200 films reviewed and rated, covering all genres of movie comedy from slapstick to sardonic, from madness to manners. Featured comedians include Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey, W.C. Fields, Will Rogers, Bob Hope, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Bing Crosby, The Three Stooges, Eddie Cantor, Charlie Chaplin, Jacques Tati, Sid Field, The Crazy Gang, George Burns and Gracie Allen, Jack Hulbert, Joe E. Brown, Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson, Clifton Webb, Red Skelton, Ronald Shiner, Cecil Kellaway, Norman Wisdom, Frankie Howerd, Toto, Arthur Askey, Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Claudette Colbert, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Joan Davis, Marjorie Main, Percy Kilbride, Stanley Holloway, Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake.
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More About the Author
John Howard Reid is the creator of Merryll Manning, the Miami-based police sergeant who made his debut in "Merryll Manning: Trapped on Mystery Island". This book was followed by "Merryll Manning: The Health Farm Murders" and "Merryll Manning: Beachfront Holiday". Next up is "Merryll Manning On the Rim of Heaven."
All 12 books in the series were published overseas from 1985 through 2001. All, except "Merryll Manning: Trapped on Mystery Island", were runaway bestsellers and ran through many editions, including hardcover, paperback (both trade and mass market) and Large Print.
All 12 novels except "Merryll Manning: Beyond Vengeance", on which the critics were divided, attracted highly favorable and indeed overwhelmingly enthusiastic reviews. The author was favorably compared with both Agatha Christie and Graham Greene.
Reid's historical novels, especially "In All His Glory" (set in Ancient Egypt), have also won wide acclaim. His short stories and poems have gained many prizes and commendations. Published prose collections include "Mexican Autumn" and "Micaela Morris in Jo's Heaven". Poetry anthologies include "Anyone for Love?", "Escape to Paradise and Other Poetic Fancies" (published under his "Tom Howard" pseudonym) and "A Salute to Spanish Poetry: 100 Masterpieces from Spain and Latin America rendered into English verse."
Reid is also a widely acknowledged expert on Hollywood movies. His latest book in this field is "Mystery, Suspense, Film Noir and Detective Movies on DVD: A Guide to the Best in Cinema Thrills".
All 12 books in the series were published overseas from 1985 through 2001. All, except "Merryll Manning: Trapped on Mystery Island", were runaway bestsellers and ran through many editions, including hardcover, paperback (both trade and mass market) and Large Print.
All 12 novels except "Merryll Manning: Beyond Vengeance", on which the critics were divided, attracted highly favorable and indeed overwhelmingly enthusiastic reviews. The author was favorably compared with both Agatha Christie and Graham Greene.
Reid's historical novels, especially "In All His Glory" (set in Ancient Egypt), have also won wide acclaim. His short stories and poems have gained many prizes and commendations. Published prose collections include "Mexican Autumn" and "Micaela Morris in Jo's Heaven". Poetry anthologies include "Anyone for Love?", "Escape to Paradise and Other Poetic Fancies" (published under his "Tom Howard" pseudonym) and "A Salute to Spanish Poetry: 100 Masterpieces from Spain and Latin America rendered into English verse."
Reid is also a widely acknowledged expert on Hollywood movies. His latest book in this field is "Mystery, Suspense, Film Noir and Detective Movies on DVD: A Guide to the Best in Cinema Thrills".
