Book Review: Al Christie, Hollywood’s Forgotten Film Pioneer
Mark Kearney’s book on pioneer film producer and director Al Christie fills an enormous gap in cinema's history, especially in the area of silent era comedy. Published by BearManor Media, the book is a thoroughly detailed look at Christie’s life and work.
Even among silent comedy historians, Al Christie’s films are given less attention than they have truly deserved. Unlike his peers Hal Roach and Mack Sennett, the Canadian-born Christie has not lived on as strongly in the realm of film comedy. Thus, the importance of this book cannot be overstated.
Kearney’s book explores Al’s early years and first attempt at film producing and directing beginning in 1911. Starting his own film company with brother Charles in 1916, their forte soon concentrated on comedy films. Along with many short films, the Christie Brothers also produced features, including such notable efforts as Hold Your Breath with Dorothy Devore, and the Gardner-Noble comedy-drama See My Lawyer.
Author Kearney provides many fascinating details about each aspect of Christie’s life and career, including the little known race films made with Spencer Williams. A controversial period in early cinema, Kearney approaches and discusses these with taste and competence. Spencer Williams, best known as Andy on TV’s Amos N Andy series, was not only the star of these comedies, but also worked as a screenwriter and, later, a sound technician. He would cite these films as a learning experience, as he’d later direct the minor classic The Blood of Jesus on a threadbare budget.
Along with all of this enlightening information about the films, we learn a great deal about Al’s personal life, the production company’s support of helping actors having bad luck in their lives and careers, how the stock market crash was detrimental to the studio continuing. After thoroughly exploring the enormous impact Christie had on silent comedy, Kearny also discusses Christie’s attempt to continue with sound films.
Al Christie- Hollywood’s Forgotten Film Pioneer is one of the most important books ever written on silent comedy history. It satisfies a tremendous need in our better understanding of screen comedy’s development, and will forever be an invaluable research tool.
Highly recommended for libraries, research centers, and anyone interested in cinema’s rich history. The book can be ordered at this link: AL CHRISTIE