gagman66
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Posts posted by gagman66
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Joe,
Please note, I just left you a "private message" a few minutes ago. Hope to hear your response soon. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey
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readheadedwoman,
Happy New Year! I can help you. I have the entire 13 part series of this documentary, with a bonus feature, on DVD-R, from Laserdisc. It is much better quality than plain old VHS would be anyway.
Thames HOLLYWOOD was scheduled to be released on official DVD in the United Kingdom last year. Unfortunately, this was post-poned a couple of times, and has since been canceled all together for the foreseeable future! Direct transfer from Laser-disc is about the best you can do, until a commercial DVD finally surfaces.
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I'm sorry, I neglected to mention DeMille's "THE AFFAIRS OF ANATOL" (1922), with Bebe Daniels, and Wallace Reid. This is an interesting picture, if for no other reason than it's three big Stars! It too has been released on DVD by Image. More of a Wallace Reid feature than a Swanson however.
This film does include some 2-Strip Technicolor footage. Although it is badly faded as the dye has broken down. It looks much like the faded Technicolor footage found in the opening of Buster Keaton's SEVEN CHANCES (1925), or the Exodus scene from DeMille's 1923 version of THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, appearing rather reddish-orange, with little remaining additional color still perceptible. The color in Swanson's STAGE STRUCK (1925), is much more vibrant, and obvious! I do hope that they are working on a quality DVD release?
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Most of the surviving DeMille Swanson's have already been released on DVD by either Kino, or Image. I have the Image DVD's of WHY CHANGE YOUR WIFE (1919), and DON'T CHANGE YOUR HUSBAND (1920), (also with Bebe Daniels!). Both are delightful comedies! MALE AND FEMALE (1919) was released by Image on DVD too.
Kino has released other late 20's Swanson features such as SADIE THOMPSON (1928), and QUEEN KELLY (1929) as well. Both are quality prints, but sadly neither of these two films exists in it's entirety today.
I have seen the Blackhawk/Killiam Shows version of THE LOVE OF SUNYA (1927), and it is not only a disappointing quality print, but the film is woefully incomplete! Maybe a closer to full-length, and better quality print has since been found? They used to run the Killiam version from time to time on AMC, over 10 years ago.
The three Paramount features of Gloria's I wish to see released on DVD are ZAZA (1923), MANHANDLED (1924), and STAGE STRUCK (1925). The latter has been recently restored, and pristine prints have been shown at film festivals, including it's original Two-strip Technicolor sequences! With any luck, Kino, or Image might put out an edition sometime soon?
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Sergei,
Thanks so much, for the information regarding ALEXANDER NEVSKY (1937), I will try find out as much as I can about the Movie. I could almost swear that this was a Silent film I remember seeing, but maybe it wasn't? That would certainly explain why I could never find out the title? I was looking only at Silent features.
While I have heard of this film before, I do not recall where at the moment? I have mentioned this a dozen times in the past, on numerous forums, and No one could figure out what I was talking about! So thank you again, and Happy Holidays, to you and your family! Has this picture been released on DVD, by any chance?
Wanted to make a slight correction, I believe it was actually Max Brand, who wrote ALCATRAZ, and not Zane Gray? I was afraid someone who read allot of Westerns might call me out on this? Although, it's true that Gray did write THE THUNDERING HERD, and RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE, we had Blackhawk prints of these, and Tom Mix starred in adaptations of both of those books. This is why I got a little confused, with the authors.
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Hey, I literally grew up on Silent film's in the 1970's. We had a Bell and Howell, Super 8 mm Silent Movie Projector, and my dad had allot of Super 8 movies. Most of these were Silent films, because sound films in Silent prints moved at terribly slow frame rates! Plus they were very expensive, and generally heavily condensed. Just clips and nothing more.
By contrast, Silent films were far cheaper to buy, moved much more naturally, were pretty complete, and were very intriguing. The first Silent's we had were probably some old Blackhawk films prints of Tom Mix Westerns including a film version of Zane Gray's "THE THUNDERING HERD" it was chuck full of Indians, attacking the Covered Wagoner's and was very action packed and exciting! A few months later, we got the Mix feature "THE LAW AND THE OUTLAW", which was a compelling story of a falsely accused man.
