Ball State film professor Wes Gehring is trying to bring attention to a movie writer/director long neglected by cinema historians.

In his 22nd film-related book, Gehring profiles the life of an ingenious storyteller in "Leo McCarey: From Marx to McCarthy."  McCarey, who directed such early classics as "The Awful Truth," "Love Affair," "An Affair to Remember," "Going My Way" and "The Bells of St. Mary's" was born in 1898 and died of emphysema in 1968.

"I was drawn to McCarey because of his personality comedies and his screwball comedies, which are spoofs of comedies," said Gehring, who first wrote about McCarey in 1977 while writing his doctoral dissertation. "In the early days, McCarey worked with such comedy legends as Laurel and Hardy, W.C. Fields and the Marx Brothers. Back then, whatever he touched turned to gold.

"While McCarey enjoyed a great deal of success in the 1930s and 1940s, he fell to the wayside in the 1950s after he did two dark, anti-communist movies and became more involved with McCarthyism," he said. "I hope to rectify that in the first full-length biography done on McCarey, who I believe was one of the greatest storytellers in movie history. We need to take another look at his career and how he had a major impact on the industry."

Some of the blame for McCarey's lack of recognition is due to little or no access to the his movies. Eleven of his 23 sound-era films, including 1937's "Make Way for Tomorrow," are either out of print or haven't been released on video. His films also are rarely shown on national television.

In the 279-page book, which was published in January by Scarecrow Press, Gehring begins by examining McCarey's early work during the silent movie era when he teamed comedians Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy. The book then looks at McCarey's work directing movies with the Marx Brothers, Mae West and W.C. Fields.

"His direction of the Marx Brothers in 'Duck Soup' ― which may be their best comedy ― was incredible," Gehring said. "But more importantly, the movie had many of his signature routines that are still used today. It is the first dark comedy classic that people still love.

"He then played a major role in developing the career of Cary Grant, who didn't become the suave, sophisticated actor until he emulated McCarey," he said. "In fact, Grant initially didn't want to work with McCarey and tried to buy out his contract for 1937's 'The Awful Truth.' However, without McCarey, Grant would not be the actor we know today."

Gehring is so convinced about Grant's use of McCarey's persona that he used a publicity photo of the two posing together for the cover of the book.

While the early days of McCarey's career were blessed with commercial success and several Academy Awards, Gehring believes McCarey's downfall came in the 1950s when the director was "overly" concerned with communism and supported U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy, who led an anti-communist movement. People in the media, motion picture industry, politics and military —suspected on disputed evidence of communist sympathies — were subjected to what were regarded by many as aggressive witch hunts.

"Because of his right-wing feelings and his support of McCarthy, the liberals were against him and have painted him in a poor light over the last 40 years," he said. "I am saying: don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. He did a great deal of good work, and we should remember him for making America laugh for decades before his downfall, when the creative juices simply stopped flowing."

(Note to editors: For more information, contact Gehring at wesgehring@bsu.edu or (765) 285-1495.)