Forties Film Funnymen : The Decade's Great Comedians at Work in the Shadow of War

The twelve classic comedy films examined within these pages are distinguished by an equal number of defining comic performances. Ranging from The Great Dictator (1940) to A Southern Yankee (1948), each film focuses on the most central theme of "clown comedy": Resilience, the encouragement or hope that one can survive the most daunting of life's dilemmas—even during the war-torn 1940s. And each film can be regarded as a microcosm of the antiheroic world of its central clown (or clowns). Among the performers represented are Charlie Chaplin, W.C. Fields, Abbott and Costello, Jack Benny, Eddie Bracken, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, the Marx Brothers, Harold Lloyd and Red Skelton. This lavishly illustrated work includes an introduction by noted film critic and historian Anthony Slide. The Twelve Comedy Films Examined Are Distinguished By An Equal Number Of Defining Comic Performances. Each Film Focuses On The Central Theme Of Clown Comedy: Resilience, The Encouragement Or Hope That One Can Survive The Most Daunting Of Life's Dilemmas. Each Film Can Be Regarded As A Microcosm Of The Antiheroic World Of Its Central Clown (or Clowns)--provided By Publisher. Introduction -- Charlie Chaplin: The Great Dictator (1940) -- W. C. Fields: The Bank Dick (1940) -- Abbott & Costello: Buck Privates (1941) -- Jack Benny: To Be Or Not To Be (1942) -- Eddie Bracken: The Miracle Of Morgan's Creek (1944) -- Bob Hope & Bing Crosby: The Road To Utopia (1946) -- Danny Kaye: The Kid From Brooklyn (1946) -- The Marx Brothers: A Night In Casablanca (1946) -- Harold Lloyd: The Sin Of Harold Diddlebock (1947) (a.k.a. Mad Wednesday) -- Bob Hope: My Favorite Brunette (1947) -- Charlie Chaplin: Monsieur Verdoux (1947) -- Red Skelton: A Southern Yankee (1948) -- Epilogue. Wes D. Gehring ; Foreword By Anthony Slide. Includes Bibliographical References, Filmography And Index. Dedication Table of Contents Foreword • Anthony Slide Preface and Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Charlie Chaplin: The Great Dictator (1940) 2. W. C. Fields: The Bank Dick (1940) 3. Abbott & Costello: Buck Privates (1941) 4. Jack Benny: To Be or Not to Be (1942) 5. Eddie Bracken: The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944) 6. Bob Hope & Bing Crosby: The Road to Utopia (1946) 7. Danny Kaye: The Kid from Brooklyn (1946) 8. The Marx Brothers: A Night in Casablanca (1946) 9. Harold Lloyd: The Sin of Harold Diddlebock (1947) (a.k.a. Mad Wednesday) 10. Bob Hope: My Favorite Brunette (1947) 11. Charlie Chaplin: Monsieur Verdoux (1947) 12. Red Skelton: A Southern Yankee (1948) Epilogue Filmography Chapter Notes Bibliography Index