El. knyga: Romantic vs. Screwball Comedy: Charting the Difference

This book takes a closer look at the precise meanings of the terms screwball and romantic. Film fans and scholars alike tend to lump film with laughter and love under a screwball/romantic umbrella and use the terms interchangeably. In reality, there is a distinction: the screwball variety places its emphasis on "funny," while the more traditional romantic comedy accents "love."
Covering over sixty titles each of romantic and screwball comedy dating from the 1930s to the present, this research tool not only demonstrates how screwball and romantic comedies are two distinct genres but also highlights pivotal social and artistic changes that impacted both genres. The book includes sixteen black-and-white movie stills, countless quotations from selected films, an annotated bibliography, and a two-part filmography. It is an informative resource for film students and scholars and a thoroughly engaging read for film buffs.

A long time fan of screwball comedy, Gehring (film, Ball State U.) complains that unsophisticated fans and scholars dump any film with laughter and love into the category, and make it interchangeable with romantic comedy. Reviewing films from the 1930s to the present, he clarifies the difference. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Including over 60 titles each of romantic and screwball comedy dating from the 1930's to the present, this research tool not only demonstrates how screwball and romantic comedy are two distinct genres, but also highlights pivotal social and artistic changes which impacted both genres. Includes 16 black and white movie stills, countless quotations from selected films, an annotated bibliography, and a two-part filmography. Not only an informative resource for film students and scholars, but also an interesting read for film buffs.