gagman66

James, I think you have quite a few more fans than that. Don't worry. Thanks much for letting us in on the scoop! It's appreciated. Looking forward to the broadcast.

Jill, Thanks much. I am glad to know that the film survives. I wonder if one of the archives might have a good and complete print someplace? I know I have a poster of this one. I just saw it a few weeks ago.

Jill, I saw THE RAT about a year ago. It was a pretty good print, but had no musical score. Some of the title cards were only there for a split second or so. Other than that not to bad. I don't really remember the film all that well. I enjoyed seeing it, but this didn't turn out to be a favorite.

Jill, Here are a whole bunch more One-pagers. This still isn't all of them. THE NINTH COMMANDMENT is of particular interest to me. It has Colleen Moore, and was directed by Frank Borzage. Would love to read something about the film. Do you have any Stills? James Cruze HOLLYWOOD is of course one of the most sought after lost Silents. So many Great Stars appeared in the picture. I have a wild poster in here someplace. I will look for it.

Wow! Derek Boothroyd on Nitrateville discovered a rare 1923 promotional press book from Paramount Pictures previewing upcoming feature films. Big names abound, Colleen Moore, Marion Davies, Bebe Daniels, Gloria Swanson, Thomas Meighan, Betty Compson, May McAvoy, Pola Negri, and Jacqueline Logan. Just to name a few. This is wonderful stuff, but leaves one with an awful sinking feeling. Besides James Cruze THE COVERED WAGON, I am not sure that any of the others movies highlighted in the entire publication still survive today? Here are just a few of the terrific promotional adds:

Ed, What kind of recorder? You mean a combination DVR-And DVD recorder? I picked up a brand-new Printer nearly three months ago. Haven't even opened it. I should look at it this weekend as it will be to late to take it back soon.

Jill, Firstly, Sorry that I neglected to wish you a Happy Birthday yesterday. Unfortunately, I couldn't agree more with your statements. Christopher Caliendo, who composed a very fine score for the Norma Sheaer comedy A LADY OF CHANCE, and did solid work on THE IRON HORSE, and FOUR SONS, completely dropped the ball with LUCKY STAR. Spoiling a really fine film. Yucky-poo! How could this have happened??? I just don't get it? Jorge dubbed a random score of vintage music for LUCKY STAR a couple years ago, and that was dramatically superior to the music that we hear on the official DVD release. You will be pleased to know that his score to CITY GIRL is much better. But still not as good as my own score for this movie by a wide margin. The bad news is that the score to LAZY BONES is just as bad as LUCKY STAR, if not worse? Though that picture was scored by someone else. Again, here is hoping the the BFI DVD coming in May, has a much improved score for LUCKY STAR.

Everyone, Hey gang, I just received my fifth letter from the great *Robert Israel* a couple nights ago.. It was wonderful to hear from him for the first time since around Christmas. I will try to find out if He is involved at all in the *THE BIG PARADE* project that TCM programmer eluded too a couple weeks back, and will pass on that information once I have it. Here is what He had to say. *"Dear Jeffrey,* *I am sorry to have been out of touch for so very long, however, life has a way of swallowing time when there are responsibilities calling. I trust that you have been well and everything is okay.* *I had a chance to see some of the work you did with films like THE PENALTY and THE COSSACKS. I think I can understand your interest in these period recordings of the South American tangos. The music is very attractive and because the actual recordings were made during the 1920s, it has an inherent flavor that seems to go with silent films. Although I can understand your selecting these, particularly the themes you have in THE COSSACKS, my ear still hears the lovely strains of the latin influence. However, might we agree that if you had a music recording library, perhaps thousands of different mood pieces all made in the 1920s, you would probably be using your entire arsenal? Nevertheless, I do appreciate your work and certainly your passion for this form of cinema. Bravo!* *It is amazing how much time can be consumed listening to recordings, selecting passages and synchronizing them with a moving image. And in truth, this process is far more accessible than actually selecting printed music, playing it, synchronizing it, arranging it for a group, and then recording it, editing it, and mastering it for a video master. Well...it's a job, but a fun one.* *I have a few items in my recorded music files that I thought I would send your way so that you might enjoy them for your own personal use. I think you will get a kick out of them. The first selection is called AGITATO PATETICO and was composed by Gaston Borch. I have no doubt that you will find a suitable scene to support with it. Second is a piece called JINGLES and was composed by J.S. Zamecnik. It is a fun and light composition that can go with just about any bright, neutral scene, or even something comedic. And finally, the ever popular AGITATO NO.4 by William Axt. This was not a part of BIG PARADE or BEN HUR, but was rather popular considering the number of collections (music libraries) I have seen that have the music, not to mention its overall effect: I think it is marvelous. Get ready for that fight, riot or chase scene!* *At any rate, I look forward to hearing from you soon and I send you my very best wishes. Please remember, you may feel free to contact me any time with any questions that you may have concerning silent films and music.* *Yours most truly,* *Robert"*

