Best Chaplin Biography?

[gasolinegus]

I've just recently really gotten into Chaplin after having seen some
of his early material before the "Little Tramp" persona had really
formed into the character from the feature films for United Artists.
I was wondering what are considered the essential and "must reads" on
Chaplin. There are so many books out there to choose from that I
don't want to waste a lot of time or money. I'm especially interested
in the Keystones and Mutuals period. Any help would be greatly
appreciated.

[Rockinghorse Winner]

Post by gasolinegus
I've just recently really gotten into Chaplin after having seen some
of his early material before the "Little Tramp" persona had really
formed into the character from the feature films for United Artists.
I was wondering what are considered the essential and "must reads" on
Chaplin. There are so many books out there to choose from that I
don't want to waste a lot of time or money. I'm especially interested
in the Keystones and Mutuals period. Any help would be greatly
appreciated.

Chaplin's autobiography is a good place to start, but it is frustratingly
coy in places. For an objective bio, the David Robinson is very highly
thought of. The Joyce Milton bio is seriously flawed, according to some.

*R* *H*

[Matt Barry]

Post by Rockinghorse Winner

Post by gasolinegus
I've just recently really gotten into Chaplin after having seen some
of his early material before the "Little Tramp" persona had really
formed into the character from the feature films for United Artists.
I was wondering what are considered the essential and "must reads" on
Chaplin. There are so many books out there to choose from that I
don't want to waste a lot of time or money. I'm especially interested
in the Keystones and Mutuals period. Any help would be greatly
appreciated.

Chaplin's autobiography is a good place to start, but it is frustratingly
coy in places. For an objective bio, the David Robinson is very highly
thought of. The Joyce Milton bio is seriously flawed, according to some.
*R* *H*
--
"For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward
heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and
joy." - Saint Therese of Lisieux

To me, there probably isn't a "definitive" Chaplin biography, although
Robinson's probably comes closest. It's a vast amount of information that
can be difficult to take in on a single reading.

For general information, I actually found "The Chaplin Encyclopedia" to be
both informative and a fun read. It's broken down into subjects, so it's not
the kind of book one reads cover-to-cover, but it can be quite helpful for
pinpointing pieces of information and contains good descriptions of all the
films. Considering it's format, the book really contains a huge amount of
information.

Although there are countless biographies on Chaplin, I would think the
Robinson book would be the best place to start. There are others, such as
the Joyce Milton book, which have their merits but are also quite flawed in
places (Milton supposedly writes about Chaplin's "phobias", including rubber
and water, which are not referred to in any other writing).

[David Totheroh]

Post by Matt Barry

Post by Rockinghorse Winner

Post by gasolinegus
I've just recently really gotten into Chaplin after having seen some
of his early material before the "Little Tramp" persona had really
formed into the character from the feature films for United Artists.
I was wondering what are considered the essential and "must reads" on
Chaplin.  There are so many books out there to choose from that I
don't want to waste a lot of time or money.  I'm especially interested
in the Keystones and Mutuals period.  Any help would be greatly
appreciated.

Chaplin's autobiography is a good place to start, but it is frustratingly
coy in places.  For an objective bio, the David Robinson is very highly
thought of.  The Joyce Milton bio is seriously flawed, according to some.
*R* *H*
--
"For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward
heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and
joy."  - Saint Therese of Lisieux

To me, there probably isn't a "definitive" Chaplin biography, although
Robinson's probably comes closest. It's a vast amount of information that
can be difficult to take in on a single reading.
For general information, I actually found "The Chaplin Encyclopedia" to be
both informative and a fun read. It's broken down into subjects, so it's not
the kind of book one reads cover-to-cover, but it can be quite helpful for
pinpointing pieces of information and contains good descriptions of all the
films. Considering it's format, the book really contains a huge amount of
information.
Although there are countless biographies on Chaplin, I would think the
Robinson book would be the best place to start. There are others, such as
the Joyce Milton book, which have their merits but are also quite flawed in
places (Milton supposedly writes about Chaplin's "phobias", including rubber
and water, which are not referred to in any other writing).

