James L. Neibaur is a film historian and educator who has written several books on film, including The Fall of Buster Keaton (2010), Early Charlie Chaplin (2011), and The Silent Films of Harry Langdon, 1923-1928 (2012), all published by Scarecrow Press.
The bulk of The Charley Chase Talkies is made up of a film by film
examination of the sound shorts produced by Chase. Each movie is
given its due, with an informative who-what-when section and a
thoughtful examination of how each fits into Chase’s overall body
of work. Tracking both the evolution of his direction and the
growth of his talents as an actor, this overview is as rewarding as
it is informative. Particularly interesting were the examinations
of the difference between the films that Chase both directed and
starred in, as opposed to those where he acted under the direction
of another.
For fans of Chase, The Charley Chase Talkies will expand and
illuminate your understanding of his remarkable talents.
*Pretty Clever Films*
Neibaur’s knowledge and passion for the subject shines through in
his writing, making this more than your average film-by-film study.
Consistently interesting and entertaining, the book is filled with
enough knowledge to satisfy any film buff. The best part is that
this segment of Chase’s career hasn’t been so thoroughly studied
until now, so the information and Neibaur’s analyses are fresh and
original. The choice to concentrate only on Chase’s talkies was a
good one as well, allowing much more room for a more in-depth study
in what still ended up being over a 300 page book. . . . Neibaur’s
[has written an] impressively thorough book. This is required
reading for any fan of Charley Chase, comedy, or just film in
general.
*Examiner*
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