About the Author:
Michael V. Tueth, SJ, teaches film and television studies in the Department of Communication and Media Studies at Fordham University. He is the author of Laughter in the Living Room: Television Comedy and the American Home Audience (2005).
Review:
Tueth (communication and media studies, Fordham Univ.) analyzes 12 US comedies as representative of 11 genres. Duck Soup is clearly anarchic comedy; It Happened One Night, romantic; Singin' in the Rain, musical; Some Like It Hot, sex farce; Dr. Strangelove, satire; Young Frankenstein, parody; Annie Hall, neurotic; Animal House, Dionysian; Waiting for Guffman, mockumentary; and South Park, feature animation. For screwball, Bringing Up Baby is joined by its undervalued remake, What's Up, Doc?. Each chapter provides an excellent introduction to its film(s). The author nods to the literary antecedents, chats about production details, cites other critics effectively, and moves easily between the film's general significance and close readings of important scenes. With all the quoted jokes and recollections, this makes for a delightful read, especially as Tueth prefers the subject texts over any imported theory. This excellent book would be valuable as a textbook and a solid basis for more extensive explorations of less examined genres (neurotic, Dionysian, mockumentary, and animation). Summing Up: Highly recommended. (CHOICE)
This is an important work for film buffs that will probably be most used in the circulating collection. (American Reference Books Annual)
In Reeling with Laughter: American Film Comedies: From Anarchy to Mockumentary, Michael V. Tueth looks at some of the most enduring comic movies of all time. Beginning with the anarchic romp Duck Soup (1933), each chapter explores a specific sub-genre by examining a representative film. Tueth delves into the background of each film’s production and discusses their audience reception and critical appraisal. By examining classic examples of various sub-genres, Tueth provides readers with an understanding of the qualities that have characterized these works.
"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.