100 Greatest Silent Film Comedians

The silent film era featured some of the most revered names of on-screen comic performance, from Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton to Harold Lloyd, Douglas Fairbanks, and Laurel & Hardy. Besides these giants of cinema, however, there are other silent era performers-both leading actors and supporting players-who also left an enduring legacy of laughter. Beyond some of the most famous names, what about the other artists who entertained audiences then and now? In The 100 Greatest Silent Film Comedians, James Roots ranks the greatest performers whose work predates the sound era. This hierarchy of silent screen genius is based on a scorecard which measures each comic's funniness, timelessness, originality, and teamwork. Far more than just a listing of 100 silent comedians, this is an idiosyncratic and entertaining review of the men and women who created the golden age of comedy. As a critic and deaf viewer, Roots brings a truly unique perspective to the evaluation of these performers and their work. The author has viewed literally thousands of silent comedies and offers some assessments that run contrary to the standard list of performers. While many obvious names are placed in the top echelon, others don't rank as high. And the author also champions performers who have been neglected, in part because their work has not been as visible. Each entry includes: *Filmography *A scorecard based on a criteria of humor, creativity, teamwork, timeliness, and appeal *An evaluation of the artist or group of artists' overall work *An assessment of representative films *DVD availability Ranking these wonderful entertainers creates a new hierarchy, supported by a clear rating system. Specific films are reviewed, strengths and weaknesses articulated, career arcs traced, and explanations provided for the omission of an additional large group of comics. Several of the most intriguing slapstick artists inspire lengthier examination in passionate essays. With the increased availability of films on DVD, as well as Internet access, more and more performers are finding their way to the attention of film fans. Supplemented by an appendix of comedians who missed the cut and an annotated bibliography, The 100 Greatest Silent Film Comedians will be an invaluable resource to anyone wanting to know more about the brilliant entertainers of the silent era.