The Great Movie Comedians: From Charlie Chaplin to Woody Allen (Revised and Updated)

By Leonard Maltin

Book Overview

THE GREAT MOVIE COMEDIANS: FROM CHARLIE CHAPLIN TO WOODY ALLEN - Revised Edition by Leonard Maltin Leonard Maltin surveys the 20th century's greatest comedy performers to see what made each one unique. Drawing on his own observations as well as interviews with directors who worked with these stars, he presents entertaining profiles of everyone from Charlie Chaplin, the genius who "did it all" to his modern-day counterpart Woody Allen, whose nebbish persona became as identifiable as Chaplin's Little Tramp. Along the way you'll learn about pioneering comedienne Mabel Normand, sexual provocateur Mae West (who wrote her own saucy material), "iron man" Buster Keaton, the madcap Marx Brothers, the relentlessly rowdy Three Stooges, and many, many more. Maltin has revised his chapters (and filmographies) on Bob Hope, Jerry Lewis, and Woody Allen to bring this acclaimed 1978 book up to date. What's more, he's added some rare, new photos to the already-impressive gallery of images. If you love comedy, you'll enjoy this celebratory volume.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1514324946
• ISBN13: 9781514324943
• Release Date: October 2015
• Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
• Length: 380 Pages
• Weight: 1.22 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Lenny Maltin gives us another look at comedy's great talents

Once again.Leonard Maltin has given us another look at "The Great Movie Comedians"and he shows us why they are still popular with movie fans.In this third look at filmdon's funniest clowns and comics.He explains why Laurel & Hardy,Abbott & Costello ,"The Three Stooges",The Marx Brothers,Charlie Chaplin and W.C.Fields are still popular with their fans even years after these talented performers stopped making movies.He also explains why some performers like Jerry Lewis is still unable to work successfully as a solo clown or why "The Marx Brothers"were never able to sustain their popularity with moviegoers into the war years.(Mainly because of creative sabotage from stupid studio execs like Louis B.Mayer At MGM and the equally stupid heads of RKO and UA).He also looks at the brief but interesting film careers of Thelma Todd,Raymound Griffith,Charlie Chase, Fatty Arbuckle,Mabel Normand,Harry Langdon and Harold Lloyd.The book also includes a filmography of these performers best work and photos of these clowns and comics in their best scenes and off camera as well.While one can hardly agree with the insight into the films of Woody Allen ,Jerry Lewis,The Marx Brothers,etc in this book(I still don't find Mr.Allen,Mr.Lewis,The Marxes,Mr.Chaplin,Mr.Keaton,Mr.Langdon,Mr.Lloyd,Mr.Buster Keaton and Mr.Fields Funny).Mr.Maltin's estimation of their work is informative,interesting and fun.Which can make even a non "Three Stooges"or Non Fields,Marx,Keaton Fan take another look at the careers of these famous funnypeople.Bravo Lenny.Kevin S.Butler.

A Milestone

This book holds up today. I've owned it for 20 years now, and still refer to it. Anyone interested in film comedy's history must own this book.

The perfect book on movie comedians and movie comedy:

No one understands and appreciates movie comedy better than Leonard Maltin, and here he has written a book on the subject that is simply perfect. His enthusiasm and love of these comedians and their comedies is infectious, and he gives us a giddy yearning to watch the movies he cites. If one is an aspiring comedian, too, this is an inspirational book, filling one with the wonderful possibilities of making an audience laugh. It is difficult to fully describe the unpretentious, simple manner in which Mr. Maltin nails down the very essence of comedy in these pages. How often those who write about comedy smother their subject with detailed theories on its socialogical and psychological implications. Mr. Maltin understands better than anyone the subtle art of analyzing comedy without killing it, making his book an absolute joy.