I was a big Western fan at the time, and my Dad had actually met Tom Mix when He was a little kid back in the Mid 1930's! Mix was in Nebraska touring with his famous Circus! Tom became my favorite Western Star! My favorite Mix movie we had from Blackhawk, was probably JUST TONY (1922), because it introduced Tom's famed Wonder Horse of the same name. This was another Mix feature based on a popular Zane Gray novel, ALCATRAZ.
I knew about guys like Gene Autrey, and Roy Rogers, who had been favorites of my Mom when she was young, but was convinced that apart from the singing (which I could do without anyway), those guys were a more or less a couple of Tom Mix ripp-off's! We had a hand-full William S. Hart westerns too. I read everything I could find on Mix and Hart. Before long I discovered the great Silent comedians, and the Western Hero's quickly took quite a backseat.
While these films were Silent prints, (we didn't have a magnetic sound projector), I bought several albums of Silent Movie Music ranging from Piano, to Theater Organ to Full size Orchestra, I picked out the tunes I liked, taped them on Audio cassette, and played my selections back as the films rolled! I had allot of fun doing it! I also had a number of LP's of Scott Joplin Piano Rags, and they worked well with many of the comedies! In addition I eventually found three Albums of Charlie Chaplin's Music, and another LP titled HAROLD LLOYD'S WORLD OF LAUGHTER.
The first Silent film I ever saw that made an impression, was probably back around 1973, or '74. To this day, that film remains a big Mystery to me? I have seen probably 500 to 600 Silent movies in my Lifetime, a considerable number, and yet somehow, I still do not know what it was?
It was an "Epic of the Crusades", with the Walnut helmet shaped Knights, fighting against the Bucket Headed helmet Shaped Knights! I remember long and elaborate battle sequences in the Snow! A beautiful Princess with long curly hair, and all kinds of elaborate sets! For years I have been trying to determine the identity of this movie, with no success! I am pretty sure it was not an American made film, but that's about all I can be sure off?
What ever it was, this aired in Prime-Time on PBS, and the print quality was very good! Probably containied some color tinting as well. It even had a Close-up in the TV Guide for advertising, I remember this clearly, but unfortunately not the title! I have asked this question many times before, but does anyone have a clue what this film could possibly have been?
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Good Lord! I just wanted to add that this movie was made in Color, and that is has been released on DVD from Universal. I happen to own a copy. If you look around a little, you should be able to find it?
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Actually, there are about four or five standard tints that were commonly used in the Silent era. Amber, green, gold, and blue. The bright orange you refer to is probably gold? There was more than one type of gold tint. Some sequences with fire in them were tinted red, but many of those were gold too. Some prints were tinted throughout, while others had a few sequences here and there that were tinted.
Several films during the 20's also contained Two-Strip Technicolor footage as well. Some of the more famous titles would be Cecil B. De Mille's THE TEN COMMANDMENTS (1923), BEN HUR (1925), THE BIG PARADE (1925), and THE KING OF KINGS (1927). The latter in particular has several scenes in two-strip technicolor. Although, the Palm Sunday sequence, or Jesus entering the gates of Jerusalem, is lost. Even Buster Keaton's SEVEN CHANCES (1925), originally contained some Two-strip technicolor! As did Gloria Swanson's STAGE STRUCK (1925). This is a film I would love to see, since it was just recently restored!
There are at least two surviving silent features that were made completely in two- strip technicolor. THE TOLL OF THE SEA (1922), starring Anna Mae Wong, and Douglas Fairbanks THE BLACK PIRATE (1926). Both have been released on DVD.
Extensive hand Tinting and recorded sound on film did not mesh. It kept interfering with the sound track. Although, many B-Westerns well into the 1940's were released in Sepia-tone. Than there is that lengthy tinted sequence in MIGHTY JOE YOUNG (1949), that comes to mind.
I agree that WHEN A MAN LOVES (1927), was very good. The photography was stunning! The restoration was excellent, about 75% of the print looked virtually pristine! Now if I could just persuade Warner's to take a look at THE FIRE BRIGADE, an MGM from that same year.
