6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
GOOD FOR DIE-HARD FANS & SCHOLARS, BUT NOT FOR GENERAL FANS, July 8, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Groucho and W.C. Fields: Huckster Comedians (Studies in Popular Culture) (Hardcover)
Gehring's book is like a text book. Like a thesis. It's good on that level; but there's always the ultimate question: Why analyze comedy at all? Once you start to explain it on a serious, scientific level, you've drained it from all it's fun. This book will help understand W.C. Fields & Groucho's worth in the history of Comedy and Satire, but it won't win them new fans. I love Groucho & W.C. Fields; I think they were brilliant, geniuses and true artists. But this book with it's text book, scientific style, is drab and makes you wonder what is so funny about them. If you really want to know and enjoy W.C. Fields & Groucho, watch their films.
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