I challenge ANYONE to name an actual merit contained in Milton's
screed. She doesn't "supposedly write" about fabricated dreck, she
actually DOES it.

I had the misfortune of engaging in a Q&A with her. She didn't know
who I was until after I 'learned' from her that my grandfather, as
well as "all the major participants in The Great Dictator were
Communists." It was news to me and all the rest of my family. She is a
reckless and irresponsible hack, pandering to a discredited political
view vis a vis Chaplin.

Robinson is by far the most instructive and comprehensive of the
Chaplin biographers. His sympathy for his subject does shape his
presentation, but he doesn't omit or invent 'facts' in service of an
agenda, as is the case with Milton.

[Richard Carnahan]

Post by David Totheroh

Post by Matt Barry

Post by Rockinghorse Winner

Post by gasolinegus
I've just recently really gotten into Chaplin after having seen some
of his early material before the "Little Tramp" persona had really
formed into the character from the feature films for United Artists.
I was wondering what are considered the essential and "must reads" on
Chaplin.  There are so many books out there to choose from that I
don't want to waste a lot of time or money.  I'm especially interested
in the Keystones and Mutuals period.  Any help would be greatly
appreciated.

Chaplin's autobiography is a good place to start, but it is frustratingly
coy in places.  For an objective bio, the David Robinson is very highly
thought of.  The Joyce Milton bio is seriously flawed, according to some.
*R* *H*
--
"For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward
heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and
joy."  - Saint Therese of Lisieux

To me, there probably isn't a "definitive" Chaplin biography, although
Robinson's probably comes closest. It's a vast amount of information that
can be difficult to take in on a single reading.
For general information, I actually found "The Chaplin Encyclopedia" to be
both informative and a fun read. It's broken down into subjects, so it's not
the kind of book one reads cover-to-cover, but it can be quite helpful for
pinpointing pieces of information and contains good descriptions of all the
films. Considering it's format, the book really contains a huge amount of
information.
Although there are countless biographies on Chaplin, I would think the
Robinson book would be the best place to start. There are others, such as
the Joyce Milton book, which have their merits but are also quite flawed in
places (Milton supposedly writes about Chaplin's "phobias", including rubber
and water, which are not referred to in any other writing).

I challenge ANYONE to name an actual merit contained in Milton's
screed. She doesn't "supposedly write" about fabricated dreck, she
actually DOES it.
I had the misfortune of engaging in a Q&A with her. She didn't know
who I was until after I 'learned' from her that my grandfather, as
well as "all the major participants in The Great Dictator were
Communists." It was news to me and all the rest of my family. She is a
reckless and irresponsible hack, pandering to a discredited political
view vis a vis Chaplin.
Robinson is by far the most instructive and comprehensive of the
Chaplin biographers. His sympathy for his subject does shape his
presentation, but he doesn't omit or invent 'facts' in service of an
agenda, as is the case with Milton.- Hide quoted text -
- Show quoted text -

I must have at least 40 Chaplin-related books in my collection. If I
could only keep one, it would be Robinson's bio.

[Matt Barry]

Post by David Totheroh

Post by Matt Barry

Post by Rockinghorse Winner

Post by gasolinegus
I've just recently really gotten into Chaplin after having seen some
of his early material before the "Little Tramp" persona had really
formed into the character from the feature films for United Artists.
I was wondering what are considered the essential and "must reads" on
Chaplin. There are so many books out there to choose from that I
don't want to waste a lot of time or money. I'm especially interested
in the Keystones and Mutuals period. Any help would be greatly
appreciated.

