Military Comedy Films

A Critical Survey and Filmography of Hollywood Releases Since 1918

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by Hal Erickson

Type

Film Reviews

Subject

Genre > War films

Keywords

war films, comedy

Publishing date

2012

Publisher

McFarland & Co

Language

English

Relative size

Physical desc.

Paperback • 428 pages
7 x 10 inches (18 x 25.5 cm)

ISBN

978-0-7864-6290-2

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Book Presentation:
Beginning with Charlie Chaplin’s Shoulder Arms, released in America near the end of World War I, the military comedy film has been one of Hollywood’s most durable genres. This generously illustrated history examines over 225 Army, Navy and Marine–related comedies produced between 1918 and 2009, including the abundance of laughspinners released during World War II in the wake of Abbott and Costello’s phenomenally successful Buck Privates (1941), and the many lighthearted service films of the immediate postwar era, among them Mister Roberts (1955) and No Time for Sergeants (1958). Also included are discussions of such subgenres as silent films (The General), military-academy farces (Brother Rat), women in uniform (Private Benjamin), misfits making good (Stripes), anti-war comedies (MASH), and fact-based films (The Men Who Stare at Goats). A closing filmography is included in this richly detailed volume.

About the Author:
Hal Erickson is the author of numerous media-related books and was for many years a primary editor of the All-Movie Guide website. He lives and works in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Press Reviews:
"fascinating…attention to detail is impressive. Recommended"—Choice
"essential"—The NYMAS Review
"the author discusses the inspiration for many films and the political and social climate the movie was created in"—ARBA.

See the publisher website: McFarland & Co