I've read Walsh's autobiography, and I find it.... well, every man should be the hero of his own story, but sometimes the story is too neat. Nonetheless, Walsh is an important figure in Hollywood, making masterpieces from 1915 through 1950, and credits from 1913 through 1970. Johnny Crear narrate from Walsh's writing in what becomes a "And then I directed" piece, with pauses for people who are still alive to comment on him. How did he survive changing tastes for so long? How could he have two extremely fertile periods, from 1925 through 1929 at Fox, and then from 1939 through 1945 at Warners? Ileana Douglas may have it right: his basic story was the wandering loner who finds the tough woman who can make him reveal his honor.... and perhaps he should have directed Casablanca. In any case, it doesn't really matter why a great artist creates great art. What matters is the art, from Regeneration through White Heat. Good enough.

10 best Walsh films: 10) Silver River 9) A Lion Is In The Streets 8) Colorado Territory 7) They Drive By Night 6) Hornblower 5) Gentleman Jim 4) Roaring Twenties 3) High Sierra 2) Objective Burma 1) White Heat. PS...Is it just me or did the kidnapping of Barrymore's corpse occur in "W C Fields And Me" and was attributed to the comedian, not Walsh?

Trailer—The True Adventures of Raoul Walsh