Chaplin's autobiography is a good place to start, but it is
frustratingly
coy in places. For an objective bio, the David Robinson is very highly
thought of. The Joyce Milton bio is seriously flawed, according to
some.
*R* *H*
--
"For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward
heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and
joy." - Saint Therese of Lisieux

To me, there probably isn't a "definitive" Chaplin biography, although
Robinson's probably comes closest. It's a vast amount of information that
can be difficult to take in on a single reading.
For general information, I actually found "The Chaplin Encyclopedia" to be
both informative and a fun read. It's broken down into subjects, so it's not
the kind of book one reads cover-to-cover, but it can be quite helpful for
pinpointing pieces of information and contains good descriptions of all the
films. Considering it's format, the book really contains a huge amount of
information.
Although there are countless biographies on Chaplin, I would think the
Robinson book would be the best place to start. There are others, such as
the Joyce Milton book, which have their merits but are also quite flawed in
places (Milton supposedly writes about Chaplin's "phobias", including rubber
and water, which are not referred to in any other writing).

I challenge ANYONE to name an actual merit contained in Milton's
screed. She doesn't "supposedly write" about fabricated dreck, she
actually DOES it.
I had the misfortune of engaging in a Q&A with her. She didn't know
who I was until after I 'learned' from her that my grandfather, as
well as "all the major participants in The Great Dictator were
Communists." It was news to me and all the rest of my family. She is a
reckless and irresponsible hack, pandering to a discredited political
view vis a vis Chaplin.
Robinson is by far the most instructive and comprehensive of the
Chaplin biographers. His sympathy for his subject does shape his
presentation, but he doesn't omit or invent 'facts' in service of an
agenda, as is the case with Milton.

Well, I was trying to be generous, but yes, I've heard Milton's book is
essentially garbage as well from pretty much everyone who has read it.

[gasolinegus]

What about Jeffrey Vance's CHAPLIN book? No one has mentioned that
one and it's enormous! Is there anything new in his book or is it
just a rehashing of Robinson's text? I noticed David Robinson does
the intro so for him to have been part of the book he must have
thought it was different than his own or had something new to add to
Chaplin's legacy. Thoughts??

[Matt Barry]

Post by gasolinegus
What about Jeffrey Vance's CHAPLIN book? No one has mentioned that
one and it's enormous! Is there anything new in his book or is it
just a rehashing of Robinson's text? I noticed David Robinson does
the intro so for him to have been part of the book he must have
thought it was different than his own or had something new to add to
Chaplin's legacy. Thoughts??

It's a fine book for what it is, which is essentially a coffee table book
with wonderful stills and behind the scenes photos. It does contain an
updated filmography.

[gasolinegus]

Post by Matt Barry

What about Jeffrey Vance's CHAPLIN book?  No one has mentioned that
one and it's enormous!  Is there anything new in his book or is it
just a rehashing of Robinson's text?  I noticed David Robinson does
the intro so for him to have been part of the book he must have
thought it was different than his own or had something new to add to
Chaplin's legacy.  Thoughts??

It's a fine book for what it is, which is essentially a coffee table book
with wonderful stills and behind the scenes photos. It does contain an
updated filmography.
--
Matt Barry
View my films at:www.youtube.com/comedyfilm
Read my blog at:http://filmreel.blogspot.com

That's interesting... I'm surprised that a book with 150,000 word
count would be considered more of a coffee table book than a legit
biography. That kind of word count and it's size is closer to text
book than a coffee table book. Albeit, I haven't read it but I have
seen it and it looked fairly substantial. However, I suppose it is not
a standard biography as it seems to concentrate mostly on his films in
a "FILMS OF" Citadel press kind of way.

[Matt Barry]

Post by gasolinegus

Post by Matt Barry

What about Jeffrey Vance's CHAPLIN book? No one has mentioned that
one and it's enormous! Is there anything new in his book or is it
just a rehashing of Robinson's text? I noticed David Robinson does
the intro so for him to have been part of the book he must have
thought it was different than his own or had something new to add to
Chaplin's legacy. Thoughts??

It's a fine book for what it is, which is essentially a coffee table book
with wonderful stills and behind the scenes photos. It does contain an
updated filmography.
--
Matt Barry
View my films at:www.youtube.com/comedyfilm
Read my blog at:http://filmreel.blogspot.com

That's interesting... I'm surprised that a book with 150,000 word
count would be considered more of a coffee table book than a legit
biography. That kind of word count and it's size is closer to text
book than a coffee table book. Albeit, I haven't read it but I have
seen it and it looked fairly substantial. However, I suppose it is not
a standard biography as it seems to concentrate mostly on his films in
a "FILMS OF" Citadel press kind of way.

