gagman66
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Posts posted by gagman66
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I have seen DON JUAN several times, and even made a DVD-R out of it. While this is a very good movie, the real highlight of the evening, or in this case morning was actually Syd Chaplin's THE BETTER OLE' (1926), for me!
Apparently only the second Vita-Phone track feature, this film deserved a much better time slot, than it received! Everyone seems to have missed out on it! What a pity, since as far as I know the last time this picture was shown was a Silent Sunday Nights presentation clear back in 2001? So quite a gap between broadcast?s! I had missed much of it on that occasion too!
A largely unknown film today, this production is a strong contender in my mind, for the funniest movie of 1926! For that matter, I might be even be so bold as to rate it as the Funniest, ahead of both Harold Lloyd's FOR HEAVENS SAKE, and Buster Keaton's BATTLING BUTLER!
The elder Sydney gives his much more famous younger brother, a serious run for money here! Proving himself to be a brilliant Mine, and screen comic in his own right! His loveable "OLD BILL" character seemed virtually as memorable as "THE LITTLE TRAMP", himself! At least in this feature! This film honestly made me laugh more than anything, I have seen in some time!
The gag where Bill and his youthful pal, try to elude capture by the tipsy Germans disguised as a horse, is one of the most perfectly executed gag sequences in any Silent comedy! Milked to absolute the hilt! Simply hilarious stuff! If you went to bed, and did not record this picture, than you missed out on something special folks! Ask TCM to please schedule it again, at a decent hour soon!
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Snarfie,
Don't be to sure, I was told the very same thing last year at this time! I was confident in-fact. that the picture would be released on DVD, for it's 80th Anniversary in 2005. As you know, this didn't happen.
The last I heard Warner was mearly taken votes on the prospect of their releasing THE BIG PARADE, on DVD. They had not announced that it was actually forth coming anytime soon? I sure hope that it will be!
Here is the link to make your interest known! I you want to see this Masterpiece of the Silent Cinema on DVD, Please cast your vote now! If your a John Gilbert fan, Renee Adoree fan, a King Vidor fan, or just a fan of great classic movie making, Let your voice be heard!
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I dearly love SEVENTH HEAVEN (1927), and STREET ANGEL (1928), as well! I made up my own DVD-R versions, with Menu pages, Background Stills, and Thumbnails. However, the good news is it looks like these films have been recently restored, or at least have had fresh Hi Def transfers made of them?
Pristine prints, have been shown at recent Janet Gaynor, and Frank Borzage retrospectives. Fox has been rumored to be kicking around a DVD release for at least a couple years now. I am running out of patience myself!
The sad fact is, there are still many, many, awesome Silent films, that have yet to turn up on DVD! Hey, I was just harping about THE BIG PARADE (1925), not having been released yet! It was just recently restored a year, or two ago! The new version still have not debuted on TCM, either!
I love the 1988, Thames version with the Carl Davis score, but it was processed mainly from the 1930 re-issue print. The original domestic camera negative, had been lost clear back in the late 40's! A few years ago, the foreign camera negative was found, and a new master has been prapared from it! By all accounts, this shows a dramatic improvement over the Thames edition pictorially.
I do not know if the vintage1925 Orchestral score by William Axt, and Glen Medoza, has been recreated, and used on the new version or not? Portions of the Davis score had apodted themes heard in the vintage arrangement.
I posted a a review here of SEVENTH HEAVEN, a couple months ago. For those who missed it, here is that post again, along with the disappointing lone response I received:
At last, I finally got to see Frank Borzage's Silent Masterpiece SEVENTH HEAVEN (1927), yesterday! It was incredible! This was a tinted print, and retaining the original vintage movie tone score! Including the original composition from the film that became a very popular standard of the day the memorable "My Diane"!
Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell, are both wonderful! A perfect pairing on screen! In-fact Gaynor for a few years, was according to "Time Was", reputedly reigned as the biggest star in Hollywood! How many folks know that today? generally, it's Garbo, Gilbert, or Clara Bow that is referenced as the top star of the late 1920's these days.