Kate, Jill, Don't get me wrong, Robert Israel is great. In-fact, He just sent me some wonderful vintage music last night! His score's to AMONG THOSE PRESENT, GRANDMA'S BOY, and THE FRESHMAN couldn't possibly be any better. But I still prefer the Jim Parker score to GIRL SHY, and the Adrian Johnston score to HOT WATER both produced for Kevin Brownlow's Photoplay Productions. Maybe because I heard those first, and I grew so used to them? If it had been the other way around I might feel differently than I do? Who knows?

haroldlloydsgal, Hi, I am from Nebraska. Did you see the recent piece in the Lincoln-Journal Star about the Forth Graders discovering and loving Harold Lloyd? This was nice as 10 years ago in 1999, He was snubbed as one of the 50 great Nebraskans of the 20th Century by the Omaha World Herald. I blasted them for this, and they even published my comments. I thought He should have easily made the Top 10. Incredibly, Harold didn't even receive Honorable Mention, because there was no such category included in the special supplement at the time. Here is the link to the Journal-Star Story: http://journalstar.com/articles/2009/03/10/news/loca /doc49b595beb9346953275198.txt Harold is definitely receiving more credit these days. The majority of his major films are on DVD now. For years that had not been the case. I adore Harold and He has more to do with my love for Silent film than anybody. That being said, I now want the same type of recognition for John Gilbert, Marion Davies, Colleen Moore, and numerous others. That too is long, long, overdue. For the most part these movies are not on DVD.

Jill, Musical Novelty, Well, I looked at the photos of Aileen Pringle provided. Thanks to you both. Err, to be honest, She doesn't really look much like Renee Adoree to me. Her face is longer, and much more angular. She is nowhere near as pretty either. At the moment, I still think it is Renee In the HIS HOUR photo. Maybe she had a cameo, or a walk on part in the picture? Hey, there is No Silent Sunday's again in June??? No premier for BARDELYS THE MAGNIFICENT either. It will have to be in July, or we will be forced to wait until at least September. With August being the Annual Summer Under The Stars. That is unless they honor John Gilbert during the event? I won't hold me breath that will happen. This is the best still that I have from HIS HOUR. I have posted it here a number of times in the past, but some of you may not have seen it before? Boy, how I want to see this movie. Apparently it was screened at the MoMA in 2005.

Can anyone help out here? This is supposed to be a production still with Renee Adoree from King Vidor's HIS HOUR (1924). However, Renee was not credited as being in HIS HOUR at all? That sure doesn't seem to be Aileen Pringle, who in any event I don't think was this buxom as Renee was, or as the lady in this photo clearly appears to be? So if this picture isn't from HIS HOUR, and if it is in-fact Renee Adoree, which movie could it be? Does anyone know? *Renee Adoree in HIS HOUR?*

*Gilbert Roland And Billie Dove from THE LOVE MART (1927)* *Richard Arlen From WINGS* *Arlen And Mary Brian longing glances* *Antonio Mereno And Renee Adoree From THE FLAMING FOREST (1926)* *Renee From TIDE OF THE EMPIRE* *Renee Adoree With Faithful Pooch's*

One of the very first photos I ever colorized back in 2003. I have improved quite a bit since that time. Although, this was done with Micro-soft Picture It 2001 edition. *Harold and Jobyna Ralston from THE FRESHMAN (1925)*

Ed, This movie is included as part of Treasures from the American Film Archives Volume 2. So I can only assume that you must have gotten a copy from somebody, and they transferred just that one film with the commentary track switched on. It wasn't released with the commentary running. I watched this several years ago, and remember little about it. I think the film was directed by Sidney Franklin? here is a photo of Lillian Gish that I don't remember if I have posted before? Also the one of Dorothy with big dark, short hair. *Lillian In White* *Dorothy with a very different look*

Jill, I have this movie, and I agree that it would be wonderful to see a nice restoration like with L'ARGENT. It is a really unique story. and a film that deserves more exposure. One of the best things I have Brigette Helm in as a matter of fact. I've got some posters in here someplace. I will look for them.

Mike, Ha, Ha, That's funny! I guess you must have liked the photo?