I'll put it this way: it's more substantial than most other "coffee
table"-style film books I have seen, but it's nowhere near as comprehensive
as, say, Robinson's book. It may be a good "starting point", but it's chief
value, for me at least, was in the stills and production photos that were
gorgeously reproduced in the book.

[Phil P.]

There's also the Mc Cabe and Huff books, which you whippersnappers are probably
too young to have read. :) They're both good, (Huff only covers up to '52 so
you miss all that HCUA commie crap) and McCabe's has the benefit of Stan
Laurel's recollections.

Post by Matt Barry

Post by gasolinegus

Post by Matt Barry

What about Jeffrey Vance's CHAPLIN book? No one has mentioned that
one and it's enormous! Is there anything new in his book or is it
just a rehashing of Robinson's text? I noticed David Robinson does
the intro so for him to have been part of the book he must have
thought it was different than his own or had something new to add to
Chaplin's legacy. Thoughts??

It's a fine book for what it is, which is essentially a coffee table book
with wonderful stills and behind the scenes photos. It does contain an
updated filmography.
--
Matt Barry
View my films at:www.youtube.com/comedyfilm
Read my blog at:http://filmreel.blogspot.com

That's interesting... I'm surprised that a book with 150,000 word
count would be considered more of a coffee table book than a legit
biography. That kind of word count and it's size is closer to text
book than a coffee table book. Albeit, I haven't read it but I have
seen it and it looked fairly substantial. However, I suppose it is not
a standard biography as it seems to concentrate mostly on his films in
a "FILMS OF" Citadel press kind of way.

I'll put it this way: it's more substantial than most other "coffee
table"-style film books I have seen, but it's nowhere near as comprehensive
as, say, Robinson's book. It may be a good "starting point", but it's chief
value, for me at least, was in the stills and production photos that were
gorgeously reproduced in the book.

[Matt Barry]

Post by Phil P.
There's also the Mc Cabe and Huff books, which you whippersnappers are probably
too young to have read. :) They're both good, (Huff only covers up to '52 so
you miss all that HCUA commie crap) and McCabe's has the benefit of Stan
Laurel's recollections.

The McCabe one is pretty good, if not as thorough as some of the others I've
read. I have searched high and low for a copy of the Huff bio, which, at
least until Robinson's was published, was considered the best Chaplin
biography. My interest in reading it now has more to do with gauging
opinions of certain Chaplin films circa 1952 (I'm fascinated by the shifts
in critical perception on certain films over the decades).

Incidentally, the Vance book contains a filmography that is much more
complete and accurate than any other I've seen. I know the listings for the
Keystone and Essanay films come from recent research. The listings for
"Modern Times" are the most accurate I've seen yet. It became a bit of a
"quest" for me to correct the inaccurate cast listings that persisted for
that film through every Chaplin filmography I read, including Robinson's,
and even the AFI listing! The most obvious is the frequent mistake of
crediting Stanley Blystone as the Sheriff, when anyone who knows their
character actors can clearly see this is Edward LeSaint (who played the
judge in the Three Stooges' classic "Disorder in the Court" that same year).
Blystone instead plays the girl's father who is shot in a street riot, which
would explain his higher billing in the cast list. Vance's book also
includes the corrected listing of Lloyd Ingraham as the angry café patron,
rather than as the governor (I still haven't determined which actor plays
the governor visiting the prison). Based on earlier photos I have gone
through, it would appear that Edward Kimball (the father of actress Clara
Kimball Young), who is never credited with a specific role in filmographies,
plays the doctor who discharges Chaplin from the hospital toward the
beginning. Unfortunately, Vance's filmography contains a new error,
crediting John Rand as a "waiter" when in fact he appears to be one of the
convicts in the prison sequence. Why these errors persist is beyond me, but
I can only suspect some error in the original cast list submitted to the AFI
is the source of the confusion. These errors were very easy to spot, and I'm
surprised no one else over the years published a corrected listing for this
film.