Frank Borzage, a man who is now barely a footnote in Hollywood history, was a brilliant Director! A man of expressive vision. His work it seems has been largely forgotten? This picture runs a full gauntlet of human emotions, powerfully evoked! Wow! what a remarkable viewing experience? How sad that this film's standing has been tarnished by it's sheer lack of availability over the past couple decades!
SEVENTH HEAVEN (1927), clearly lives up to it's age old reputation, as one of the greatest silent films of the 1920's! It's tragic that it has been so rarely seen in recent years! Something must be done to correct this matter soon!
I was fortunate enough to have acquired this DVD-R recording, from a private collector. Overall the quality was still pretty good. I have waited over 20 years to see this movie. Two the best of my knowlegde, this picture has never been aired on Fox Movie Channel, let alone TCM?
Rumor has it that this film is going to be released by Fox on official DVD one of these days! That's great, and I sure hope that it does happen soon! However, I have been hearing this same thing for some three years now! I don't even know for sure if the picture is being restored? If not Fox, than what is the trouble? I has to be done, and with all speed!
John Ford's 1928 feature FOUR SONS, is another outstanding film eroding away with time stashed away in the Fox Library someplace that needs their wholehearted attention! As does WHAT PRICE GLORY? (1926), STREET ANGEL (1928), and so many others! How depressing!
Response:
Rumor has it that a DVD is coming soon, with commentary tracks by Anthony Slide and Robert Burchard, two old windbags I will definitely not be listening to as I watch.
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Whoops! Pardon Me, My mistake, it's actually LADY OF THE NIGHT debuting in September. That being said I wouldn't mind TCM airing A LADY OF CHANCE, as well. Since I have never seen it!
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Just let me say that I am indeed very pleased, to see TCM finally giving us a look at the Silent Norma Shearer!
All I have seen of her Silent career thus far is HE WHO GET'S SLAPPED (1924), and OLD HEIDELBERG (1927). In neither of these films, was She cast in the Starring role.
I am to not real sure how I missed out on A LADY OF CHANCE, but apparently I did? How recent has it been since the last time TCM ran this movie?
I have mentioned this here before, but Norma was already a major star by 1925! There must be at least a few Silent films of her's still around in which she was the Star, tucked away in the vaults that have gone virtually unseen for some 80 years!
I'm elated to hear the news of the debut, of "LADY OF The NIGHT"! Does anyone have some information to impart on who composed the Brand New Musical Score, for this movie?
Now when is TCM going to drag the THE COSSACKS (1928), with John Gilbert, and Renee Adoree out of their vast Archive? This picture would have been a much better choice than Tod Browning's THE SHOW (1927), for a restoration, from what I have heard. though, it does boast the same two Stars!
For that matter, when are they going to be debuting the newly restored version of THE BIG PARADE (1925)? Freshly re-mastered from the second original camera negative? It is supposed to have the initial tinting, pattern and 2 strip Technicolor sequences intact! I was certain it would turn up for the Fourth of July, but it wasn't scheduled at all! In addition, when is the DVD finally coming out?
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Let me just say that I am indeed very pleased, to see TCM finally giving us a look at the Silent Norma Shearer!
All I have seen of her Silent career thus far is HE WHO GET'S SLAPPED (1924), and OLD HEIDELBERG (1927), and in neither film is She cast in the Starring role.
Coffeedan, I am to not real sure how I missed out on A LADY OF CHANCE, but apparently I did? How recent has it been since the last time TCM ran this movie?
I have mentioned this here before, but Norma was already a major star by 1925! There must be at least a few Silent films of her's still around in which she was the Star, tucked away in the vaults that have gone virtually unseen for some 80 years!
Thus I'm elated about the news of the debut, of A LADY OF CHANCE! Does anyone have some information on who composed the Brand New Musical Score, for this movie?