I have enjoyed all of the Barrymore features that I have seen to date a great deal. DON JUAN (1926), THE TEMPEST (1926), THE BELOVED ROUGE (1927), and tonight's. Delores Costello, was certainly a staggering beauty, with tremendous on screen presence! But I already knew this from OLD SAN FRANCISCO (1927), and NOAH'S ARK (1928).
Barrymore definitely had some astonishing leading ladies to work with, including Mary Astor, and Marceline Day, who is almost to gorgeous for words in "THE BELOVED ROUGE".
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The Late 80's Thames version of both THE BIG PARADE, and THE CROWD were released on laser-disc in the early 90's, but unfortunately not yet on DVD.
SHOW PEOPLE (1928), and THE PATSY (1928), both with Marion Davies, are two more great King Vidor Silent's that should be on DVD soon. Hopefully, in the coming year? LA BOHEME (1926) with John Gilbert, Lillian Gish, and Renee Adoree, appeared to me to need additional restoration, the last time it aired? Also A more elaborate scoring effort than it received.
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Yes, THE BIG PARADE is among my favorite films ever! This movie has just recently been fully restored. It was expected to be released on official DVD for a couple years now. So far nothing has happened, to my knowledge? This in-spite, of claims it would be released in 2006? Of course, they also made the same promise back in 2005, for it's 80th Anniversary! Sadly it appears that here is a project that Warner has put on the back burner more than once?
For decades the original negative was considered lost, and all subsequent prints were somewhat degraded, and based ostensibly on the content of the condensed 1931 re-issue.
A few years ago, a second original negative was uncovered, and the picture re-mastered in 2004. TCM probably will debut the new version early in the coming year. When they had aired this film in the past, it was the 1988 Thames Photo-play Productions restoration of the 1931 re-issue print, with a largely adapted score by Carl Davis that they showed. (I authored my own DVD-R of that version. One get's tired of waiting for the studios to get cracking!)
The Davis score presented on the Thames Edition, recycled several of the original themes of William Axe, Glen Mandoza's 1925 score, which was released with the film to large movie palaces with symphonies.
While I personally love the Davis score, I have been told by people that have seen the film during special live showings that the Axe, Mendoza, score is far superior to it? It's possible that this original score has been re-recorded, and the film now contains several sequences not seen by anyone since the 1920's! Including a few I believe in two-strip Technicolor! I don't know for sure? I do understand a new score was recorded, but I hope it's the vintage one?
What is certain, is the pictorial quality should show considerable improvement over what TCM has been able to present in the past. In all honesty, I generally considered the Thames print to be pretty good quality in the first place. So, I am definitely looking forward to the seeing the new restoration.
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Johnnyslove,
Actually, TCM ran the THE RED LILY (1924) again in Mid-July. It likely will not be shown anymore for awhile. This movie has not been released on DVD, and probably won't be, anytime soon.
However, that being said , I have a very good quality DVD-R I put together, of this feature. So maybe I can help you? If you would like more information, please feel free to contact me direct for additional details. I will try to leave a note in your Inbox, if it's enabled? Hope to talk with you some more shortly.
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Miss Eva,
Hello, Yes, many of Mary Pickford's major surviving features are available on DVD from Milestone. THROUGH THE BACK DOOR, and LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY are two of her very best films they offer on DVD. In-fact, these are two of my favorite silent films of late period!
Both of these movies have standout scores, by Robert Israel, and Nigel Holton respectively. I would rank each score in the top 10 silent film scores that I have ever heard! The prints are great too! The final sequence in THROUGH THE BACK DOOR, even contains some brief 2-strip Technicolor!
Others features from Milestone of note are, THE LITTLE PRINCESS (1917), STELLA MARIS (1918), DADDY LONG LEGS (1919), HEART OF THE HILLS/M'LISS (both 1919), THE LOVE LIGHT (1921), is hampered by a dreadful score by Maria Newman.
