gagman66

I also suggest to people who really want to see this film and haven't done it already to buy the DVD and the Blu-ray. Get both to help encourage Paramount to release more from it's vastly neglected and important Silents library. The disc's are not that expensive. The Blu-ray has three well produced Mini-documentaries as Extra's. While the DVD just has one. The main Documentary. Again, I'm not complaining about TCM not showing the restored version for myself, but for other viewers who have never seen the film and might be compelled to purchase the DVD and or Blu-ray release. The fact is that WINGS has been restored a number of times by several different organizations over the past 20 years or so. But at least in America the only version that ever seems to be shown on Television is derived from the 1985 Laser-disc release with a Gaylord Carter Theater Orgaqn score originally recorded in 1979. The video transfer was from a Safety-film struck clear back in 1965. Both the Photoplay version and the more recent Paramount restoration are vastly superior. Yet even the studio admits that WINGS will never look as good as it once did from day one back in 1927 when the first fine grain masters were struck and distributed.

It's fairly obvious that TCM won't be airing the restored *WINGS (1927)* later this month. This based on the brief Best Picture promo piece they have been running. Clearly the same old beat up print. Since *WINGS* finally came out just over a year ago on DVD and Blu-ray from Paramount and the restoration was even screened at the TCM Classic Film Festival last year, there is no reason TCM can't air that beautiful new print that I can think of. Chuck Tabesh did tell me a few months back that he thought that it would be the new restoratrion in February a few months ago, but wasn't sure. He did however say that it most certainly should be by April when it runs again? So what is the delay, if that is indeed the case? In the past TCM has tried and failed to get it's hands on the Photoplay Productions version of WINGS produced for British Television by Kevin Brownlow's Photoplay Productions with a fabulous Carl Davis score in 1993. Where forced to air the 1985 Paramount Laser-disc release from Paramount. But now that *WINGS* has been released painstakingly restored on DVD and Blu-ray, with a full recreation of the original J. S. Zamecnik 1927 Orchestral score one would think that TCM would be able to broadcast that version. Doesn't appear that will be the case, at least not until April anyway. I sure hope that I am wrong about this. I'm going to try and contact Chuck again or another guy who frequents Nitrateville that works at TCM managing the broadcast servers. Maybe they can provide some answers as to what the heck is going on?

For Silent Stars the most likely possibilities for Summer Under The Stars that haven't already been honored before would be these people. I believe that TCM has potential access to enough of their films to choose at least a couple of the following. There would be allot of premieres though. Mary Pickford - There are plenty of films for her to even be Star of the Month. Douglas Fairbanks- Likewise Gloria Swanson-Some Talkies Included. Janet Gaynor- Likewise John Barrymore Ramon Novarro- Maybe Half the films would be talkies. Renee Adoree William Haines Charles Farrell Some of the films would be talkies. Dolores Del Rio- Again half the films would be talkies. In the past TCM has honored Chaplin twice, Keaton, Lloyd, John Gilbert, Marion Davies, Ronald Colman, Lon Chaney, Garbo and Lillian Gish. That's about it though. Clara Bow is rather doubtful. There are enough films, but most are not ready to be broadcast on televsion. Same with Richard Barthelmes and Pola Negri. Not a chance for Laura La Plante I don't think. I will be years before they have enough restored films scored of people like the Talmadges and Colleen Moore. Or even Tom Mix and William S. Hart.

What I am saying is that the idea, the concept of the hero making the Z with his sword and the Whip. Leaving the mark on his assailants was all Fairbanks idea. The only thing that was in the Zorro stories was something called the "sign of the Fox". No physical mark of Zorro. Most people who have made Zorro films since probably are not aware of this? Yes, Doug wrote allot of his own story's under assumed names. For instance Elton Thomas, which were his two middle names.

It's great that Harold Lloyd is getting a Prime-time tribute and all, but why is it in May? He was Born in April. Can't be a Birthday celebration.

I don't know if this has been mentioned in this thread or not? Douglas Faribanks Sr. literally invented THE MARK OF ZORRO. It was all his idea. There is no mention in the story "The Curse of Capistrano" on which the film was based on the mark of the Z for Zorro. Doug came up with the idea all on his own. And it has been a staple of all other Zorro films and TV shows ever since. The best version of THE MARK OF ZORRO (1920) on DVD is the one found in the Flicker Alley Early Box set A MODERN MUSKETEER. The stunning tinted print transfer from the original camera negative looks like it was filmed just last week. This is the version that TCM has been running for the past several years. If you don't want to pay for the complete box set you can get virtually the same version on DVD alone on the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra website, at montalto.com. Although the box set is excellent with several other good Fairbanks features. Including A MODERN MUSKETEER and WILD AND WOLLY.