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Colleen Moore was already pretty famous around the world, before anyone had ever even heard of Louise Brooks, and very few people likely knew who Clara Bow was either. Sadly many of her films have been lost, or have chunks missing from them! Such is the case with her smash hit comedy ELLA CINDERS (1926).
Miss Moore was indeed a very big Silent Star! She was making a whopping $12,500 per week, plus a large percentage of the profits on her films by the Mid 1920's! Now just think of what kind of a sum that would be equivalent to today! She had great charisma on screen, a vibrant personality, and she was a wonderful pantomimist!
TCM has run at least one Colleen Moore film, this would be the World War One drama LILAC TIME (First National, 1928), with Gary Cooper. My information says this title did air on TCM, a couple of times between 1996, and 1998.
This must have been the rarely seen Thames restoration of the film, because I am pretty certain that they did not air the seriosly degraded looking print found on the Critics Choice Video release? Unfortunately, I did not have TCM until May of 1999, and since then I have never seen this picture run on the station at all! Not even once?
I would love to see it shown again, because this was a very big Silent film, which produced the haunting melody, and popular standard "JENNIE I DREAM OF LILAC TIME" from it's original theatrical score! Both with recorded music, and on the scoring sheet's that were provided to theaters. Since the film was released in two versions! Silent, and also with a recorded musical and effects track.
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Geniebeanie,
Some DVD rental places, have a gizmo that removes scratches on DVD's, DVD-R's, DVD+R's, Video Game Disc's, and the like. It only coast around 75 cents a piece, to run them through this machine! Ask around, I'm sure there must be at least one store near where you live, that offers this service? My town is fairly small, and we have one here.
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This list is an ugly joke! It seems to me as if, Chaplin, Lloyd, and Keaton, were only included as an afterthought, or out of courtesy?
While The GENERAL, and THE GOLD RUSH, certainly have the reputation, I am reluctant to describe either as Buster or Charlie's best work? THE GENERAL in particular just isn't very funny! Especially, when compared with other Keaton pictures such as THE NAVIGATOR, SEVEN CHANCES, or GO WEST!
Where Harold Lloyd is concerned, They didn't even get the year right for SAFETY LAST! It was released in 1923, not 1925? THE FRESHMAN was released in 1925, and in all sincerity would have probably been a better choice overall to represent Harold! Or Maybe even GIRL SHY (1924), should have been selected?
As far as I'm concerned all 11 of Lloyd's Silent features belong on the list! Probably about 5 or more, of Keaton's too! Chaplin's films are not well represented either! What no CITY LIGHTS, or MODERN TIMES? I'm sorry, but That?s just plain absurd!
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The Milestone DVD release of SPARROWS is a much more recent transfer from the Mary Pickford Foundation. For what ever reason, the only print TCM ever airs of this film is the much older Killiam Shows/Blackhawk films version, produced for Public Television clear back in 1970! To say the least, the Milestone print on the DVD, is much better quality!
Additionally, The Killiam shows print has a William Perry Piano score that is Mono, and in need to re-mastering. The Milestone score is digitized, though it too is from an old recording, by Wurlitzer Theater Organ legend Gaylord Carter. In either case, I hope to see this film get the deluxe treatment when it comes to scoring one of these days!
Apart from this, may I ask, why is TCM apparently not able to air the newer cleaner print of this movie? They are able to run most of the other Pickford Milestone DVD titles? MY BEST GIRL, for example, but there was also a Killiam Shows version of that movie too! Yet, TCM gives us the much sharper, and restored print of that film. Not the beat up old Killiam Shows transfer as they do with Sparrows?
Granted Some major Pickford movies such as LITTLE ANNIE ROONEY, for example have yet to be issued by Milestone on DVD, and so TCM, must revert to the old Killiam prints in order to show those? Here again unfortunately, the Killiam Shows print of LITTLE ANNIE ROONEY (1925), TCM airs from time to time, is Black and White and it looks truly miserable! Yet my two decade plus old VHS Blackhawk Video copy, has the exact same Bill Perry piano score, but is multi-color tinted, and the print is markedly better pictorial quality, than what TCM runs now? Why is this?
