Sign-In
Cart
King of the Action Thriller: Films from the Mind of Alistair MacLean
Paperback
ISBN13: 9781476695334
Publisher: McFarland & Company
Published: Feb 19 2026
Pages: 229
Weight: 0.89
Height: 0.48 Width: 7.00 Depth: 10.00
Language: English
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. Where Eagles Dare, The Guns of Navarone, Puppet on a Chain, and Fear Is the Key set the template for Die Hard, the Bourne films, and John Wick. 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.
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.
Also in
Screenwriting
Screenwriter's Bible, 7th Edition: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script
Trottier, David
Paperback
Save the Cat!(r) Writes Horror: The Ultimate Guide to Creating Monster in the House Stories
Nash, Jamie
Snyder, Blake
Paperback
Scriptnotes: A Book about Screenwriting and Things That Are Interesting to Screenwriters
August, John
Mazin, Craig
Hardcover
The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better
Storr, Will
Paperback
Save the Cat!(r) Writes for TV: The Last Book on Creating Binge-Worthy Content You'll Ever Need
Nash, Jamie
Paperback
The Writer's Journey - 25th Anniversary Edition: Mythic Structure for Writers
Vogler, Christopher
Paperback
The Hollywood Standard - Third Edition: The Complete and Authoritative Guide to Script Format and Style
Riley, Christopher
Paperback
The Structure of Story: How to Write Great Stories by Focusing on What Really Matters
Hartmann, Ross
Paperback
Essentials of Screenwriting: The Art, Craft, and Business of Film and Television Writing
Walter, Richard
Paperback
Middle-Earth from Script to Screen: Building the World of the Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit
Falconer, Daniel
Rice, K. M.
Hardcover
Save the Cat Library Edition: The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need
Snyder, Blake
Hardcover
The Science of Storytelling: Why Stories Make Us Human and How to Tell Them Better
Storr, Will
Hardcover
Easy Riders Raging Bulls: How the Sex-Drugs-And Rock 'n Roll Generation Saved Hollywood
Biskind, Peter
Paperback
Adventures in the Screen Trade: A Personal View of Hollywood and Screenwriting
Goldman, William
Paperback
The Scream Writer's Handbook: How to Write a Terrifying Screenplay in 10 Bloody Steps
Fenton, Thomas
Paperback
Storytelling as Art & Craftsmanship: Practical Strategies for Screenwriters and Creative Writers
Clausen, Dennis M.
Paperback
Save the Cat! Goes to the Movies: The Screenwriter's Guide to Every Story Ever Told
Snyder, Blake
Paperback
Three Screenplays: To Kill a Mockingbird, Tender Mercies and the Trip to Bountiful
Foote, Horton
Paperback
The Writer's Journey - 25th Anniversary Edition - Library Edition: Mythic Structure for Writers
Vogler, Christopher
Hardcover
Make Your Own Movies: A Beginner's Guide to Filmmaking with Whatever Equipment You Have
Parga, Migue
Paperback
Tales from the Script: 50 Hollywood Screenwriters Share Their Stories
Hanson, Peter
Herman, Paul Robert
Paperback
Save the Cat!(r) Strikes Back: More Trouble for Screenwriters to Get Into ... and Out of
Snyder, Blake
Paperback
Be the Train: The Mindset and Tools You Need to Make Your First Feature Film
Ringel, Selina
Paperback
Inside the Room: Writing Television with the Pros at UCLA Extension Writers' Program
Venis, Linda
Paperback
The Tools of Screenwriting: A Writer's Guide to the Craft and Elements of a Screenplay
Howard, David
Mabley, Edward
Paperback
The Virgin's Promise: Writing Stories of Feminine Creative, Spiritual, and Sexual Awakening
Hudson, Kim
Paperback
The Comedy Bible: From Stand-Up to Sitcom--The Comedy Writer's Ultimate How to Guide
Carter, Judy
Paperback
I Got You Covered: The Premier and Fun Guide to Script Coverage, Notes, and Story Analysis
Neufeld, Beverly
Paperback
Aristotle's Poetics for Screenwriters: Storytelling Secrets from the Greatest Mind in Western Civilization
Tierno, Michael
Paperback
Story Made Simple: A No-Nonsense Guide to the Essential Elements of Storytelling
McNulty, Brandon
Paperback
The Creative Screenwriter: 12 Rules to Follow--And Break--To Unlock Your Screenwriting Potential
Hoxter, Julian
Paperback
Becoming a Writer, Staying a Writer: The Artistry, Joy, and Career of Storytelling
Straczynski, J. Michael
Paperback
Everywhere an Oink Oink: An Embittered, Dyspeptic, and Accurate Report of Forty Years in Hollywood
Mamet, David
Paperback
Cinematics Storyboard Workshop: Filmmaking Essentials for the Entry-Level Storyboard Artist
Davidson, Gregg
Paperback
The Protagonist's Journey: An Introduction to Character-Driven Screenwriting and Storytelling
Myers, Scott
Paperback
Conversations at the American Film Institute with the Great Moviemakers: The Next Generation from the 1950s to Hollywood Today
Stevens Jr, George
Paperback
The Heart of Your Script: The Insider's Guide to Writing the Difficult Middle Section of a Screenplay
Hughes, Phil
Wilkes, Ted
Paperback
Pixar Storytelling: Rules for Effective Storytelling Based on Pixar's Greatest Films
Movshovitz, Dean
Paperback
Psychology for Filmmakers: Crafting Authentic Characters and Stories
Salakhieva-Talal, Tatiana
Paperback
Beyond the Hero: Relationship-Driven Screenwriting and the Secret to Hollywood's Greatest Scripts
Weiss, Michael
Paperback
How Stage Playwrights Saved the British Cinema, 1930-1956: The Well-Made Screenplay
Cottis, David
Paperback
Story Made Simple: A No-Nonsense Guide to the Essential Elements of Storytelling
McNulty, Brandon
Hardcover
Save the Cat! Goes to the Indies: The Screenwriters Guide to 50 Films from the Masters
Rubio, Salva
Paperback
How to Write a Damn Good Thriller: A Step-By-Step Guide for Novelists and Screenwriters
Frey, James N.
Hardcover
How Stage Playwrights Saved the British Cinema, 1930-1956: The Well-Made Screenplay
Cottis, David
Hardcover
Reflections of the Shadow: Creating Memorable Heroes and Villains For Film and TV
Hirschberg, Jeffrey
Paperback
The Structure of Story: How to Write Great Stories by Focusing on What Really Matters
Hartmann, Ross
Hardcover
How to Be a Rockstar Screenwriter (or at least pay the bills): Mindset, Tools, and Strategies for a Successful Screenwriting Career
D. Schuyler, Rogina
Silverman, David
Paperback
My Story Can Beat Up Your Story: Ten Ways to Toughen Up Your Screenplay from Opening Hook to Knockout Punch
Schechter, Jeffrey
Paperback
Screenwriting for Storytellers How to Take Your Story From Idea to Script
Moore, Sherlann D.
Paperback
Cut to the Chase: Writing Feature Films with the Pros at UCLA Extension Writers' Program
Venis, Linda
Paperback
The Hollywood Standard - Third Edition: The Complete and Authoritative Guide to Script Format and Style (Library Edition)
Riley, Christopher
Hardcover
Screenwriting: 3-in-1 Guide to Master Movie Script Writing, Screenplay Writing, Film Scripting & Create a TV Show
Pemton, Jaiden
Paperback
Writing Movies for Fun and Profit: How We Made a Billion Dollars at the Box Office and You Can, Too!
Garant, Robert Ben
Lennon, Thomas
Paperback