Dabb, Appears to be Garbo in Maurice Stiller's THE SAGA OF GHOSTA BERLING (1924).

Yes, it is Raquel Torres. Here I thought that still would puzzle some people.

Sorry, I thought that he already did? No, it is not Madge Bellamy.

Yeah, it is Gloria. That sure didn't take long. How about this one? *"That's For Gam Sure!"*

Yes it is Clara.

In truth, the most recent and best restoration of THE BLACK PIRATE by the BFI was not used for the Kino Blu-ray. They used the same one that goes back decades, and had been on their earlier DVD release about 8 years earlier.. The color scheme is not really right on the Kino disc. To many Blue's, Green and Red being the primary base colors of Two-Color Technicolor. What's more Fairbanks went for a certain look all his own to the sets. He didn't want overpowering color which is what he thought that he saw in other films with Technicolor prior to this at times. I still don't understand why TCM never runs this movie? Regarding title cards it's usuallty the other way around, many titles in Silents are there for only brief flashed on surviving prints. I'm hoping we get the new restoration of WINGS at long last. Chuck Tabesh told me that we would a few months ago. However, he said the same thing about THE PENALTY and they ran the older version this past week.

I pre-ordered THE THIEF OF BAGDAD. It doesn't come out until the end of the Month. He doesn't mention Clarence Brown's THE EAGLE (1925) with Valentino and Vilma Banky, but Photoplay Productions restored the film from the original camera negative in the Rohauer Archive. It looks spectactular and has a great Carl Davis score that has never made it to DVD let alone Blu-ray. Von Sternberg's SALVATION HUNTERS might get a release from Cohen. They have lots of Norma and Constance Talmadge pictures. Those would be some of my top choices. THE GENERAL certainly does not need another restoration. It's had at least a dozen before, and is already on DVD-R and Blu-ray from Kino with the Davis score.

I saved the photo maybe 4 or 5 years ago. It was mixed in with a bunch of other Silent Stars pics. None of them specifically identified. I thought that it was Virginia Valli who was Charles Farrell's wife and a big Star for awhile. Especially in the early to mid 20's. It looks more like Valli to me that it does May McAvoy personally.

It's Victor McLaglen as Sergeant Flag in WHAT PRICE GLORY? (1926) . My photo I thought was Virginia Valli, but maybe it is May McAvoy?

Fred. To easy. Dorothy J. We'll see if anyone else knows what the J. Stands for?

What the Devil? Lon Chaney's THE PENALTY (1920) was definitely the wrong version last night. TCM Programer Chuck Tabesh told me a few months back that they would be running the new restoration with the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra score. This was released on Blu-ray back in October. Unfortunately, what we got was the same old version with a dismal modern music score that TCM last ran in 2005 or 2006. I don't know if they had intended to run one the new one and goofed, or what the story is? Will hope for better with WINGS on February 3rd. Again, I was told that it would be the new restoration with restored tints, and the recreation of the original 1927 Orchestral score, if not in February, certainly in April. The same as was released on DVD and Blu-ray a year ago by Paramount . Replacing the older transfer from Laser-disc that TCM has aired a few times in the past. If it tunrs out of be the same old same old, and in Prime-time, that will be another huge disappointment. Hope they can get this straight.

Dabb, Yes, it is Jackie Logan. I thought that onn would stump people for awhile longer. Yeah, it probably is a baby Leopard rather than a Lion.

No, "The Giant" is my Moniker since 2001. Starting on the old Harold Lloyd Forum. The name is derived from the Colosso character in H L's WHY WORRY (1923), played by the real life Giant Johann Asen. I still use The Giant on a couple of other boards, including GAOH. Nuh- Uh, it's Not Gloria Swanson.

*"No Use Lion About it!"*

TCM still has on average more than a dozen premiere's eaach month spread throughout the schedule. That is far more than any other network can bring you. Many of these Loretta Young features were debuts, or rarely ever seen. Last night THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE was shown for only the second time ever on TCM. It debuted 3 years ago during 31 Days of Oscar. The new resotation ( I assume) of WINGS will debut in February this year. TCM has run the film a few times in the past, but never in a gorgeous new print with a full recreation fo the original 1927 Orchestral score before. TCM is the lone reason I still ahve cable or I would have dropped it several years ago. While it's true that TCM can't get a hold of every movie that people ask to see, they keep trying. Eventually many finally do end up on the schedule.

Much to easy for me. Norman Kerry and Lilian Gish in *ANNIE LAURIE (MGM (1927).* Directed by John Robertson. This film was restored in 2001 from the original camera negarive by the Library of Congress and looks sensational. Including the Two-Color Technicolor footage. So when are going to get a TCM Premiere? This is one of the big MGM's we have been waiting on. Maybe as part of a Blu-ray release with *THE WIND?*