Additionally, Milestone also has the poignant TESS OF THE STORM COUNTRY (1922), with a fine score by Jeffrey Mark Silverman. The emotional SPARROWS (1926), is a much better print than what TCM runs. Finally, there is the delightful MY BEST GIRL (1927), Mary's last Silent film, with an awesome score by David Michael Frank. (At least I think that is his name?)
Some glaring omissions are REBECCA OF SUNNYBROOK FARM (1917), THE LITTLE AMERICAN (1917), POLLYANNA (1920), and LITTLE ANNIE ROONEY (1925). Unfortunately, to date, these films have not yet been officially released on DVD. Milestone might release them sometime?
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BallofFire,
The title you are looking for is THE FEAR MERCHANTS. This episode was produced in the fall of 1966, and first aired in January of 1967. Another very good '67 adventure I failed to mention earlier, was called MURDERSVILLE. I would be remiss not to mention fan favorite THE WINGED AVENGER, as well.
While the '67 season is the best known and most frequently seen year of THE AVENGERS, it is most definitely not the best! That being said, it's to bad Diana Rigg couldn't have stayed around for one more full season in Color. Most fans consider the 1965 and '66, Black and White Emma Peel adventures, to be the highlight of the series.
Some people just can't imagine THE AVENGERS, without Mrs. Peel! They won't even watch the other shows! I feel sorry for them, because it is their loss! They are missing out on so very much! While I love the character as much as anyone, there is far more to The Avengers than just Emma Peel! Give the other shows a chance, I promise you will not be disappointed!
In an interesting note, Diana later claimed that if Patrick Macnee had been more adamant about her staying on, she would have signed a contract for three more years! She had that much respect for him!
Macnee later admitted having made a mistake in not urging her more to stay on. At the time it was just such a shock that She was leaving the show, He wasn't all that sure what to do?
Hey, it?s been my dream to see a computer animated movie of THE AVENGERS, with everybody in it! Steed, Mrs, Gale, Emma, Miss King, Mother, Lady Diana Forbes Blakney, Hanna Wilde, Mike Gambit, and Purdey! All the original players voices too!
Only Patrick Newell, who portrayed Steed?s cranky crippled boss Mother, has passed away so far! Time is running down on some of the others though, so if there are any plans for such a production it has to be done soon! What Avengers fan wouldn't want to see this?
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BKeatonfan,
Harold Lloyd has long been my favorite Silent movie maker! Unlike just a few years ago, when finding anything was a task, you are in luck my friend! All 11 of Harold's wonderful Silent features are now on DVD!
Buy the New-Line Entertainment Box set, THE HAROLD LLOYD COMEDY COLLECTION! You will not be disappointed! The films have been restored to full length, Many of the features, you may have not had the chance to see in their entirety before? If so, you will be surprised at just how much you have previously missed! It includes some of his finest Short comedies as well! All three of his glasses Three-reelers, and most of the two-reelers!
The films have superb scores by Robert Israel, and Carl Davis! You will also get some of HL's best sound films! The price is very good for all the priceless footage that you receive! The seven disc box-set even has a special features disc that will amaze you!
Harold proves conclusively that his comedy, is every bit as influential and as memorable, as his two great rivals, Chaplin and Keaton! His great works more than stand the test of time!
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Well, I am going to try this again. Here are my top 5 Tara King episodes of 1968. Again these are in no particular order:
SPLIT!
THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE COUNTLESS CLUES
GET-A-WAY
MY WILDEST DREAM (One of the greatest Avengers ever!)
ALL DONE WITH MIRRORS
Strong Honorable Mention goes to these superb 1968 Adventures:
WHO SHOT OBLIQUE STROKE XR40?
GAME
FALSE WITNESS
SUPER SECRET CYPHER SNATCH
NOON DOOMSDAY
Top 5 1969 Episodes:
THE MORNING AFTER
THE ROTTERS
LOVE ALL
TAKE OVER
KILLER
(Note: Steed?s partner in KILLER is actually Lady Diana Forbes Blakney (Jennifer Croxton), and not Miss King. Though Tara appears briefly.)
