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CHAPTER 7 Comedy
NOTE: The author has invited Mr. Charles Francis (Chuck) Riesner to guest-write this chapter on comedy.
Mr. Riesner has had a long and varied career in writing and directing comedy, with the emphasis on writing. He was the first "gag-man" in pictures, back in the old Keystone days and co-author and associate director with Charles Chaplin in the production of A DOG'S LIFE, SHOULDER ARMS, A DAY'S PLEASURE, THE KID, THE PILGRIM and THE GOLD RUSH.
Of special mention in more than a hundred successful stars and pictures Mr. Riesner directed there was Charlie Chaplin's brother, Sidnev, in THE MAN ON THE BOX. OH WHAT A NURSE, THE MISSING LINK, THE FORTUNE HUNTER and THE BETTER 'OLE, all made for Warner Brothers.
The BETTER 'OLE ran on Broadway for six months at twc dollars top and equally as long at Grauman's Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood, considered the longest run any comedy has ever enjoyed with the possible exception of Charlie Chaplin's GOLD RUSH.
Mr. Riesner also co-authored and directed Buster Keaton in STEAMBOAT BILL, JR., and directed Dane and Arthur in BROTHERLY LOVE and CHINA BOUND for Metro-GoldwnMayer.
The late Marie Dressier claimed Mr. Riesner her favorite director when he directed her with Pollv Moran in THE HOLLYWOOD REVIEW of 1929, the first Review in sound, also for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. He then directed Miss Dressier in CHASING RAINBOWS, CAUGHT SHORT, REDUCING and POLITICS for the same company. In fact Mr. Riesner has directed nearly every comedian and comedienne of any note in pictures.
Just to mention a few there was Charlotte Greenwood and Reginald Denny in STEPPING OUT. Robert Montgomery in LOVE IN THE ROUGH, Bert Lahr and Charlotte Greenwood in FLYING HIGH, and Spencer Tracy in THE SHOW-OFF. Leo Carillo and Louise Fazenda in THE WINNING TICKET and Jack Benny, Ted Healy and Una Merkle in IT'S IN THE AIR.
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