Parody as Film Genre: Never Give a Saga an Even Break (review)

Book Reviews | Regular Feature shown how Lincoln was portrayed in the silent movies. In chapter two, "The Reverence of a Dramatic Moment," we are shown how Lincoln was portrayed in the early television programs through the fifties. In the third chapter, "The Perfect Tribute," Thompson gives us a view of "Latter-Day Television Lincolns." In chapter four, "RobotAbes and Aliens," the author switches to a multi-media focus as he presents a different Lincoln—the Lincoln of comedy and fantasy. In the fifth chapter, "Splendid Control and Poetic Clarity," he reverts back to focusing on a single venue—that of theatrical presentations. In chapter six, "An Ideal Counterpart of Lincoln in All Particulars ," Thompson changes direction by focusing on the actors most associated with the role of Lincoln—the Lincoln impersonators . In chapter seven, "Griffith's Lincoln," the author switches gears, turning the focus from the actors to one of the most famous directors of films about Lincoln, D. W. Griffith. In the final chapter , "Dueling Lincolns," in another pirouette of purpose, Thompson provides a comparison of the two major Lincoln films which ended the decade of the 30's—Abe Lincoln in Illinois and Young Mr. Lincoln. The text concludes with three exhaustive lists chronologically detailing the names and credits associated with Lincoln in films, on television, and in assorted venues. If, like Terry O'Quinn in his lead role in the movie The Stepfather , you are obsessively looking for "a little order," you won't find it here. Thompson's loose knit structure and chapter contents virtually defy description. The chapter dealing with the "great Lincoln impersonators" fails to mention Henry Fonda, despite the author's opinion that Young Mr. Lincoln "must be considered among the greatest of Lincoln films" and that not only was Fonda "perfectly cast," but "his performance is flawless." Similarly, one wonders why the author chose to do a separate chapter on D. W. Griffith and not John Ford, whom he describes as "the cinema's greatest poet," especially when he clearly is astounded by the critics ' acclaim of Griffith's only true Lincoln film, Abraham Lincoln . The apparent haphazard organization of the book makes specific information more difficult to find and contributes to a certain level of redundancy—as when Thompson repeats almost verbatim the story ofHenry Fonda's reluctance to accept the proffered role of Lincoln in Young Mr. Lincoln. Despite the apparent lack of "order," Thompson manages to be deceptively thorough in his coverage of the subject, and to do so in an entertaining fashion. Perhaps it is just this low key sense of organization which makes the book as impressive as it is; like a tour guide who seems to be lost, Thompson seems to be leading aimlessly all over the map but somehow he manages to get you to your destination with the added benefits of seeing a few unexpected scenic wonders which were not in the brochure. It is only in looking back that you realize he knew what he was doing all along. Like a Monet painting, if you look at it too closely it appears to be a mass of confusion; it is only when you look at it from across the room that you can appreciate the method in the madness. Frank Thompson clearly favors the poetic over the historical interpretations of Lincoln. Lawrence Crider Uscriders @earthlink.net Wes D. Gehring. Parody as Film Genre: Never Give a Saga an Even Break. Greenwood Press, 1999. 223 pages; $60.00. Why Don't You Come Up and Read Me Sometime? Space is not the final frontier. Filmisi That is exactly how I felt after reading Wes Gehring's Parody as Film Genre. Each chapter was a trip at warp speed to a moon surrounding planet Parody in a galaxy far, far away where Gehring beamed me down to Star Wars space bars of familiars and aliens from Hollywood's past. The knowledge imparted was like a meteor, shower-brilliant , but at times overwhelming. Beam me up, Wes, my circuits are on overload! Wes Gehring, a Ball State University film professor, brings a deep love of motion pictures and extensive writing on the subject and some of...