The silent film era featured some of the most revered names of
on-screen comic performance, from Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton
to Harold Lloyd, Douglas Fairbanks, and Laurel & Hardy. Besides
these giants of cinema, however, there are other silent era
performers both leading actors and supporting players who also left
an enduring legacy of laughter. Beyond some of the most famous
names, what about the other artists who entertained audiences then
and now? In The 100 Greatest Silent Film Comedians, James Roots
ranks the greatest performers whose work predates the sound era.
This hierarchy of silent screen genius is based on a scorecard
which measures each comic s funniness, timelessness, originality,
and teamwork. Far more than just a listing of 100 silent comedians,
this is an idiosyncratic and entertaining review of the men and
women who created the golden age of comedy. As a critic and deaf
viewer, Roots brings a truly unique perspective to the evaluation
of these performers and their work. The author has viewed literally
thousands of silent comedies and offers some assessments that run
contrary to the standard list of performers. While many obvious
names are placed in the top echelon, others don t rank as high. And
the author also champions performers who have been neglected, in
part because their work has not been as visible. Each entry
includes: .Filmography .A scorecard based on a criteria of humor,
creativity, teamwork, timeliness, and appeal .An evaluation of the
artist or group of artists overall work .An assessment of
representative films .DVD availability Ranking these wonderful
entertainers creates a new hierarchy, supported by a clear rating
system. Specific films are reviewed, strengths and weaknesses
articulated, career arcs traced, and explanations provided for the
omission of an additional large group of comics. Several of the
most intriguing slapstick artists inspire lengthier examination in
passionate essays. With the increased availability of films on DVD,
as well as Internet access, more and more performers are finding
their way to the attention of film fans. Supplemented by an
appendix of comedians who missed the cut and an annotated
bibliography, The 100 Greatest Silent Film Comedians will be an
invaluable resource to anyone wanting to know more about the
brilliant entertainers of the silent era."
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