Charlie in Recent Books

Hi,

Here are a few recent books that have Chaplin-related materials in them:

1) 'The A List: The National Society of Film Critics' 100 Essential Films.' Edited by Jay Carr.

Has an interesting essay on 'Modern Times,' by David Denby.

2) 'The Movies That Changed Us: Reflections on the Screen.' By Nick Clooney

Contains a chapter on 'The Great Dictator' from a historical perspective. Interesting reading, especially after viewing 'The Tramp and the Dictator.'

Incidentally, along the same lines, there's an older book that might interest you:

3) 'The 50 Greatest Jewish Movies: A Critic's Ranking of the Very Best.' By Kathryn Bernheimer. This 1998 also includes a chapter on 'Dictator.' Nothing you haven't heard before, but nicely written.

4) 'The Great Movies.' By Roger Ebert

Has an essay on 'City Lights.' Some of you may have already read this piece. You can find it online at:
http://www.suntimes.com/ebert/greatmovies/ ctylight.html

5) 'Dangerous Men: Pre-Code Hollywood and the Birth of the Modern Man.' By Mick LaSalle.

Doesn't deal with Chaplin's work, but has a lovely paragraph about the end of 'City Lights,' similar in tone to Agee's famous essay:

'Charlie Chaplin was the original love victim. There's probably nothing left to be said about the remarkable ending to 'City Lights' (1931), with its close-up of Chaplin's face, one of the transcendent moments in world cinema. After sacrificing everything to restore a blind girl's sight, he suffers the embarrassment of being seen by her, in all his poverty and humility, after having led her to believe that he was a rich man. It's a moment of utter emotional fragility and hopelessness - and of hoping in the midst of hopelessness.'

And here's the strangest instance I've come across recently of Charlie being mentioned in a book:

6) 'Why Paint Cats: The Ethics of Feline Aesthetics.' By Burton Silver and Heather Busch.

According to the review in 'Publisher's Weekly:'

'Perhaps the most amazing entry is a portrait of Charlie Chaplin, supposedly painted with peroxide and vegetable dye on the rear end of a ginger and white cat named Burger.'

Ah, such is fame.

Best to all,

Thanks, Lucy.

It occurs to me that much of the recent interest in _Modern Times_ and _Dictator_ is a reflection of the prioritizing of politics in the evaluation of art, something that has been gaining ground in the past decade or so. Does having 'correct' political content make a film (or poem, or novel) better that one that seems apolitical or politically incorrect? I wonder. I may enjoy watching a film I agree with more than I enjoy watching one I don't agree with, but does that make the one I agree with aesthetically superior or inherently more valuable?

_Modern Times_ seems to me a great film on any terms. _Dictator_ depends more heavily on its political content and historical significance, although on those terms it has considerable interest.

Connie K.