New book: Late Style in Film by Collin Brinkmann
Drawing on existing literature and archival documents, and brimming with anecdotes, Late Style in Film is an in-depth study of the later works of filmmakers Howard Hawks, Alfred Hitchcock, and Charlie Chaplin by cinephile and writer Collin Brinkmann, published by Sticking Place Books.
From Monsieur Verdoux (1947) to Chaplin’s unfinished project, The Freak, Brinkmann examines the tension between the production and reception of Chaplin’s later works, as well as his artistic resilience, self-awareness and ever-keen perception of the major upheavals of the postwar era—arguably the most tumultuous period of his adult career, and a time when he had to start anew in exile.
Late Style in Film is a nuanced tribute to creative longevity, delving into the later works of Chaplin—a reminder of his defiance of norms and his refusal to let his work stop evolving.
In the words of Chaplin himself, at the age of 87: To work is to live—and I love to live.
The discussions found their perfect culmination that evening in Bologna’s Piazza Maggiore, where thousands gathered for the world premiere of the new restorations with Brock’s restored scores, performed live by Orchestra Senzaspine under his direction.
