Publisher: Rowman and Littlefield / Applause
Release Date: November 2022
The scope of this excellent book by Charles Dennis extends beyond the making of the classic film by Frank Capra. The marketing accurately describes it as “a detailed history of one of the most beloved American murder-mysteries and comedies.” This means that Dennis takes us through the true crime case concerning Amy Archer-Gilligan that inspired Joseph Kesselring’s original draft of the play, we learn about the evolution of the play as “Bodies In The Celler” was finessed into a Broadway smash by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The various drafts are detailed at great depth so that one really understands how it evolved. We learn of the play’s success on Broadway and in Chicago, biographical information of those involved (including the various casts), and finally learn quite a bit about Frank Capra’s offbeat classic. This is a great book for anyone who likes the play or the film!
Cinema Literate 