Chaplin's war trilogy : an evolving lens in three dark comedies, 1918-1947 / Wes D. Gehring ; foreword by Conrad Lane.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gehring, Wes D., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Chaplin, Charlie, 1889-1977--Criticism and interpretation.

Chaplin, Charlie.

Chaplin, Charlie, 1889-1977.

Shoulder arms (Motion picture).

Great dictator (Motion picture).

Monsieur Verdoux (Motion picture).

War films--United States--History and criticism.

War films.

Criticism and interpretation.

United States.

Comedy films--United States--History and criticism.

Comedy films.

Physical Description:

vii, 232 pages ; 26 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, North Carolina : McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers, [2014]

Summary:

"The book examines Chaplin's evolving perspective on dark comedy in his three war films, Shoulder Arms (1918), The Great Dictator(1940), and Monsieur Verdoux (1947). In the first he uses the genre in a groundbreaking manner but yet for a pro-war cause. In Dictator dark comedy is applied in an antiwar way"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Chaplin and the basic parameters of dark comedy

Chaplin's life and career to 1918

The war bond rallies of 1918: a neglected patriot

Shoulder arms and war as a film topic in 1918

Moving to the post-war 1920s

The 1930s and gathering war clouds

Napoleon, Hitler and the great dictator

After The great dictator; before Monsieur Verdoux

Monsieur Verdoux, without his "talisman" Charlie

Monsieur Verdoux to limelight: from "The little tramp" to "The little red"

Two bitter kings, dark comedy reality, and a lesson from Monsieur Verdoux

Coming full circle: Chaplin's last years, an unrealized darkly comic project, and a final macabre twist

Epilogue

Filmography.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references, filmography and index.

ISBN:

9780786474653

0786474653

OCLC:

869265526