Military Comedy Films
A Critical Survey and Filmography of Hollywood Releases Since 1918
Published on 21. August 2012
Book
Paperback/Softback
428 pages
978-0-7864-6290-2 (ISBN)
Description
Beginning with Charlie Chaplin's Shoulder Arms, released in America near the end of World War I, the military comedy film has been one of Hollywood's most durable genres. This generously illustrated history examines over 225 Army, Navy and Marine-related comedies produced between 1918 and 2009, including the abundance of laughspinners released during World War II in the wake of Abbott and Costello's phenomenally successful Buck Privates (1941), and the many lighthearted service films of the immediate postwar era, among them Mister Roberts (1955) and No Time for Sergeants (1958).
Also included are discussions of such subgenres as silent films (The General), military-academy farces (Brother Rat), women in uniform (Private Benjamin), misfits making good (Stripes), anti-war comedies (MASH), and fact-based films (The Men Who Stare at Goats). A closing filmography is included in this richly detailed volume.
Also included are discussions of such subgenres as silent films (The General), military-academy farces (Brother Rat), women in uniform (Private Benjamin), misfits making good (Stripes), anti-war comedies (MASH), and fact-based films (The Men Who Stare at Goats). A closing filmography is included in this richly detailed volume.
Reviews / Votes
"fascinating...attention to detail is impressive. Recommended"-Choice; "essential"-The NYMAS Review; "the author discusses the inspiration for many films and the political and social climate the movie was created in"-ARBA.More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Jefferson, NC
United States
Target group
Interest Age: From 18 years
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
100 photos, filmography, bibliography, index
Dimensions
Height: 254 mm
Width: 178 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
800 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-7864-6290-2 (9780786462902)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Hal Erickson is the author of numerous media-related books and was for many years a primary editor of the All-Movie Guide website. He lives and works in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Content
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
?1.?"I surrounded them!" Charlie Chaplin and Shoulder Arms
?2.?Run Silent, Run Shallow: The Silent Service Comedies
?3.?First Line of Offense: "Professional" Comedians in Talkie Service Comedies
?4.?Abbott and Costello Meet the Ripoffs
?5.?Repeated Rounds: The "Series" Films
?6.?You Know What Sailors Are: Comedies About Seafaring Men
?7.?The Few, the Proud, the Funny: Comedies About the Marines
?8.?You Read the Book! You Loved the Play! Now See the Movie!
?9.?It's Still the Same Old Story ... Sort Of: See Here, Private Hargrove and Biloxi Blues
10.?Stranger Than Fiction
11.?The Wheeler Dealers
12.?It Ain't Stupid If It Works: The "Mis?t-Makes-Good" Comedy
13.?The Children's Crusade: Military-Academy Comedies
14.?"Holy Smokes! A Dame!": Women in the Military
15.?Special Ops
16.?PR/CYA
17.?The Home Front
18.?No Laughing Matter? Comedies About the Civil War and Vietnam
19.?"One, Two Three, What Are We Fighting For?" Anti-War and Anti-Military Comedies
20.?"The Mother of All Movies": Satires and Parodies
21.?Extra Added Attractions: The Cartoons
Filmography
Bibliography
Index
Preface
Introduction
?1.?"I surrounded them!" Charlie Chaplin and Shoulder Arms
?2.?Run Silent, Run Shallow: The Silent Service Comedies
?3.?First Line of Offense: "Professional" Comedians in Talkie Service Comedies
?4.?Abbott and Costello Meet the Ripoffs
?5.?Repeated Rounds: The "Series" Films
?6.?You Know What Sailors Are: Comedies About Seafaring Men
?7.?The Few, the Proud, the Funny: Comedies About the Marines
?8.?You Read the Book! You Loved the Play! Now See the Movie!
?9.?It's Still the Same Old Story ... Sort Of: See Here, Private Hargrove and Biloxi Blues
10.?Stranger Than Fiction
11.?The Wheeler Dealers
12.?It Ain't Stupid If It Works: The "Mis?t-Makes-Good" Comedy
13.?The Children's Crusade: Military-Academy Comedies
14.?"Holy Smokes! A Dame!": Women in the Military
15.?Special Ops
16.?PR/CYA
17.?The Home Front
18.?No Laughing Matter? Comedies About the Civil War and Vietnam
19.?"One, Two Three, What Are We Fighting For?" Anti-War and Anti-Military Comedies
20.?"The Mother of All Movies": Satires and Parodies
21.?Extra Added Attractions: The Cartoons
Filmography
Bibliography
Index