Strong Honorable mention goes to, these fine 1969 productions:
THEY KEEP KILLING STEED
TAKE ME TO YOUR LEADER
PANDORA
WHO WAS THAT MAN I SAW YOU WITH?
BIZARRE
This list still leaves out some very fine stories! Especially, REQUIEM, STAY TUNED, and THINGUMAJIG
THE NEW AVENGERS Top Five 1976 Season Episodes:
THE EAGLES NEST
(The first story with Gambit and Purdey, though both have been working with Steed for some time. They are already a seasoned team.)
HOUSE OF CARDS
FACES (My personal favorite episode, of THE NEW AVENGERS.)
TARGET
TO CATCH A RAT
Strong Honorable mention goes to the following 1976 tales:
THE MIDAS TOUCH
THE LAST OF THE CYBERNAUTS......?
CAT AMONGST THE PIGEONS
SLEEPER
THE TALE OF THE BIG WHY
THE NEW AVENGERS 1977 Top Five Episodes:
OBSESSION (One of the best Avengers stories ever made!)
HOSTAGE
DEAD MEN ARE DANGEROUS
TRAP
COMPLEX (The first of Four stories produced in Canada.)
Strong Honorable mention for 1977, goes to these memorable stories:
MEDIUM RARE
ANGELES OF DEATH
K IS FOR KILL (Parts One, and Two. Mostly filmed in France. Emma Cameo.)
FORWARD BASE (Another Canadian Adventure.)
This list still overlooks some fine episodes, from every one of these seasons! What an awesome series! Very demanding to narrow them down! Goodness, did I leave MISSION HIGHLY IMPROBABLE off the list of the top 1967 episodes? How could I forget that one?
THE AVENGERS/THE NEW AVENGERS completely blows away anything being made these days!
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Well, I just wrote a huge response but lost everything when I went to post? Not very happy! I will get back to the Tara King, and Cathy Gale stories some other time! I had everything written out, but it is gone now!
If you like The Cybernauts, then let me remind you that they made a third appearance in THE NEW AVENGERS episode THE LAST OF THE CYBERNAUTS! I might also add that in my opinion it is the best story of the three!
I have not heard you mention a word about THE NEW AVENGERS, and most Avengers fans I know, seem to perfer Joanna Lumley's Purdey, to Linda Thorson's Tara King!
I wrote down my top five episodes of THE NEW AVENGERS for both 1976, and 1977, as well as my favorite Tara King's from 1968, and '69. It was difficult to name a top five, for any of those seasons again! Unfortunately, I was not able to retrive the post! I will try again tomorrow!
Oh, my favorite Cathy Gale story, is probably BRIEF FOR MURDER, but there are several other candidates.
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Kitsy,
Well, those you just mentioned wouldn't exactly be my favorite Emma Peel episodes. It's tough to narrow down the top adventures from any one season, but here goes!
From 1965, in no particular order, I would go with THE GRAVE DIGGERS, DEATH AT BARGAIN PRICES, THE MASTERMINDS, THE HOUR THAT NEVER WAS, and THE MURDER MARKET, as the top five stories.
From 1966, I would probably go with, THE GIRL FROM AUNTIE, THE DANGER MAKERS, WHAT THE BUTLER SAW, TOUCH OF BRIMSTONE, and HOW TO SUCCEED AT MURDER. All 5 are terrific episodes, but so are several others that I failed to mention!
From 1967, how about THE HIDDEN TIGER, THE SUPERLATIVE SEVEN, RETURN OF THE CYBERNAUTS, WHO'S WHO?, and YOU HAVE JUST BEEN MURDERED. A cautious top 5 from that season. Ask me a week from now, and this list might look very different?
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The Avengers is my all time favorite TV show! I have been a huge fan, for years and years! I have been watching allot of the series lately on DVD.
Please do not limit yourself to just the Emma Peel episodes! The Tara King stories are much better than they get credit for! I have I have been watching allot of those recently. In-fact, several of the Tara King's are superior to many of the 1967 color Diana Rigg Episodes. While that season had several good adventures, some were certainly blow the standard established by the 1965 and 1966 stories.
