"Code of Honor offers detailed accounts of the making of three classic, and arguably the best, American Western films ever made: High Noon (1952; directed by Fred Zinnemann), Shane (1953; directed by George Stevens), and The Searchers (1956; directed by John Ford). What binds this trio together is the hero's "code of honor," whether that means standing alone against a gang of killers, sacrificing the desire to never again use a gun, or prevailing in a seemingly hopeless search for a kidnapped relative." "Based on original interviews and filled with behind-the-scenes anecdotes, this book reveals the controversies and conflicts on and off the sets; the evolution of the screenplays; the reasons behind the casting choices; the changes made during filming and after screenings; and the public and critical responses." "Granted unfettered access to the private collections of all three directors and to studio archives, Michael F. Blake punctures longstanding myths and debates, giving credit where it is due. Illustrated with sixty rare photos, here is a tribute to that code of honor toward which our country forever aspires."--Jacket.