Silent Comedy
Publisher: Random House Books; Random House
Published: October 23, 2007
Language: eng
Format: Hardcover
Number of pages: 288
ISBN-13: 9781905211708
Subjects: Film theory & criticism; Film & Video - General; Performing Arts / Film / General; Pop Arts / Pop Culture
Description: On the surface it may seem surprising that a master of verbal humour should also be a devotee of silent comedy, but Paul Merton is passionate about the early days of Hollywood comedy and the comic geniuses who dominated it. His knowledge is awesome - as anyone who watched his BBC 4 series Silent Clowns or attended the events he has staged nationwide will agree. Starting with the very earliest pioneering short films, he traces the evolution of silent comedy through the 1900s and considers the works of the genre's greatest exponents, showing not only how each developed in the course of their career but also the extent to which they influenced each other. At the same time, Paul brings a comedian's insight to bear on the art of making people laugh, and explores just how the great comic ideas, routines, gags and prat-falls worked and evolved.