The biggest problem with Miss King (Linda Thorson), was image. The producers never settled on a consistent look for her. They tinkered with it over and over. It would have been nice if they at least had kept a consistent hair style? Although, Thorson was actually, a very pretty young woman, Diana Rigg had been such an incredible knockout, nobody really even noticed Tara!
It would have been next to impossible to replace Mrs. Peel, no matter who they had given the part too! Oddly enough, Charlotte Rampling who played the very beautiful Mrs. Hanna Wilde in the '67 episode THE SUPERLATIVE SEVEN (Her name escapes me at the moment), auditioned for the part, but didn?t get it. She would have been an ideal choice, to pick up were Emma left off as Mrs. Hanna Wilde! Plus fans would have already been familiar with the character.
Though She did her best, and was clearly playing a woman in her mid 20's, Thorson was still a bit young to be Super Secret Agent John Steed's crime busting companion! That being said 1968, and '69 still produced some very memorable adventures! GET-A-WAY, MY WILDEST DREAM, REQUIUM, THE ROTTERS, TAKE OVER, LOVE ALL, STAY TUNED, among them! Fact is there are several more! Hey, I love ever season of THE AVENGERS!
I might add, that If you have never seen THE NEW AVENGERS, than you are missing out! Don't pay any intention to any negative reviews, they are completely without merit! The 1976, and '77 seasons have been released on DVD, and they are must viewing for any Avengers fan! The production value is better than on any other Avengers shows!
Some of the very best Avengers stories ever such as FACES, OBESSION, and DEAD MEN ARE DANGEROUS, were in THE NEW AVENGERS! The team of Steed, Mike Gambit, and Purdey are tremendous too! I This was in-fact my introduction to the show. I was too young to remember the original, and had never seen re-runs either, at the time. For this reason, it still holds a special place in my heart.
I would have given anything for an additional 26 shows to have been produced! CBS tried to make it happen for awhile, but money troubles abroad, ended the series prematurely. I have always thought of THE NEW AVENGERS, not as a different show, but as another season, the final one of THE AVENGERS.
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Snarfi,
Actually, PANDORA'S BOX (1928), has been released on DVD by Second Sight, over in the U. K. in Pal format. I have a copy.
The print is a very nice looking one, with a solid score. This disc also contains the 1998 TCM documentary on Louise Brooks, LOOKING FOR LULU as well.
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nlld,
Hello, please note, I just sent you a private message, with regards to the film in question. This matter likewise concerns another 1928, Thomas Meighan feature, THE MATING CALL, with Renee Adoree, and Evelyn Brent, as well.
Please read through the post, and I hope to talk with you very soon. Thank you.
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Duke,
Yes, Blackhawk films released condensed versions of all the Lloyd Silent features in 1979, and '80, with the exception of the memorable HOT WATER (1924). I still have 5 of the Blackhawk Super 8 millimeter releases.
Again the new DVD versions of SAFETY LAST, and THE FRESHMAN, have both restored a good deal of additional footage, that was missing from those features in the old Blackhawk films prints too. GIRL SHY (1924), must have been cut by more than a reel, as well.
I agree that Lloyd's features seen in their entirety, are every bit as good, as a general body of work, as Buster Keaton's Independent features of the 20's. In-fact, I personally contend that they are more consistent in terms of overall quality from film to film, than Keaton's are. To me both GIRL SHY and THE FRESHMAN, are as good or better, than any of Buster's features! In addition, honorable mention should certainly go to GRANDMAS BOY (1922), WHY WORRY? (1923), and THE KID BROTHER (1927). All three of which are highly underrated Silent comedies, in their own right.
For decades, Lloyd's feature films were pretty hard to find, and He took a huge backseat to Keaton in critical circles. Though largely by default! While I am a big Buster fan, I have generally found Harold Lloyd's Silent feature films to be much, much funnier.
Sadly Chaplin due to his extreme eccentricities, made so few features during the 1920's, that any direct comparison is difficult to make with his movies of that decade. I sure wish that He had released at least two, or three more!
