Details

Subject(s)

• Actors—United States—Biography [Browse]
• Howell, Alice -1961 [Browse]

Series

Hollywood legends series [More in this series]

Summary note

Alice Howell (1886-1961) is slowly gaining recognition and regard as arguably the most important slapstick comedienne of the silent era. This new study, the first book-length appreciation, identifies her place in the comedy hierarchy alongside the best-known of silent comediennes, Mabel Normand. Like Normand, Howell learned her craft with Mack Sennett and Charlie Chaplin. Beginning her screen career in 1914, Howell quickly developed a distinctive style and eccentric attire and mannerisms, successfully hiding her good looks, and was soon identified as the ""Female Charlie Chaplin."" Howell became a star of comedy shorts in 1915 and continued her career through 1928 and the advent of sound in film. While she is today recognized as a pioneering female filmmaker, during her career she never expressed much interest in her work, seeing it only as a means to an end, with her income carefully invested in real estate. It has taken many years for her to gain her rightful place in film history, not only as a comedienne, but also as matriarch of a prominent American family that includes son-in-law and director George Stevens and grandson George Stevens Jr., founder of the American Film Institute and the Kennedy Center Honors, who provides a foreword.

Bibliographic references

Includes bibliographical references (pages 117-119), filmography (pages 98-116) and index.

Contents

• The Early Years
• The Starring Years
• The Final Years
• Yvonne and the Stevens Dynasty.

Show 1 more Contents items

ISBN

• 9781496806321 ((hardcover ; : alkaline paper))
• 1496806328 ((hardcover ; : alkaline paper))

LCCN

2016003062

OCLC

936687278

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