What do The Little Rascals, The Three Stooges, and Laurel & Hardy have in common? They all achieved stardom in twenty-minute shorts-known as two-reelers-that delighted moviegoers long before television gave these films a new lease on life. Leonard Maltin documents the great series as well as the forgotten ones, peppering his ground-breaking research with first-hand accounts from the people who made these mini-movies. Here is a window into the vast world of "extra added attractions" that were a vital part of Hollywood's golden age. The cast of characters includes Mack Sennett, Hal Roach, W.C....

THE GREAT MOVIE COMEDIANS: FROM CHARLIE CHAPLIN TO WOODY ALLEN - Revised Edition by Leonard Maltin Leonard Maltin surveys the 20th century's greatest comedy performers to see what made each one unique. Drawing on his own observations as well as interviews with directors who worked with these stars, he presents entertaining profiles of everyone from Charlie Chaplin, the genius who "did it all" to his modern-day counterpart Woody Allen, whose nebbish persona became as identifiable as Chaplin's Little Tramp. Along the way you'll learn about pioneering comedienne Mabel Normand, sexual provocateur...

"B" MOVIES by Don Miller, with an introduction by Leonard Maltin No one ever paid much attention to the bottom half of double-features in the 1930s and '40s-except movie enthusiast Don Miller, who had a photographic memory. This unique and invaluable book traces the history of Hollywood's cinematic step-children, the low-budget movies that came from fly-by-night producers as well as the major studios. From Bela Lugosi to Charlie Chan, they're all here in this comprehensive and entertaining text-a resource that's been out-of-print for many years. Whether your interest is the early work of...