Customer Reviews

Chaplin: Genius Of The Cinema

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All I can say is "WOW!" I have never seen such a detailed photobiography in my life. It's so much more in depth than Chaplin's own, "MY LIFE IN PICTURES." There is so much text (a very unusual trait for a book like this) and so many photos that it will literally take weeks to absorb it all! This doesn't even include the captions which are like stories of their own. The author uses them as a way of shoehorning every possible interesting incident or entertaining story of Chaplin's life into concise morsels of pure reading pleasure. This book covers it all -- from the early shorts, the feature films, all the wives, the scandals, his music and even a previously unpublished (for the most part) interview with Chaplin himself!! The book probably weighs in at 5 pounds. It's like a text book and photo book rolled into one. If you're a fan of comedians or silent film don't miss it!

Jeffrey Vance's "Chaplin: Genius of the Cinema" is an essential book and a valuable addition to the Charlie Chaplin bibliography. Along with many previously unseen photographs, Vance has assembled a thoughtful and revealing text, with memorable insights provided by Chaplin's family and noted filmmakers such as Martin Scorsese and Chuck Jones. Though Chaplin rarely discussed his cinematic technique, the book's unedited 1966 interview with Richard Meryman sheds new light on his working methods. From a critical perspective, the author provides a detailed reassessment of Chaplin's Mutual period (1916-17), with a particularly keen eye toward his later work - notably "Monsieur Verdoux" (1947), "Limelight" (1952) and "A King in New York" (1957). Thanks to the diligent research of cinema historians such as Vance, Kevin Brownlow and David Robinson, future generations will have a better understanding of Charles Spencer Chaplin and his enduring artistry.

I find it odd that people who leave very positive reviews for books almost always leave their names, while the negative reviewers simply throw rocks anonymously from the safety of a crowd. I also find some of the criticisms of Mr. Vance's book bewildering at best. Great pictures but "boring" text? It's a heavily researched biographical work, not an adventure story you geniuses. If you want exciting and whimsical adventure stories, go read the latest Harry Potter tome and leave the classic cinema discussions for the thinking adults, Sparky.

After reading this book, (not just marveling at the incredible pictures; pictures that can usually ONLY be accessed by working with the estates, widows, and surviving family members of an historically important individual), I watched the remastered DVDs of Chaplin's films with a new appreciation and understanding of the man's work. How sad that people feel the need to write biased negative reviews that are petty at best, and illogical and juvenile at worst. And while I've never met Mr. Vance, it would be very interesting to hear his take on some of the sour grapes offered in these reviews. Some people make important films loved the world over, and some people research and write illuminating biographies of these people. Others can only rise to the level of jealously flinging mud at well-connected authors. Somehow, I believe even Chaplin would fail to find the humor in that.

Author Jeffrey Vance's claim that "What Shakespeare is to Elizabethan theater, Dickens to the Victorian novel, and Picasso to modern art, Chaplin is to twentieth-centry cinemal" may sound remarkably audacious, but this exquisite 400 page book not only shows the truth of this statement with delightful narrative, but most impressively, *illustrates* the truth of it. Here are photographs, know and unknown, reproduced in stunning clarity and freshness as though they were only taken just yesterday instead of (for many of them) nearly one hundred years ago, showing the little fellow at work. Candid photos, behind the scenes phtos, movie stills, photos of him at his zeniths, at his lows, shots showcasing his flaws and imperfections as a person, and his incredible creativity as an artist-- they are priceless pieces of cinema history that any fan of classic film will enjoy seeing.

The love put into this book is evident by the sheer quality contained herein. The public has seen 'the Chaplin image' so many times, that as the book points out, the respect for the ground-breaking brilliance of the artist's work is being lost to cynics and those who would downplay his role in cinema history to laud other less known filmmakers.

But this book successfully illustrates that they are forgetting one thing:

Chaplin doesn't just have a ROLE in cinema history, he helped CREATE cinema history.

Having received this book as a gift for Xmas, I immediately packed it up into a box without so much as cracking the shrinkwrap (I moved on January 1 2004). I just unpacked the box in which this book has lain for the last 7 months! I can only state, a real pity I did not get to this box sooner! This book is an absolute feast for the eyes. Of the books Vance has done this is now my favorite. The text is crisp and the accompanying photos are incredible, culled from many sources. This is a fantastic reference for anyone with an interest in Chaplin. I must now offer big KUDOS to Manoah Bowman who worked on the photo end on this book (as well as the others). His work is superb, the images are crisp, clear and reproduced beautifully. I love the photography of this era, and his photos just make me weep, they are wonderful! I am not a Chaplin expert, but I think you can match this book with David Robinson's excellent biography and you will be pretty well covered! The days of the decadent coffee table books seems to be running dry, and I would suggest you snap this up, it's a stunner! As for the negative comments of other reviewers, I fail to understand their complaint, the is nothing wrong with a family sanctioned tome or going to the source (if one can be found) for material. I'm glad I have this book and all the others, they are rich a gorgeous and a wonderful reference for one of my favorite periods of film. My only regret will be if there are no more to come!