I used the old LITTLE ANNIE ROONEY tape, to make up a pretty good DVD-R version. Although, hopefully, Milestone will release a top flight print of this feature, taken from the Pickford archive with a full orchestral score before to long now? I have been waiting patiently for this to happen!
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Izcutter,
After further review, I guess that Robert Youngson's THE GOLDEN AGE OF COMEDY was first released in 1955. COMEDY WAS KING IN, followed in 1957, or '58. I do not know about for sure about DAYS OF THRILLS and LAUGHTER? In addition, I am not to certain what came next either? There was likely another compilation between DAY'S OF THRILLS AND LAUGHTER, and LAURAL AND HARDY's LAUGHING 20's, I would think?
Someone arguing on another board, insisted just the other day that L& H's Roaring 20's has not been offered on DVD, and is tied up in a legal battle at present? Well, how is than that I have a copy? It is most certainly not a bootleg! However, it was clearly made from the 90's laser disc release, and though still pretty good quality, could have benefitted some from re-mastering. For those looking for this picture it was released on DVD, by a company called Orbit in Great Britain. Thus the release is Pal, and not NTSC format. It appears that it hasn't been issued by anyone here in the states as of yet?
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Izcutter,
Actually, there was a modest revival of interest the Silent film, starting in the late 40's, into the 1950's, and 60's. James Agee's famous LIFE magazine article in '49, "COMEDY'S GREATEST ERA" was among the key element's to set the ball rolling again.
Youngson's first big feature length compilation was THE GOLDEN AGE OF COMEDY, released I believe in 1956, or '57? This was before the sequel you mentioned. COMEDY WAS KING. After that came DAYS OF THRILLS AND LAUGHTER, in the early '60's. All of these were apparently quite successful?
Youngson, was not alone however, another key figure in the movement, was a man named Paul Killiam, who financed restorations of numerous classics in the early and Mid 60's, to much acclaim. A whole new generation of patrons, emerged largely through these two men?s dedicated efforts.
While I have never seen the original Youngson compilation, I have seen all of the others that Youngson put together. Including the rarely seen LAURAL AND HARDY'S, LAUGHING 20's (1965), and THE FURTHER PERILS OF LAURAL AND HARDY (1967?). Both of these Ironically, I just acquired on DVD in Pal format last week! They offer up a healthy dose of not just Stan and Ollie, but Charley Chase, and other Hal Roach lot comedians of the 20's as well!
I am still trying to locate a collector who has a good copy of Youngson's final compilation FOUR CLOWNS, from 1970? I don't believe that it has ever been released on commercial DVD? I hope that I'm wrong! This was among my initial introductions to Silent film comedy as a boy back in the late 70's. For that reason it has considerable sentimental value to me! My 16 year old tape off the old AMC, bit the dust, when I recently attempted to transfer it to DVD-R! So if anyone could help me find another quality copy, I would greatly appreciate it!
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David,
It appears you are correct concerning the length. To be honest, I just obtained the DVD a couple of weeks ago, and have not had the time to take a good hard look at it as of yet? I believe it is the same as the Laserdisc would be, but that is certainly much better than a transfer from VHS, would have been. I've made LD transfer's of my own, that looked pretty impressive.
As this is the 1981 restoration, I'm sure that a significantly sharper transfer could be achieved with today's advances in technology. Of course the print quality varies quite a bit throughout the film. Some sequences are sharp and clear looking, while others are pretty murky.
Looking at it right now, the amber, and blue tinting seems quite pronounced, and there is some definite pixilization visible, as well. I agree that It would be nice see a crisp new master produced. I've been told there is a longer version with a Carl Davis score, but I do not have very much information about it. Do you?
Interesting your comments pertaining to the live Orchestra. I could be mistaken, but I do not believe this is the same version that TCM ran a few years back at all? I think that I?ve got a recording of that too, around here someplace though?
