The Drop Dead Funny '70s - by Dan Lalande (Paperback)

About the Book

"This work offers a critical and contextual examination of 130 commercially-released film comedies of the 1970s. Arranged chronologically, it considers the socio-political circumstances of each year of the decade, then critiques each film released that year with a focus on each title's effect on the film industry and the art of big screen comedy, as well as the emergence of talents whose work influenced (or was influenced by) the zeitgeist of the decade. Covering popular titles like M*A*S*H, Blazing Saddles, American Graffiti, The Bad News Bears, Smokey and the Bandit and many more, it argues that the 1970s may rightly be considered the last golden age of film comedy"--

Book Synopsis

This work offers a critical examination of 130 commercially-released film comedies of the 1970s. It considers the socio-political circumstances of each year of the decade, then critiques each film released that year with a focus on its effect on the film industry and the art of big screen comedy, as well as the emergence of talents whose work influenced (or was influenced by) the zeitgeist of the decade. Covering popular titles like M*A*S*H, Blazing Saddles, American Graffiti, The Bad News Bears, Smokey and the Bandit and many more, it argues that the 1970s may rightly be considered the last golden age of film comedy.

Review Quotes

"An entertaining survey of American film comedies from that tumultuous decade in Hollywood history"-Booklist

"Lalande is an astute and thoughtful critic, who offers tasty behind-the-scenes tales of how the films were made and weighs their merits... A knowledgeable, entertaining, and useful critical review of comedy films of the 1970s."-Library Journal

About the Author

Dan Lalande is a screenwriter based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. For thirteen years, he served as an adjunct instructor of screen-based storytelling at Algonquin College.