Tashlinesque: The Hollywood Comedies of Frank Tashlin
Tashlin “was such a master of comedy in both animated shorts and live-action features that one is tempted to wish equally that he had never abandoned animation for the live-action features, and that he had started his live-action career sooner without getting sidetracked into animated cartoons.  But his live-action directing included the same zany fantasy that made his animation so funny, and was so surreal that it remains unique after fifty years of live-action movies.  Tashlin has been the subject of numerous studies in France since 1958, but Tashlinesque is the first American book devoted to his work.”—Fred Patten, Animation World Network (web)“Frank Tashlin's career is staggering in its scope: He was a comic-book artist for the Los Angeles Times, an animator at Warner Bros. and Disney, a screenwriter, director and producer at Fox, Columbia, and Paramount, and a children's book author. … De Seife's clear, conversational, jargon-free prose style makes this scholarly study accessible for nonacademic readers, and between the stretches of textual analysis are vivid passages of historical narrative.”—Leah Churner, Austin Chronicle“De Seife presents the reader with a logically structured and lucidly written text which constantly demonstrates author’s erudition and enthusiasm for the subject. Without a single doubt it counts among the best “directorial monographs” I’ve read recently. The text is complemented by many illustrations, a detailed filmography and an index.”—Milan Hain, 25fps“De Seife moves appreciatively and thoroughly through all phases of the director’s art and career. …(A) very much needed close study of Tashlin’s great contribution to the Hollywood comedy.” —Marilyn Moss, Times Literary Supplement