Comments on: Hilo Hero: Louis Armstrong http://hilobrow.com/2009/08/04/hilo-hero-louis-armstrong/ Middlebrow is not the solution Wed, 10 Mar 2010 20:38:43 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: greg http://hilobrow.com/2009/08/04/hilo-hero-louis-armstrong/comment-page-1/#comment-568 greg Sat, 19 Sep 2009 10:03:06 +0000 http://hilobrow.com/?p=4010#comment-568 Thanks Joe -- but 'Keaton' doesn't begin with a convenient letter! However, I still think we have to give Chaplin the prize, as the world's first super-star in the age of mechanical reproduction, and a great innovator in terms of narrative and film technique. Keaton was the probably the world's best ever physical gag-man but you unfairly characterize Charlie as merely a purveyor of late Victorian shmaltz. Watch 'The Circus' or other pre- 'The Kid' four-reelers. (Yet we could argue that the introduction of that kind of sentimentality was a key development in Hollywood's imaginary USA, whether we like it or not...) Chaplin's influence is broader, Keaton's is more refined, more focused, 'cooler' — this I will give you. Thanks Joe — but ‘Keaton’ doesn’t begin with a convenient letter!

However, I still think we have to give Chaplin the prize, as the world’s first super-star in the age of mechanical reproduction, and a great innovator in terms of narrative and film technique. Keaton was the probably the world’s best ever physical gag-man but you unfairly characterize Charlie as merely a purveyor of late Victorian shmaltz. Watch ‘The Circus’ or other pre- ‘The Kid’ four-reelers. (Yet we could argue that the introduction of that kind of sentimentality was a key development in Hollywood’s imaginary USA, whether we like it or not…)

Chaplin’s influence is broader, Keaton’s is more refined, more focused, ‘cooler’ — this I will give you.

]]> By: Joe Loree http://hilobrow.com/2009/08/04/hilo-hero-louis-armstrong/comment-page-1/#comment-564 Joe Loree Fri, 18 Sep 2009 18:04:35 +0000 http://hilobrow.com/?p=4010#comment-564 I'm mostly with you but have to quibble--scratch Chaplin and drop in Keaton. He brought much more of the vaudeville roots into film comedy without the sticky sentimentality of Chaplin. And I feel awfully bad leaving Ellington off the list, but if you have to pick three.... I’m mostly with you but have to quibble–scratch Chaplin and drop in Keaton. He brought much more of the vaudeville roots into film comedy without the sticky sentimentality of Chaplin. And I feel awfully bad leaving Ellington off the list, but if you have to pick three….

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