The Columbia Comedy Shorts: Two-Reel Hollywood Film Comedies, 1933-1958 [Library Binding]

Ted Okuda (Author), Edward Watz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1986 | ISBN-10: 0899501818 | ISBN-13: 978-0899501819

Columbia did 500+ two-reel shorts 1933-58, with Hollywood's finest comics: history, production discussion, critiques. (Three Stooges, Andy Clyde, Buster Keaton, Harry Langdon, Charley Chase, others.) Filmographies of all 526 two-reelers: credits, date, synopsis.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"recommended" -- Choice

"way overdue.... Superb research is evident throughout...the rare stills reproduced here are just another reason for fans of Golden Age comedy to hunt the book down now" -- Film Review

"well organized...lively and entertaining...and most informative" -- ARBA --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Ted Okuda is a Chicago-based film historian whose articles have appeared in such publications as The Classic Film Collector, Classic Images, and The Film and Video Collector. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Library Binding: 272 pages
• Publisher: McFarland & Company (June 1986)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0899501818
• ISBN-13: 978-0899501819
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,409,668 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A timely reissue of a fine film book, January 25, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Columbia Comedy Shorts: Two-Reel Hollywood Film Comedies, 1933-1958 (McFarland classics) (Paperback)

The original 1986 publication is now available in a popular-priced, handy paperback edition. Many movie fans are familiar with the Columbia comedy shorts of The Three Stooges, but many of Hollywood's most popular comedians (Buster Keaton, Charley Chase, Andy Clyde, Harry Langdon, etc.) also appeared in Columbia's two-reel comedies. The studio's quarter-century of short-subject production is accurately and completely chronicled by the authors. Their scholarship is exemplary, especially in the filmographies. The writing is intelligent and absorbing, and there are dozens of rare photographs. The book can be enjoyed and consulted any number of times.

5.0 out of 5 stars Remembering Forgotten Hollywood, December 18, 2011

By 

Penvan - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Columbia Comedy Shorts: Two-Reel Hollywood Film Comedies, 1933-1958 (McFarland classics) (Paperback)

In Hollywoods Golden Age,(1927-1956)before the main feature would be a newsreel, cartoon, preview of coming attractions and a short subject. Columbia Pictures had one of the longest runs at this sort of genre. The Three Stooges were most prominent and the longest running in tenure (1934-1959)and then got a second life via television re-runs. Ted Okuda does an excellant job introducing us to a forgotten part of Hollywood and remembering actors who toiled in these short films such as Hugh Herbert, Jimmy Finlayson and even the legendary Buster Keaton. What ever you pay for this volume will be repaid in discovering an overlooked part of Hollywood that should be given its rightful due.