The 100 Greatest Silent Film Comedians

November 1, 2015
Roots' decidedly personal touch permeates his biographies cum filmographies cum critiques of silent-film comedy stars. He boldly arranges the entries in ranked order, from the top star (Charlie Chaplin) through the next 99. Frank assessments reinforce the chutzpah of the rankings, describing last-place Cliff Bowles' Weak Knees as absolutely forgettable. I can't even remember what Bowles looks like while he's still on the screen. The total of scores on six criteria (e.g., funny, creativity, timelessness, intangibles) applied elastically generates the rankings. Most entries include a photo along with a list of the comedian's films, a biography critiquing his or her work, no-holds-barred capsule reviews of selected films, and a list of those available on DVD. The critical essays found in Richard MacCann's The Silent Comedians (1993) offer more depth and substantial analysis. Yet fans of the format will enjoy Roots' sometimes quirky and consistently unabashed assessments of talent; part of the enjoyment may be in disagreeing.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)