CHAPLIN: GENIUS OF THE CINEMA is an excellent film book. It is without question the best photographic record ever created of Charlie Chaplin's life and work.

The 500 photographs are reprinted in the duotone process and are of beautiful quality. The books also benefits from an excellent design and first rate manufacture. But be warned: it's a very heavy book!

There are other Chaplin books filled with great photos, but none are as comprehensive or as beautifully produced. I recently compared it against CHARLIE CHAPLIN: A PHOTO DIARY, CHARLIE CHAPLIN by Maurice Besy and Chaplin's own MY LIFE IN PICTURES. CHAPLIN: GENIUS OF THE CINEMA has the greatest range of photos (and are better reproduced) than any other Chaplin photo book.

I find the book's text straightforward, insightful, and thoroughly researched. It has lots of details not found in other books and great interviews with those who knew and/or worked with Chaplin.

Many of the photo captions have some of the best stories. Don't overlook them!

What Kevin Brownlow's book PARADE'S GONE BY did for silent film CHAPLIN: GENIUS OF THE CINEMA will do for Chaplin. Both books have the same winning combination of great pictures, interviews, and film history/interpretation.

The book has an introduction by David Robinson (who wrote the cornerstone of Chaplin studies, CHAPLIN: HIS LIFE AND ART, in 1985) and features Richard Meryman's brilliant 1966 interview with Chaplin as an appendix. There is also a highly detailed bibliography and filmography (including outtakes!)

An excellent book and an instant classic.

Jeff Vance's exhaustively researched book is simply a MUST HAVE for fans of silent cinema or students of film history. This is a perfect companion piece to the recently restored films of Chaplin. I highly recommend this book along with the pristine new Chaplin collection DVDs!

"Chaplin: Genius of the Cinema" is a beautiful and intelligent tribute to Charlie Chaplin. I agree with the other reviews (except "A reader from New York" who appears to want to attack the author rather than inform Amazon readers). The 500 photos are stunning, the text is wonderful (Jeffrey Vance's interviews with those who knew Chaplin are a particular delight) and, of course, the previously unpublished interview with Chaplin (reprinted in the back of this 400 page book as an appendix) is amazing.

I have collected nearly every Chaplin book written in English. They could--and do--fill a small library! How can I sum up what makes this book special? My answer: the book's chapter on Chaplin's 1923 drama "A Woman of Paris."

"A Woman of Paris" was a film I had seen once in the early 1980s and never wanted to see again--despite what David Robinson and others whom I admire wrote about it in other Chaplin books. The rare and beautifully reproduced pictures from the film in "Chaplin: Genius of the Cinema" drew me to the chapter. Then I started to read the text. It explained--for the first time I felt--WHY the film was/is a masterwork. The account of Chaplin's use of decor, parallel events, and objects in the film is very impressive. So too are the comments the author has collected from such varied directors as Rex Ingram, Eisenstein, Michael Powell, and Martin Scorsese praising the film.

That chapter made me want to see the film again! I watched "A Woman of Paris" last week with new eyes and loved it. It's now one of my favorite Chaplins. And this is due in large measure to this wonderful book.

This is a gorgeous volume that's so much more than just a mere coffeetable book. There are 500 photos, many of them never seen before, from both Chaplin's private life and stills from his many movies, both famous pictures and lesser-known ones. It goes to show that black and white photography can be just as stunning, if not more so, than color pictures. And though it's mainly a study of the shorts and features he made over his incredibly long career, offering insights into filming techniques, storylines, cast and crew, and dates, it also has a fair amount of biographical information as well, with chapters on events such as his exile, his politics, his four marriages, and his final years. One might personally disagree with a negative or positive assessment of a certain film or short (I for example don't find 'A Woman of Paris' to be the groundbreaking fantastic masterpiece many film critics hold it up as), but there's no denying Mr. Vance really did his homework. And I too find it confusing as to why some people find it a bad thing that Mr. Vance wrote this book and other books on comedic legends from the era through collaborating with the subject's family and friends and why it's supposed to be a bad thing that this is an authorised biography. Wouldn't you rather get a more objective picture that was created with help from people who actually knew the person instead of the shoddy negative untruthful hackjob that a lot of unauthorised biographies are?

If you love Chaplin and I assume you do if you are reading this, you have to own this book. Beautifully illustrated with wonderful photographs and each part of Chaplins career is given the attention it deserves.