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I am quite fortunate to have the official Australian DVD release of Abel Gance's NAPOLEON (1927). Australia is the only Country where this Movie has been issued on DVD, as far as I know? This is the version with the brilliant Carmine Coppalla score.
The film runs just over Three and Half Hours here. But, it was recently restored to the full Five Hours, as a great deal of additional footage has been found, since this Kevin Brownlow restoration was produced back in 1981.
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Fred,
I don't get it? Have you actually read any of my posts? Apparently not? Why are you harping at me, when I am on your side? Once more, "I HATE THE $%#@^&% ALLOY ORCHESTRA"! They Stink!!!!!!! I never said that you or anyone else had to like them! I never even inferred it! In-fact I can?t imagine anyone liking them! Got it? I positively detested the fact TMC ran this desecrated version of THE GENERAL, last night! Even though I knew it would happen!
Now the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra, they are another story entirely! Many of their scores are excellent! Also Philp Carli, Jeffrey Mark Silverman, and a small handful of others. I?m not a big fan of Maria Newman's scores though!
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Fred,
Well, I think we have established that you apparently like Piano scores? That being said, Not everyone does! The fact is, just because the Museum of Modern Art did this, don't take it as Gospel! William Perry was the music Director for them, and his all original piano scores, heard on a great number of the Blackhawk films releases were extraordinary! I will certainly not argue!
However, just because Silent's were routinely shown this way 30 to 40 years ago, which I am not disputing, proves absolutely nothing my friend! It does not mean that this is the primary manner in which they were shown during the 1920's! So please don't by into it! According to Kevin Brownlow, and many other historians, who should know, it is not! Harold Lloyd personally expressed on more than one occasion that he disliked films shown with simple Piano's! He felt that it was largely historically inaccurate! So did Chaplin! In addition, I have read several vintage articles about Silent film Musicians, and they largely tell the same story!
I don't like Ultra-modern scores either. I far perfer an authentic arragement, of period Photo-play type music! I do like good composers who compliment the films with original material though that it faithful to the style that would have been used back when. Such as Carl Davis, has produced for example.
A quick note, One reason the Killiam Shows version with Bill Perry' s Piano score has become redundant, is the Mono track recorded clear back in 1970! The print was inferior to the much newer Image DVD release as well
Anyone else catch TWO ARABIAN KNIGHTS (1927), last week? Robert Israel's score for this picture was among the best Silent film scores I have ever heard! I also might add "I LOVED THIS MOVIE"! It has quickly become one of my favorite Silent films! I can't thank TCM enough for running it!
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Fred,
Please note, With all due respect, lone Piano accompaniment, pretty much went out with the Nickelodeon days! It is largely a stereo-typical myth, and a misrepresentation of the genre. Many contemporary fans of the medium, are resentful of the claim. My self included. Piano by itself, was considered a rather cheap way of presenting Silent films!
By the late 1910's, even most of the smaller Theaters, actually had a least a small "House Band" consisting of five, to six players. Only the very small Theaters, still relied on a single Pianist. In the large Theaters, their were full symphonies with as many as a hundred people! In some Movie Palaces, the Orchestra, alternated with the Theater Organist, and the live Theater Organ experience, was even preferred over Orchestra by some fans!
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I have seen this movie with at least a half a dozen different scores over the years. This includes one with an over abundance of sound effects, several years ago. Matter of fact, I just warned everyone in another post last week, just how awful the Alloy Orchestra score (from The Image DVD release) was! "Good Heavens, Desecration Most Foul? was my intial thought, when I first heard this effort!
Fortunately, there are three other versions of THE GENERAL on DVD with different Orchestral scores. The Kino DVD version has a fine Robert Israel score. A UK Pal version from the BFI, has an original Carl Davis score, written in the early 80's, for the Thames edition.
