My passion for Samuel Fuller originated during my undergraduate years at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, where Jeanine Basinger has been teaching his work for over forty years. The depth of her knowledge and her love of cinema have inspired me throughout my career. I would not have thought to undertake this work—nor been able to complete it—without her.
I produced a fledgling version of this book under the patient tutelage of Lea Jacobs and David Bordwell at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. I am indebted to them for their comments on drafts, as well as to Vance Kepley, Tino Balio, and Noël Carroll. Much thanks also to my Madison cohort—Jim Kreul, Jane Greene, Jonathan Whalley, Chris Becker, Chris Sieving, Jennifer Fay, and Jim Udden—who provided me with encouragement, beer, and pie when I needed them the most.
At Wesleyan, Richard Slotkin offered invaluable advice on the project, while my colleagues Leo Lensing, Scott Higgins, Jacob Bricca, Lea Carlson, Marc Longenecker, Leith Johnson, and Joan Miller have all supported my scholarship in countless ways. Thanks also to Sam Wasson, Lucas Dietrich, Shahruk Chowdhury, and Dan Butrymowicz for their research help. My editor at Wesleyan University Press, Eric Levy, has been a gem, as I tell him all the time. Much thanks to Eric Lichtenfeld for heartily recommending him.
I am tremendously grateful for the early assistance provided by Mike Pogorzelski and Joe Lindner at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the access they offered to Fuller’s personal film collection. I’d also like to thank Lauren Buisson at the University of California–Los Angeles Young Research Library Arts Special Collections, Maxine Fleckner Ducey at the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theatre Research, Barbara Hall and Faye Thompson at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Margaret Herrick Library, as well as Haden Guest, a true gentleman, who opened the doors for me at the Warner Bros. Archive and shared his own work on Fuller. Jon Davison and Kelly Ward discussed their memories of Fuller with great honesty and enthusiasm; they made the man come alive, which I truly appreciate.
My family—Chuck, Carol, Eleanor, Mike, Helen, and Henry—have experienced the highs and the lows of this project along with me. Their unfailing love convinced me I could do what I never conceived to be possible. Brett, my partner in crime, receives the biggest bear hug of all. His commitment, confidence, and cheers carried me through. We plan a sitcom.
Finally, I offer my heartfelt thanks to Christa Lang Fuller, her daughter Samantha, and her granddaughter Samira. The generosity of these bright, strong, funny women knows no bounds. No wonder Sam loved them so! I look forward to seeing their stories of him in print one day.