[Phil P.]

Post by Matt Barry
The McCabe one is pretty good, if not as thorough as some of the others I've
read. I have searched high and low for a copy of the Huff bio, which, at
least until Robinson's was published, was considered the best Chaplin
biography. My interest in reading it now has more to do with gauging
opinions of certain Chaplin films circa 1952 (I'm fascinated by the shifts
in critical perception on certain films over the decades).

There are over 100 copies listed at www.abebooks.com starting at $1.

Post by Matt Barry
Incidentally, the Vance book contains a filmography that is much more
complete and accurate than any other I've seen. I know the listings for the
Keystone and Essanay films come from recent research.

Without crediting the people who did the work, incidentally.

Post by Matt Barry
"Modern Times" are the most accurate I've seen yet. It became a bit of a
"quest" for me to correct the inaccurate cast listings that persisted for
that film through every Chaplin filmography I read, including Robinson's,
and even the AFI listing! The most obvious is the frequent mistake of
crediting Stanley Blystone as the Sheriff, when anyone who knows their
character actors can clearly see this is Edward LeSaint (who played the
judge in the Three Stooges' classic "Disorder in the Court" that same year).
Blystone instead plays the girl's father who is shot in a street riot, which
would explain his higher billing in the cast list. Vance's book also
includes the corrected listing of Lloyd Ingraham as the angry café patron,
rather than as the governor (I still haven't determined which actor plays
the governor visiting the prison). Based on earlier photos I have gone
through, it would appear that Edward Kimball (the father of actress Clara
Kimball Young), who is never credited with a specific role in filmographies,
plays the doctor who discharges Chaplin from the hospital toward the
beginning. Unfortunately, Vance's filmography contains a new error,
crediting John Rand as a "waiter" when in fact he appears to be one of the
convicts in the prison sequence. Why these errors persist is beyond me, but
I can only suspect some error in the original cast list submitted to the AFI
is the source of the confusion. These errors were very easy to spot, and I'm
surprised no one else over the years published a corrected listing for this
film.

Vance had access to the estate so I'd expect his info on the post 1918 films to
be more accurate than previous work. I've known about the Blystone/LeSaint
error for years; I think Steve R. first pointed it out to me, and I was able to
confirm it by seeing Blystone in a few old Lone Ranger episodes.

[Matt Barry]

Post by Phil P.

Post by Matt Barry
The McCabe one is pretty good, if not as thorough as some of the others I've
read. I have searched high and low for a copy of the Huff bio, which, at
least until Robinson's was published, was considered the best Chaplin
biography. My interest in reading it now has more to do with gauging
opinions of certain Chaplin films circa 1952 (I'm fascinated by the shifts
in critical perception on certain films over the decades).

There are over 100 copies listed at www.abebooks.com starting at $1.

Post by Matt Barry
Incidentally, the Vance book contains a filmography that is much more
complete and accurate than any other I've seen. I know the listings for the
Keystone and Essanay films come from recent research.

Without crediting the people who did the work, incidentally.

Post by Matt Barry
"Modern Times" are the most accurate I've seen yet. It became a bit of a
"quest" for me to correct the inaccurate cast listings that persisted for
that film through every Chaplin filmography I read, including Robinson's,
and even the AFI listing! The most obvious is the frequent mistake of
crediting Stanley Blystone as the Sheriff, when anyone who knows their
character actors can clearly see this is Edward LeSaint (who played the
judge in the Three Stooges' classic "Disorder in the Court" that same year).
Blystone instead plays the girl's father who is shot in a street riot, which
would explain his higher billing in the cast list. Vance's book also
includes the corrected listing of Lloyd Ingraham as the angry café patron,
rather than as the governor (I still haven't determined which actor plays
the governor visiting the prison). Based on earlier photos I have gone
through, it would appear that Edward Kimball (the father of actress Clara
Kimball Young), who is never credited with a specific role in
filmographies,
plays the doctor who discharges Chaplin from the hospital toward the
beginning. Unfortunately, Vance's filmography contains a new error,
crediting John Rand as a "waiter" when in fact he appears to be one of the
convicts in the prison sequence. Why these errors persist is beyond me, but
I can only suspect some error in the original cast list submitted to the AFI
is the source of the confusion. These errors were very easy to spot, and I'm
surprised no one else over the years published a corrected listing for this
film.

