The Outlaw Josey Wales. Poster of the 1976 movie and cover of the 1973 book, Gone to Texas
VS3
Gone to Texas
Forrest Carter, 1973
movie vs book
Clint Eastwood, 1976

Josey Wales, a Missouri farmer, is driven to revenge by the murder of his wife and young son by a band of pro-Union Jayhawker militants from Senator James H. Lane’s Kansas Brigade, led by the brutal Captain Terrill. Wales refuses to surrender, and as a result, he and a young guerrilla named Jamie are the only survivors when Terrill’s Redlegs massacre the surrendering men.


First Blood. Poster of the 1982 movie and cover of the 1972 book
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First Blood
David Morrell, 1972
movie vs book
Ted Kotcheff, 1982

Seven years after his discharge, Vietnam War veteran John Rambo travels by foot to visit an old comrade, only to learn that his friend had died from cancer the previous year, due to Agent Orange exposure during the war. Teasle, however, offers Rambo a lift to make sure he is headed out of town.


Deliverance. Poster of the 1972 movie and cover of the 1970 book
VS3
Deliverance
James Dickey, 1970
movie vs book
John Boorman, 1972

Four Atlanta businessmen decide to canoe down a river in the remote northern Georgia wilderness before it is dammed. Lewis, an experienced outdoorsman, is the leader; his close friend Ed has been on several trips but lacks Lewis’ machismo, while Bobby and Drew are novices. They’ll never forget that trip into the dangerous American back-country.


Breakheart Pass. Poster of the 1975 movie and cover of the 1974 book
VS3
Breakheart Pass
Alistair MacLean, 1974
movie vs book
Tom Gries, 1975

In the 1870s, residents of the garrison at the Fort Humboldt frontier outpost of the United States Army are reported to be suffering from a diphtheria epidemic. A special express train is heading up into the remote mountain ranges towards the fort filled with reinforcements and medical supplies.


The Gauntlet. Poster of the 1977 movie and cover of the book novelization
VS3
The Gauntlet
Michael Butler, Dennis Shryack, 1977
movie vs book   [NOVELIZATION]
Clint Eastwood, 1977

Ben Shockley, an alcoholic cop from Phoenix, is given the task to escort witness Augustina Mally from Las Vegas. The constable dies at the hands of several men armed with machine guns. They eventually run into a gang of bikers whom Shockley threatens with his revolver, then confiscates one of their motorcycles and takes off on it with Mally.