A film archetype as old as film itself, the man-child has been an enduring comedy subject. Classics as diverse as Hail the Conquering Hero (1944) and The Apartment (1960) have used the immature male to drive plots and press the importance of growing up. But he was not born fully formed—it took the shifting social norms of decades to mold the atrocious behavior of the puerile buffoon we know today.
The man-child has come under scrutiny in recent years. Prominent writers, including David Denby and A.O. Scott, have criticized the modern comedian behaving in shamelessly childish ways. This book provides a comprehensive examination of the character of the man-child, from André Deed, who debuted on screen in 1901, to Seth Rogen. The author discusses changing cultural attitudes about maturity, what it means to be an adult, what it means to be a child and how those things are becoming increasingly confused.

Anthony Balducci studied journalism at Baruch College and holds a criminology degree at University of Florida. He has written three previous books, numerous articles on film comedy and online contributions to Feet of Mud, World Cinema Paradise and other websites. He lives in New Port Richey, Florida.

Anthony Balducci
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 216
Bibliographic Info: 84 photos, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2016
pISBN: 978-1-4766-6208-4
eISBN: 978-1-4766-2221-7
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents


Introduction 1

1. The Crib Years 5

2. Act Your Age 17

3. “I’m a Baaaad Boy!” 39

4. Masculinity and the German Occupation of France 56

5. A Major Minor 68

6. Further ­Post-War Immaturity 85

7. Forever Young 105

8. Young Again 120

9. “I know you are but what am I?” 132

10. Problem Child 146

11. Jack and Jill 168

12. Girls 175

Epilogue 190

Chapter Notes 195

Bibliography 202

Index 203

“An exceptional study, giving further insight into screen comedy’s history, its cultural impact, its response to human behaviors, its myriad of different perspectives, and its definition of any humorous film’s central character…it is a book that will expand any film scholar’s mind and allow for a deeper and more fulfilling understanding of the movies discussed therein…recommended”—Examiner.