A newly mastered MK2 version not yet available in the states, also has a brand new Orchestral score. The composers name escapes me at the moment? I have yet to see this version, but I have been told that the score is extremely good! I have both the Israel score on DVD, and the Davis score on DVD-R from Laser-disc. However, the Thames version was recently released on DVD in Region 2. So maybe it will find it?s way across the pond one of these days?
I had hoped that TCM would run either the Thames, are the MK2 restoration this time, and not the Alloy Orchestra scored version. They used to show the picture with a William Perry Piano score, from the Paul Killiam collection. The last few times they have aired THE GENERAL though, it had the same dreadful music you heard this morning. What a shame! Can?t understand why TCM, can?t seem to acquire the broadcast rights to the Carl Davis scored version?
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Sorry, but I'm not to certain what you are talking about? Your contention is far from what I would describe as accurate! Harold Lloyd films are rarely aired on Silent Sunday Nights! Keaton's even less, since TCM, only has a limited access to his independent features! A couple of Buster's finest and funniest films, such as SEVEN CHANCES (1925), and GO WEST (1925), for example, have to my knowledge never been shown on TCM? THE CAMERAMAN (1928), and SPITE MARRIAGE (1929), were both made at MGM! Naturally, TCM would run them more often, than most of Keaton's other feature length Silent films.
While TCM has run versions of OUR HOSPITALITY (1923), and SHERLOCK JUNIOR (1924), as well as THE NAVIGATOR (1924), those didn't debut on the station, until only about a year ago! None of the three have been shown again since that time, I don't believe?
Incidentally, someone simply must re-score SHERLOCK JUNIOR! The current accompaniment on the Kino DVD, by The Club Foot Orchestra (which is what TCM ran), is an abomination! Years ago, AMC used to air this film with a terrific Vince Giordano and The Nighthawks Orchestra arrangement. (I am quite fortunate to still have a nice recording from those days, on DVD-R.) AMC also had a completely different and much better score (composed by Bill Frazzil), than the DVD release of GO WEST contains now!
I'm also somewhat less than pleased with the horrid Alloy Orchestra scores to both THE GENERAL, and STEAMBOAT BILL JUNIOR, found on the Image DVD release! This is the very same version TCM presently airs! CARL DAVIS composed a fine score for THE GENERAL, back in the Mid 1980's, and this Thames version has been released on DVD over in the U. K. Another newly mastered MK2 version has appeared across the pond as well, with a fresh orchestral score. I do not recall the composer? In any case, I have yet to see this restoration, at this time. For what ever reason, this version has not seen the light of day on DVD, here in the United States?
In addition, Carl Davis also wrote a superb score for OUR HOSPITALITY for Thames Photo-play productions. This is the version TCM, should be running! Unfortunately, they apparently only have the rights to the Donald Hunsberger scored version, from the Kino International release?
As for Chaplin, he made so few features during the 1920's, that TCM, can't possibly be running them every few weeks as you suggest! Hey, TCM just ran F. W. Murnau's Masterpiece SUNRISE (1927), a Fox studios Silent last night! That's saying something! I have had TCM, since May of '99, and this is the first time I have seen them run this picture! Tonight we have UNCLE TOMS CABIN, and THREE ARABIAN KNIGHTS, both from 1927! I'm very excited to see these two films!
Yes, it?s true that there are many more rarely seen Silent's from the Fox, First National , Paramount, and Universal studios, that I would like to see them run sometime! I will save some of those titles for a future post.
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This is a tough decision! I have seen so many Silent films, that the order changes on a consistent basis! Generally, my first response is Harold Lloyd's THE FRESHMAN (1925). It has been a long time favorite.
However, among the films I have seen fairly recently, and it's a pretty good sized number, I might have to pick Frank Borzage STREET ANGEL (1928), starring Janet Gaynor, and Charles Farrell. Or, maybe THE PAGAN (1929), with Ramon Novarro, Dorothy Janis, and Renee Adoree? Those are two films that I feel are long overdue for a DVD release!
