The silent clowns /

A retrospective analysis of the work of such stars as Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Harry Langdon, and Laurel and Hardy.

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Kerr, Walter, 1913-1996 (Author)
Format: Book
Language:English
Published: New York : Knopf, 1975.
Edition:First edition.
Subjects:
Table of Contents:
  • The silent camera. The Pickford paradox and the choice of silence ; The unique experience ; The fact in the fantasy ; The fantasy in the fact ; Fantasy intensified: music and the dancing image ; Serious film: the disadvantages of silence
  • Comedy reborn. Comedy in search of its freedom ; Sennett: The insensitive master carpenter ; Chaplin: an outline becomes a character ; Chaplin: playfulness unleashed ; Harold Lloyd: hard work ; The Roach lot: a bit more method in the madness ; An inquisitive Keaton and a generous Arbuckle ; The Keaton "no" ; Keaton: exploring the gap between life and lens ; The Keaton curve: a study in cooperation ; Some imperfect tools
  • The struggle toward maturity. The risks of length and complexity: Chaplin takes the plunge ; The Chaplin breakthrough: Making seriousness funny ; Chaplin betweixt and between ; Lloyd: the virtuous filmmaking of the virtuous American ; Lloyd: architect of sympathy ; The Keaton quiet ; Keaton as film ; Keaton: the girl and the grave ; Two epics ; Who was Harry Langdon ; Langdon: creating an amibiguity ; Langdon: the ambiguity dissolves ; The demiclowns ; The unexpected Raymond Griffith ; Missing film
  • The twilight dance. Laurel and Hardy: the first turnaround ; Laurel and Hardy: the saving turnaround ; The transition, after and just before: a self-conscious Chaplin ; Chaplin confronts himself ; The end without an ending: Chaplin defines the road.