the year earlier when he came second place in a gunfight over an argument about a steer.

If this brief article has prompted anyone to want to learn more about The Cook gang then I suggest getting hold of Black, Red and Deadly by Art Burton.

CRIME'S BIG GUNS

UK publishers are gearing up for the Autumn season by announcing some enticing crime and thriller novels from both newcomers and masters of the field.

One of the more interesting titles is, Talking About Detective Fiction by P.D.James. After fifty years thrilling readers with her cerebral crime fiction the author here talks about the genre that has been so good to her.

James Patterson's Cross Country will be published in paperback this October by Arrow - this time the writer is all on his own, no co-writers, for this Alex Cross mystery which is bound to sell like hot cakes.

Jeffrey Deaver also has a new UK paperback in October with The Bodies left Behind.

Avon books are banking on introducing a new series hero in James Steel's December. The press release states that Alex Devereux will be a series character for a line of books that are very much in the Len Deighton, Alister Maclean tradition.

Crime and thrillers made a healthy showing in the top ten mass market paperbacks in the UK for the week ending 30th June.

Sail by James Patterson
The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly
Azincourt by Bernard Cornwell
The Beach House by Jane Green
Scarpetta by Patricia Cornwell
My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
Someone Special by Sheila O'Flanagan
Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
Silks by Dick Francis with Felix French
Devil May Care by Sabastian Faulks


Hard Case Crime are offering T-shirts featuring their stunning pulp style book covers on their website. You can look trendy and wear your love of pulp fiction at the same time. Check them out.

Seth Harwood who took on the publishing industry by podcasting his novel, Jack Wakes up before securing a publishing deal with Random House, is making announcements of his latest stops in his signing tour. Find details on his website. If anyone hasn't bought Jack Wakes Up yet or listened to it in Podcast form then I urge you to do so. All details are available from Seth's own website.

Check out The Globe and Mail which is now updated by-weekly with the latest in crime fiction. The website has a US slant and seems to often delivered the goods on new releases before anyone else.

ROY ROGERS - THE SHERIFF OF TOMBSTONE

The Sheriff of Tombstone
Roy Rogers, Gabby Hayes
1941

I remember one long summer when I was about eight years old and during the school holidays each weekday morning was a delight for this young western fan. For the entire six weeks the BBC was a haven for old westerns - first there would be an episode of The Banana Splits, followed by Champion the Wonder Horse and then a Roy Rogers movie. After that it was the news and then more adult orientated TV. But that didn't matter because straight after Roy Rogers I would be out the door to spend the long sunny afternoons, no doubt pretending to be Rogers when we played "Cowboys and Indians" - either that, or marbles.

Roy Roger's West was the west of dreams, where everything was black and white and the difference between right and wrong clearly defined. The anti-hero didn't exist and the good guys wore white hats, were polite to women and could strike up a tuneful song at least twice in each movie. And watching these movies now is a pleasure, they are corny sure enough but in nostalgia value alone they are priceless.

The Sheriff of Tombstone sees Rogers leaving Dodge City and then mistaken for gunman Shotgun Cassidy when he arrives in Tombstone. The crooked mayor has hired Cassidy to be sheriff so as to support his dubious silver mine claims. Gabby Hayes, here Judge Gabby Whittaker, shot the real Cassidy after taking all his money in a poker game. We assume Gabby killed the gunslinger but it's not too much of a surprise when he turns up alive, well and very mean later in the movie.


And so Roy and Gabby set out to expose the mayor. It's all good clean fun and as corny as it may be the film contains much evidence of why for millions Roy Rogers was King of the Cowboys.

The film is in the public domain and is presented in its entirety blow. Click play, enlarge the screen and enjoy fifty odd minutes of classic western entertainment.

You can also buy various DVD issues of the movie - The Elstree Hill Entertainment discs are good value because they have actually been remastered to a high standard.

Inside the actors studio - Clint Eastwood

Region free DVD


Hosted by James Lipton this in depth interview with Clint Eastwood was recorded in 2003 at The Geffen Playhouse, one of the few times that the show has gone out of the comfort zone of its own acting school studio.

I've always liked the Actor's studio as it gives an interesting insight into the, often mythical, craft. And the fact that the subject is Clint Eastwood, my favourite living actor, made this a must have item for me.

There are several sections that were cut for time reasons from the broadcast episode and these offer some humorous anecdotes from the legendary actor/director. There's a funny story of how when Clint telephoned Richard Harris to offer him the role of English Bob in The Unforgiven, the actor had been watching a DVD of High Plains Drifter and wouldn't believe it was Eastwood on the telephone.

The conversation covers Clint's entire life - at birth he weighed 11ib 6oz which must have brought tears to his mothers eyes - in search of the man behind the public image. What is especially clear from the conversation is that although it looks as if Clint is often doing nothing on screen, he is in fact a master of his craft.

An essential buy for Eastwood fans and anyone interested in the craft of acting.