VP19, GIRL SHY is one of Harold's 3 or 4 best features. Personally I think it is one of the premier Silent and for that matter Romantic comedies ever made. To me it's much more entertaining than Keaton's THE GENERAL, which try as I may, I just can't embrace as being anywhere near as great as most people claim. THE FRESHMAN is still my favorite Lloyd feature, but GIRL SHY comes pretty close. Both are superior to SAFETY LAST in my opinion. After disappointing previews H L cut another Fantasy sequence from GIRL SHY, "MY POLLYANNA" featuring the Pickford type Farm girl that you saw early in the film. Surviving stills seem to indicate that it might have been a wonderful sequence, with Harold obviously spoofing Wallace Reid. The love making manual's of the day were "Hot Stuff" in the 20's. And Lloyd was just poking fun at the phenomenon. Metaphorically stating that He felt that allot of those writer's were probably not the authorities that they portrayed themselves to be.

Jill, Last year I voted STREET ANGEL in my top 5 favorite Silent drama's. A great movie. I love the vinatge Erno Rapee-Lew Pollack Movie-tone scoring track. What was the deal with the annoying Pop-up sub-titles on the Murnau-Borzage DVD release? Those definitely shouldn't be there. I tried tyo switch them off, but was unable to do so. Fortunately, there are only a few of them.

April, Does the DVD that you have of STREET ANGEL contain the vintage Movie-tone track? It was probably a dupe of the older Critics Choice VHS release? The Fox DVD of STREET ANGEL in Murna-Borzage, is OK, but it is definitely not a very recent transfer. The new SUNRISE is way better than the older DVD release had been. The improvement is vast. But with STREET ANGEL it was probably made at the same time as the older SUNRISE was being prepared for release or earlier. A little soft, and grainy. Superior to the critics choice VHS certainly, especially the audio quality, but more could have been done. With SEVENTH HEAVEN too. I know for a fact that the commentary track of that picture was recorded five years prior to the DVD being released. It set on the shelf for half a decade. As for the other Silents in the set, LUCKY STAR looks superb However, the music is truly horrid! CITY GIRL looks fabulous. New fine grain's struck from the Camera-Negatives. The music is good, but could have been better. A very nice print for LAZY BONES, but the score ranks among the worst ever. The BFI is releasing SEVENTH HEAVEN, and it's own version of LUCKY STAR in May. So here is hoping that it has different and signifcantly improved scoring. Also that SEVENTH HEAVEN finally contains those long missing scenes.

MissGoddess, April (I think?), I haven't seen you around for awhile? STREET ANGEL is high on my list of favorites, but it deserved a better restoration than it received. I know the transfer could have been improved on. Same with SEVENTH HEAVEN and the MoMA has a better print, with 15 extra minutes of footage from the Road Show edition. Despite what Fox claims about the DVD's being processed from the best elements. With these two films, that just isn't true. Don't know if you have seen Harold Lloyd's GIRL SHY (1924) before, which airs tonight? But it was one of the first Silents I saw as a kid that made me a life long fan of the medium back in 1979. One of the best introductions to Silent movies as an art form that I can think of. If you haven't seen it, here is your chance.

Cherry Pie, Well, Harold Lloyd's GIRL SHY (1924) one of his finest films is on tonight. I can't think of very many movies that are better to see for the budding Silent film enthusiast than this one is. GIRL SHY was among the first Silent features I saw back in 1979, and the first H L feature, Still a favorite. Don't miss it, although the movie is on DVD if you do. This is definitely among the films that cemented my life long love for Silents.

Ed, Good to see you back too. Did you have computer trouble much of the last couple weeks? Jorge has had. And to a lesser degree I have had too. Did you receive the last few E-mails that I sent you? You didn't acknowledge them? I can send them again, providing that they are still here?

Kate, Glad to see you back again. Stay around please. No one is more entertaining than you are. We need you here. Cherry Pie, I have been watching Silents since I was 10 years old in 1976. My Dad was an old Westerns fan, and we had several Silent Westerns in Super 8 Millimeter film format from Blackhawk films. My first real exposure to the Silent's were Western's starring people like Tom Mix, and William S. Hart. From there I evolved a growing interest in the entire medium. I saw lots of books on the subject, and the illustrations and text made me very eager to see the films. I could go on, but I have written about it on this forum numerous times in the past. Silent films are very addictive, and there are some many astonishing things to discover and love about the medium, and the genre. You are lucky my friend, because you have just embarked on a fascinating journey through a great lost art form. Literally countless surprises await you along it's path.

*Marion Davies is Tina in THE RED MILL.*