Vance had access to the estate so I'd expect his info on the post 1918 films to
be more accurate than previous work. I've known about the
Blystone/LeSaint
error for years; I think Steve R. first pointed it out to me, and I was able to
confirm it by seeing Blystone in a few old Lone Ranger episodes.

I wonder what the source of these cast errors was? Could they have
originated in a filmography published long ago and just been repeated ever
since? It seems odd that various filmographies over the years had failed to
correct it.

Speaking of John Rand in "Modern Times", do we know exactly which scenes he
appears in? I've seen him credited alternately as a convict in the patrol
wagon, and also as a convict in the prison. Has there ever been a listing
established for the name of the actor who plays the governor visiting the
prison (since we know it's not Lloyd Ingraham)?

[George Shelps]

Post by Matt Barry
Well, I was trying to be generous, but
yes, I've heard Milton's book is
essentially garbage as well from pretty
much everyone who has read it.

Don't be intimidated by Totheroh,
Matt,

The book is not "essentially garbage,"
though it is weak on the films
themselves. Totheroh et al
simply don't like the book's political
orientation.

[David Totheroh]

Post by George Shelps

Post by Matt Barry
Well, I was trying to be generous, but
yes, I've heard Milton's book is
essentially garbage as well from pretty
much everyone who has read it.

Don't be intimidated by Totheroh,
Matt,
The book is not "essentially garbage,"
though it is weak on the films
themselves.  Totheroh et al
simply don't like the book's political
orientation.

It is true that I don't particularly like Milton's political
orientation, which she allows to unduly color her 'work,' leading to
the inclusion of misrepresentations, misinterpretations and just plain
errors of fact, unfortunately a condition not exclusively true of, or
limited to, her Chaplin book.

And George, while I understand your fixation, why would you be
concerned about Matt being intimidated by me, when the evaluation of
her Chaplin bio as "essentially garbage" (his words, not mine) came
"from pretty much everyone who has read it"?

[George Shelps]

Post by David Totheroh
And George, while I understand your
fixation,

Fixation? Like yours?

Post by David Totheroh
why would you be concerned about Matt
being intimidated by me,

I have been away a long time, so
I was simply resuming my effort
to keep you on the straight and narrow.

Post by David Totheroh
when the
evaluation of her Chaplin bio as
"essentially garbage" (his words, not >mine) came "from pretty much

everyone

Post by David Totheroh
who has read it"?

He changed his opinion of the book
in the face of your bilious response.

Post by David Totheroh

There are others, such as the Joyce
Milton book, which have their merits but
are also quite flawed in places.

is fair.

[David Totheroh]

Post by David Totheroh
And George, while I understand your
fixation,

Fixation?  Like yours?

Post by David Totheroh
why would you be concerned about Matt
being intimidated by me,

I have been away a long time, so
I was simply resuming my effort
to keep you on the straight and narrow.

Don't you think that effort would be better served by pointing out
exactly where and how I diverted?

Post by David Totheroh
when the
evaluation of her Chaplin bio as
"essentially garbage" (his words, not >mine) came "from pretty much

everyone

Post by David Totheroh
who has read it"?

He changed his opinion of the book
in the face of your bilious response.

There's nothing in this thread that would support your contention. I
don't think Matt needs you to tell him (or me) whether his opinion
changed. I'd sooner take his actual words over your contention.

Post by David Totheroh

There are others, such as the Joyce
Milton book, which have their merits but
are also quite flawed in places.

is fair.

