Chaplin's War Trilogy: An Evolving Lens in Three Dark Comedies, 1918-1947

Description

The book examines Chaplin's evolving perspective on dark comedy in his three war films, Shoulder Arms (1918), The Great Dictator (1940), and Monsieur Verdoux (1947). In the first he uses the genre in a groundbreaking manner but yet for a pro-war cause. In Dictator dark comedy is applied in an antiwar way. In Verdoux he actually embraces the genre as an individual in defense against a society that's out to destroy him. All three are pivotal films in the development of the genre in film, with the latter two movies being very controversial for their time. Cover Table of Contents Foreword by Conrad Lane Preface and Acknowledgments Prologue 1. Chaplin and the Basic Parameters of Dark Comedy 2. Chaplin’s Life and Career to 1918 3. The War Bond Rallies of 1918: A Neglected Patriot 4. Shoulder Arms and War as a Film Topic in 1918 5. Moving to the Post-War 1920s 6. The 1930s and Gathering War Clouds 7. Napoleon, Hitler and The Great Dictator 8. After The Great Dictator; Before Monsieur Verdoux 9. Monsieur Verdoux, Without His “Talisman” Charlie 10. Monsieur Verdoux to Limelight: From “The Little Tramp” to “The Little Red” 11. Two Bitter Kings, Dark Comedy Reality, and a Lesson from Monsieur Verdoux 12. Coming Full Circle: Chaplin’s Last Years, an Unrealized Darkly Comic Project, and a Final Macabre Twist Epilogue Filmography Chapter Notes Bibliography Index