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Duke,
I had to think about this for a minute. Up until just a few years ago, the only version of Harold Lloyd's FOR HEAVENS SAKE (1926) floating around, was the badly re-edited Time-Life edition. That version checking in at a little over 40 minutes, was missing I would say well over a full reel of footage, chopped from the film over and over, at random! The restored version, TCM just ran, and found on the DVD box set, is far superior in everyway, to the older truncated Time-Life edition. It's almost like watching a completely different film!
The older Time-Life Films version, was originally packaged for sale in 16 millimeter film, and V-Cord reel of reel video tape format, in about 1976, 0r '77? This was sold along with an additional Lloyd Silent feature, equally butchered! I can't think of which feature, at the moment? I am fairly sure though, that what was listed in the older Leonard Maltin Movie Guide, was actually a combined running time of both the re-edit of FOR HEAVENS SAKE, and that second cut up feature film.
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If you check Silent Era. Com, some of the films on their top 10 list, wouldn't even make my top 50 Silent films! The order of the movies for me, changes all the time! Making a complete list is extremely difficult! Some of the more famous titles, are actually rather overrated! While numerous others little known, deserve considerably more notoriety, than they have received!
As for films I have seen recently, both Lewis Milestone's TWO ARABIAN KNIGHTS (1927), with William Boyd, Louis Wolheim, and Mary Astor, and Sydney Chaplin's THE BETTER 'OLE (1926), would probably have to make the list! I enjoyed both of these features greatly!
I agree with Abel Gance's NAPOLEON (1927), this is among the ultimate Masterpieces of Cinema! Although, it treats the man, almost as a Messiah, rather than a power mad tyrant!
While I love Frank Borzage's SEVENTH HEAVEN (1927), I might have to rate his later feature STREET ANGEL (1928), again with Janet Gaynor, and Charles Farrell, ahead of it?
My Favorite Silent comedy has always been Harold Lloyd's THE FRESHMAN (1925). With strong consideration given to Lloyd's GIRL SHY (1924), and GRANDMAS BOY, (1922), as well as Buster Keaton's SEVEN CHANCES (1925), and GO WEST (1925). I would be remiss in not mentioning Charles Chaplin's CITY LIGHTS (1931), and MODERN TIMES (1936), also.
I have seen so many other great Silent features, I would literally be here all night listing them! In-fact, I can't even arrive at a consistent top ten list!
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I really wanted to like this movie, and came into it with an open mind. I had heard several folks who slammed this picture pretty severely.
Honestly, I had not seen much of Larry Semon before. Just a few Two-reelers on 8 millimeter back when I was a kid, in the late 70's, early 80's. I thought they were funny, but was not impressed in the slightest with his character, like I was with Chaplin, Lloyd, and Keaton, or even Charley Chase.
The version TCM aired was beautifully restored, but unfortunately, the film itself was just as dismal, if not more so than I had heard it was! Not only did it not follow the classic storyline of THE WIZARD OF OZ, it's own story was virtually non-existent! I was immensely disappointed in this film! It was truly awful!
Why on earth would TCM, air this disaster in prime time, and stick Syd Chaplin's outstanding feature THE BETTER 'OLE (1926), on at a dismal 3.15 in the morning! This makes little sense to me! Why put a clunker on virtually in Prime Time, and burry the great one so late, that few folks are awake to see it?
Speaking of THE BETTER 'OLE, watching it again, I think that it is the best Silent Comedy from 1926, that I have seen ! This includes both Lloyd's FOR HEAVENS SAKE, Keaton's BATTLING BUTLER , and Langdon?s THE STRONG MAN! I would like to see Warner, put this film out on DVD! It deserves to be scene, and much better known! I am not real sure if any, what other Sydney Chaplin feature films still exist today?
movie child actresses.
in Silent
Posted
moviecollector,
Sorry to say, I don't know much about the work of the child actors that you mentioned? However, I do have an extremely rare 1917 feature with the darling little Mary McAlister called YOUNG MOTHER HUBBARD on DVD-R. A very nice print, with Philip Carli score. This is real cute little film, and you might enjoy seeing it?
I'm proud to say, that I have hundreds of other rare Silent's, that are hard to find most anyplace! So if you are looking for something in particular let me know what it might be?