A couple of Mary Pickford features from 1921, THROUGH THE BACK DOOR, and LITTLE LORD FAUNTELROY, are high up on the list as well. Both I'm happy to say are available on DVD, in terrific editions from Milestone! These are quality prints, with among the finest musical scores I have heard on any Silent films! Still another recent favorite, is THE BATTLE OF SEXES (1928), which is probably D. W. Griffith's most underrated movie, and most contemporary film! Griffith is sometimes a little tough for me to embrace. That is most certainly not the case with this picture!
Fox, or someone working with them, seems to have recently restored both STREET ANGEL, and SEVENTH HEAVEN (1927), since newly mastered pristine prints, were shown at a recent Janet Gaynor retrospective in L. A.! So maybe they are finally getting ready to put these movies out on DVD? Would also like to see them get to work on a John Ford Silent's set, and Raoul Walsh, World War One Classic WHAT PRICE GLORY? (1926). The only print's I have seen of this picture, were in simply dismal shape! I know that much better material still exists!
I was looking for some comments on SUNRISE (1927), which TCM just aired this morning! I expected to find quite a few? I already had this film on DVD, and did notice much difference in the print that TCM aired. Odd because a newer DVD version was released over seas last year, that was supposed to be re-mastered over the older one? That being said, I'm not to certain how much re-mastering could actually be accomplished, owed to the fact that the original camera negative has been lost?
A Ramon Novarro DVD set, featuring SCARAMOUCHE (1923), THE RED LILY (1924), OLD HEIDELBERG (1927), THE FLYING FLEET (1928), and THE PAGAN, would certainly make for a tremendous collection from Warner's!
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jf51381,
I will definitely be recording TWO ARABIAN KNIGHTS (1927) to DVD-R, Wednesday morning! Although, I could swear the actual title was THREE ARABIAN KNIGHTS? I was under the impression that TWO ARABIAN KNIGHTS was a completely different movie?
After frustratingly losing my signal for about 25 minutes right in the middle of the broadcast when this film first debuted in 2004, I waited a long time for TCM to air this picture again! Thanks so much TCM for finally re-airing this movie! I appreciate it very, very much! I?m also quite anxious to see UNCLE TOM'S CABIN (1927), on Tuesday evening. I have never seen this film before, and I believe that it is probably another TCM debut?
To be honest, I wasn?t really planning on recording the other Mary Astor films in this salute? I will see what I can do for you though?
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I have the Thames version of this film, and I think that it is complete?
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So does this mean that you would be interested in obtaining a copy of WHITE SHADOWS IN THE SOUTH SEAS (1928)/THE PAGAN (1929), on DVD-R from me? Please let me know?
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BlueRuin,
THE PAGAN was just broadcast on TCM during the month of March. It has quickly become one of my favorite Silent films. Dorothy Janis was certainly a breathtaking beauty. Overall, this is a very underrated film.
Favorite Silent Film actor/actress
in Silent
Posted
This is not an easy question to address, I have seen hundreds of Silent features, and the order could change frequently.
Traditionally, I would likely be inclined to choose Harold Lloyd overall as favorite actor. He has been a long time idol of mine, ever since I was a boy back in the late 1970's.
As for purely a dramatic actor, rather than comic, maybe I would select Ramon Novarro? Have enjoyed everything I have seen him in.
As for actresses, I'll go with Mary Pickford, as a long time favorite. Some of her lesser known features such as THROUGH THE BACK DOOR (1921), and LITTLE LORD FAUNTELROY (1921), deserve strong mention, as among the very best Silent's I have seen recently, as well.
I have developed a real passion of late, for Laura La Plante. She was great in such films as SMOULDERING FIRES (1925), and THE LOVE TRAP (1929). The only other film I've seen her in is THE CAT AND THE CANARY (1927), but I am looking for more of her movies. She had great screen presence and a vibrant engaging personality.
There certainly could be numerous other Stars on the top of my list. It kinda of depends on my mood, and what I am watching.