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Read for Comedy Movie Buffs and Collectors!,
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This review is from: Hollywood's Classic Comedies featuring Slapstick, Romance, Music, Glamour or Screwball Fun! (Paperback)
Today's movie comedies appear to depend heavily on silly bathroom gags, parodies, and the ill conceived notion that a two minute TV sketch can be stretched into a full length film. Author John Howard examines a time when the biggest names in show business donned their comedic hats in Hollywood's Classic Comedies.This is the twenty-fourth title in Reid's "Hollywood Classics" series. As with others in the series the research and time spent planning and choosing each selection is evident on every page. Hollywood's Classic Comedies is a thorough look at 200 of the genre's best from 1916's Carmen to a few selections from the early 1980's. Writing movie reviews is no passing fad for Mr. Reid as he began to jot down his thoughts about cinema as a pre-teen and later worked as a reviewer for rival newspapers in Sydney as an adult. An impressive resource for this book is his personal catalog of over 20,000 reviews and his collection of several thousand movies. There may not be a comedic equivalent of household names like Citizen Kane or Gone With The Wind, however you will recognize titles such as Abbott & Costello Meet the Mummy, Pride and Prejudice, Designing Woman, Week-end in Havana, and Connecticut Yankee in King Aurthur's Court to name a few. While 21st century comedies see stand-up comedians attempting to cross over to film before their stars fade, these films featured A-list superstars whose names still hold up today from Bob Hope to Bing Crosby, Milton Berle, Gracie Allen, and many more. Each selection details the complete cast and the parts played by name. The director, screenplay writer, editor, music composers, and producers are listed, as well as copyright date, studio, worldwide release dates and run times. Mr. Reid's own personal review and often other reviewers' opinions make each page a comprehensive guide. Three Stooges fans are not left out with ten titles making the book. Seven from Abbott & Costello, three with Laurel & Hardy, and more than a dozen with Harold Lloyd are included. Movie posters and actor stills are on hand to make this a movie buff's dream. A head shot of Lauren Becall from Designing Woman and a smoldering Lana Turner on the back cover is worth the price of admission. For those weary of current cinema comedic fare, this book is highly recommended, as well as those who enjoyed these titles in their first run and desire a second look. For movie buffs, comedic movie collectors and aficionados, Classic Hollywood Comedies is another John Howard Reid must own. By William Potter for Reader's Choice Book Reviews.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hollywood's Classic Comedies,
By John Howard Reid (Wyong, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hollywood's Classic Comedies featuring Slapstick, Romance, Music, Glamour or Screwball Fun! (Paperback)
This book is now available in a Kindle edition. Please click this link: Hollywood's Classic Comedies (Hollywood Classics). Hollywood's classic comedies occupy a mighty large niche in movie history, so I will hand over to two professional reviewers. First off is Molly Martin, who writes in "Molly's Reviews" (August, 2010}: John Howard Reid''s "Hollywood Classic Comedies" is a true treasure for lovers of old Black and White, and beginning color film spanning the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s. From fall down silly slapstick to satirical, from lunacy for the sake of lunacy to more genteel giggles, writer Reid has gathered a collection of actors and comedic gems. I cannot imagine how much time or thought or effort must go into the task of winnowing through all the material available from that wonderful period of cinema to come up with a book which is effectively readable, can be held without resorting to using an A frame and is just plain fun to peruse.Among the featured comedians are included my Daddy's favorites Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. My childish laughter was piqued with the antics of Hope and Crosby and the many Road movies. Abbot & Costello Meet the Mummy, And Baby Makes Three, Bringing Up Baby, a Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, Designing Woman, the Emperor Waltz, Follow the Fleet, Getting a Ticket, the Gracie Allen Murder Case, Scared Stiff and Woman of the Year are also titles I remember well, and remember cackling with glee then, and still laugh without restraint when given opportunity to view today. Ma and Pa Kettle in The Kettles in the Ozarks, It Happened One Night, Hold That Ghost, the list goes on! There are names everyone remembers today: Will Rogers, The Three Stooges, Charlie Chaplin, W.C. Fields, Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin, Audrey Hepburn, Spencer Tracy and Robert Young. And some, few other than those who are of my parents generation do: Bert Wheeler and Robert Woolsey, Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, Jacques Tati, Sid Field, The Crazy Gang, Jack Hulbert, Ole Olsen and Chic Johnson, Clifton Webb, Ronald Shiner, Cecil Kellaway, Norman Wisdom, Frankie Howard, Toto, Arthur Askey, Marjorie Main, Percy Kilbride, Stanley Holloway, Penny Singleton and Arthur Lake. Eddie Cantor, George Burns and Gracie Allen, Joe E. Brown, Red Skelton, Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Claudette Colbert, Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Joan Davis, were actors continuing through my childhood and into my adult years. My own children do recognize these names. To keep the book manageable, Reid has devoted his time to a selection of some 200 or so of the Comedies for comprehensive assessment, including a listing of cast and technical credits, awards and release information and a synopsis. This book is a wonderful treasure trove. The following review by Ross Adams appeared in the August 2007 issue of "Dress Circle" magazine: This book, HOLLYWOOD'S CLASSIC COMEDIES, is a treat for movie lovers and collectors. It features slapstick, romance, music, glamour and screwball fun with a massive 200 entries. Wonderful cover as well with a full color lobby card reproduction of HOLD THAT GHOST. The back cover features a great poster of SLIGHTLY DANGEROUS. This also is full color. Inside, this fascinating book contains many black-and-white photos and lobby cards. The reviews read like a who's who in the field of comedy films. In addition, there's a listing of 100 Must-See Highlights of Movie Comedy, and three pages listing the major comedians featured in the reviews with the titles of their films. As is usual in John Howard Reid's books, the author goes into much detail about the cast, the technicians, and release dates in America, England and Australia. And his own comments are always balanced with the views of other critics. This must-have book is nicely presented and will provide the movie enthusiast with a wealth of information that cannot be found in any other publication.
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