Correctomundo (especially when quoted in full, in context). Matt's
"original view" was that "others," (with 'other Chaplin bios' as the
clear antecedent to the relative pronoun "others"), generally speaking
"have their merits..." When refering specifically to Milton's screed,
isolating it from all the other Chaplin bios, he stated he "was trying
to be generous." Like you, I'd call that a "fair" assessment. Unlike
you, I don't see that his words necessarily represent a change of
opinion. But that's for Matt, not you OR me, to say.

[George Shelps]

Unlike you, I don't see that his words
necessarily represent a change of opinion.

Certainly they represent a change of
emphasis, from a flawed book with
some virtues to "essentially garbage"

But that's for Matt, not you OR me, to
say.

Sorry, pal, this is a public forum and
everything posted here is fair game
for comment.

[George Shelps]

Post by David Totheroh
When refering specifically to Milton's
screed, isolating it from all the other
Chaplin bios,

Uh-uh. He didn't isolate it in his
original post. He clearly grouped
it with other books that are flawed
but "have their merits"..which I would
agree with. There is none of that'
irrational seething hatred which is evident
in your assessment.

Post by David Totheroh

There are others, such as the Joyce
Milton book, which have their merits but
are also quite flawed in places (Milton
supposedly writes about

[Matt Barry]

Post by David Totheroh

Post by George Shelps

Post by Matt Barry
Well, I was trying to be generous, but
yes, I've heard Milton's book is
essentially garbage as well from pretty
much everyone who has read it.

Don't be intimidated by Totheroh,
Matt,
The book is not "essentially garbage,"
though it is weak on the films
themselves. Totheroh et al
simply don't like the book's political
orientation.

It is true that I don't particularly like Milton's political
orientation, which she allows to unduly color her 'work,' leading to
the inclusion of misrepresentations, misinterpretations and just plain
errors of fact, unfortunately a condition not exclusively true of, or
limited to, her Chaplin book.
And George, while I understand your fixation, why would you be
concerned about Matt being intimidated by me, when the evaluation of
her Chaplin bio as "essentially garbage" (his words, not mine) came
"from pretty much everyone who has read it"?

I had hoped the original poster would seek out the book and decide for
themselves, which is why I tried to be fairly neutral about it in my
original post, but after David pointed out the serious flaws in the book, I
had to jump in and point out that the reviews I have heard from people who
read the book were overwhelmingly negative and pretty much supported all the
points David brought up. I don't expect everyone to agree with that
assessment, of course, only that the majority of reviews I have read would
be in agreement with David's take on the book.

[Rockinghorse Winner]

Post by Matt Barry
To me, there probably isn't a "definitive" Chaplin biography, although
Robinson's probably comes closest. It's a vast amount of information that
can be difficult to take in on a single reading.
For general information, I actually found "The Chaplin Encyclopedia" to be
both informative and a fun read. It's broken down into subjects, so it's not
the kind of book one reads cover-to-cover, but it can be quite helpful for
pinpointing pieces of information and contains good descriptions of all the
films. Considering it's format, the book really contains a huge amount of
information.

I would definitely recommend the Glenn Mitchell Chaplin Encyclopedia. It is
a source of endless browsing enjoyment. All the articles are
cross-referenced to related articles, so you can just get lost persuing all
the leads as you read. Plus the plot summaries are excellent.

*R* *H*

[m***@rogers.com]

Post by gasolinegus
I've just recently really gotten into Chaplin after having seen some
of his early material before the "Little Tramp" persona had really
formed into the character from the feature films for United Artists.
I was wondering what are considered the essential and "must reads" on
Chaplin.  There are so many books out there to choose from that I
don't want to waste a lot of time or money.  I'm especially interested
in the Keystones and Mutuals period.  Any help would be greatly
appreciated.

FWIW the new book 'The Art of charlie Chaplin" from McFarland is the
best book I've seen that details the artistic development Chaplin went
through during the Keyston-Essanay-Mutual period. For research and
facts you can't beat the Robinson tome, but this one depicts the
artistic evolution with a lot of sensitivity & insight.