In this Book

summary
Legendary screen comedian Jerry Lewis once said, "The premise of all comedy is a man in trouble." The films that endeared Lewis and others to us hinged on the physical assault of their hero, the pie in the face or slip on the banana peel that reduced the movie star to the level of the audience. Alan Dale presents a lively and accessible look at slapstick, a form of comedy with roots in the circus and vaudeville that has been refashioned by actors ranging from Buster Keaton to the Marx Brothers, from Katharine Hepburn to Jim Carrey.

Winner of the Theater Library Association’s Special Jury Prize for Distinguished Achievement

Table of Contents

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  1. Cover
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  1. Title Page, Copyright, Dedication, Quote
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  1. Contents
  2. pp. ix-x
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  1. Preface
  2. pp. xi-xiv
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  1. 1. Comedy Is a Man in Trouble
  2. pp. 1-30
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  1. 2. Chaplin as Proteus, Low-Down and High Up
  2. pp. 31-58
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  1. 3. Junior: Harold Lloyd and Buster Keaton
  2. pp. 59-91
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  1. 4. Girl Heroes
  2. pp. 92-131
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  1. 5. The Marx Brothers: The Buoyant Refuse of Our Teeming Shore
  2. pp. 132-160
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  1. 6. Preston Sturges: Girl in a Jam, Boy in a Jam
  2. pp. 161-189
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  1. 7. Jerry Lewis: The Once and Future King of Comedy
  2. pp. 190-212
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  1. Coda
  2. pp. 213-220
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  1. Notes
  2. pp. 221-236
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  1. Works Cited
  2. pp. 237-246
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  1. Index
  2. pp. 247-270
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  1. About the Author
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  1. Image Plates
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