gagman66

JonasEB, Thanks for finding out this information and posting it here. Definitely not good news, though not all that surprising. The Chaplin sets went out of print last year with little or no advance notice, I've been telling people for awhile to get the Lloyd collection while it was still available.Hope they took my advice. Worse, April could be the last hurrah than for Harold on TCM, for quite awhile. People need to be aware of that too. On the plus sides the Region 2 DVD's in Europe (not sure of the company), should still be in print for another couple of years. They didn't come out until 2007 I believe.

Try *THE LOVE OF JEANNE NEY (1927).* That's a great film by Pabst, on DVD in a lovely print from Kino. Have you seen it? Another version of *PANDORA'S BOX?* Good Lord! I'm still waiting for any version of *THE BIG PARADE* on DVD. Losing patience with all the repeated empty promises. And I still haven't seen the 2004 restoration on TCM either.

Update. *WINGS* currently has 1859 votes for a DVD release on TCM Movie Data Base. Good enough for 45 th place among movies not yet on official DVD. Pretty dang good showing for a film TCM hasn't run in three years, and were forced to run a sub-par print when they did. Has everyone here voted? You can only vote one time. Now all of this might be pointless voting for a Paramount owned film, on a Time-Warner run site? But I don't think Paramount has a place to vote specifically, What's more we are told TCM shares the info with all of the studios and DVD labels. Hey, did anyone notice that there are three clips from *THE HOODLUM* in the TCM Media Room that are posted? Wasn't aware of that. They must have been up since November. Kind of surprised that this is in the Media Room, given that the Milestone DVD isn't out yet. Swithin, *PANDORA'S BOX* was the current Criterion edition from Janis Films released on DVD in 2006. It is the longest and best version on DVD, and I have not heard of any other restorations. Personally I don't think much of the movie myself. So If a longer version is released with more recently uncovered footage. I don't plan on buying it again. Not my type of film at all. Anyway, I believe you are mistaken about this.

OK, here we go again. Maybe, just maybe, TCM is running a brand new transfer or even the Photoplay Productions version of *WINGS,* or a hybrid of such, on Sunday? I know I have said that before, to no avail. However, did anyone catch that short promo that aired? Briefly, showing a few frames of *SUNRISE* and *WINGS* back to back. That sure didn't look like the same tired old Monochrome print that we saw three years ago. Also it appeared to be tinted gold? The hue of most of the Photoplay edition. I would strongly suggest that people make an effort to find out the facts a few days in advance if you can? I tried to E-mail TCM's Chuck Tabesh a few days ago, not specifically about this matter, but I brought it up briefly. He hasn't gotten back to me as of yet. Anyway, the preview surprised me. Now I may just be jumping to conclusions, because Chuck didn't feel that clearing the rights to the Photoplay Edition was going to happen last fall, but I think there is a chance that it could be at least a new transfer from Paramount. Perhaps the one we were told that they were working on back in the fall of 2008? Now rather it has the Carl Davis score or not is another matter entirely? Anyway, I believe that it's worth looking into. While one might expect some sort of formal announcement from TCM, but that doesn't always happen. Certainly, there was none for *THIS IS THE NIGHT* last month. I looked through the 31 days of Oscar calender last night, and there is supposed to be an article on *WINGS* there, but I couldn't find it. If you click on the link nothing comes up? Not sure what the story is there? Another thing that I wanted to be sure to mention. In November the guy who was guest from *The Academy Film Archive* at *AMPAS* after the showing of *THE HOODLUM,* mentioned and spoke about the *WINGS* restoration in some detail. So hopefully that was a good sign that progress was being made to get a nice transfer on TCM? Who knows? If I get any confirmation to speak of I will post it here.

OK, here we go again. Maybe, just maybe, TCM is running a brand new transfer or even the Photoplay Productions version of *WINGS,* or a hybrid of such, on Sunday? I know I have said that before, to no avail. However, did anyone catch that short promo that aired? Briefly, showing a few frames of *SUNRISE* and *WINGS* back to back. That sure didn't look like the same tired old Monochrome print that we saw three years ago. Also it appeared to be tinted gold? The hue of most of the Photoplay edition. I would strongly suggest that people make an effort to find out the facts a few days in advance if you can? I tried to E-mail TCM's Chuck Tabesh a few days ago, not specifically about this matter, but I brought it up briefly. He hasn't gotten back to me as of yet. Anyway, the preview surprised me. Now I may just be jumping to conclusions, because Chuck didn't feel that clearing the rights to the Photoplay Edition was going to happen last fall, but I think there is a chance that it could be at least a new transfer from Paramount. Perhaps the one we were told that they were working on back in the fall of 2008? Now rather it has the Carl Davis score or not is another matter entirely? Anyway, I believe that it's worth looking into. While one might expect some sort of formal announcement from TCM, but that doesn't always happen. Certainly, there was none for *THIS IS THE NIGHT* last month. I looked through the 31 days of Oscar calender last night, and there is supposed to be an article on *WINGS* there, but I couldn't find it. If you click on the link nothing comes up? Not sure what the story is there? Another thing that I wanted to be sure to mention. In November the guy who was guest from *The Academy Film Archive* at *AMPAS* after the showing of *THE HOODLUM,* mentioned and spoke about the *WINGS* restoration in some detail. So hopefully that was a good sign that progress was being made to get a nice transfer on TCM? Who knows? If I get any confirmation to speak of I will post it here.

JamesH, Granted, there are allot variables. For instance, most of Chaplin's major films are currently out of print on DVD at the moment. That may change before the end of the year as more of the Criterion releases emerge. But a film like *CITY LIGHTS* is not currently available. You have to resort to expensive out of print copies of the Warner' or older Image DVD's if you want this movie. I'm still hoping that the dense Chaplin Heir's will come to their senses and give us the best version of the original 1925 release of *THE GOLD RUSH* that we have seen on DVD. Not the poor compromise that appeared on the Warner Box set in 2004. A Masterpiece like *THE BIG PARADE* never having been on commercial DVD of any kind is just absurd. I have waited for the restored version for years, and Warner's has delivered only empty promises. Right now Harold Loyd's features with a few exceptions, are still out there to discover, but I honestly don't know how much longer the fabulous DVD set released in the fall of 2005 will remain in print? Probably not a whole lot longer. So I strongly suggest to H L's fan's that don't have these yet, to snap them up while they still can. New-Line that released the collection, has since been absorbed into Warner Home video.

JamesH, Here is part of the problem with these polls. You have people who are not really Silent film fans, but are Keaton fans. People who are not really Silent film Fans, but are Chaplin fans. People who are not really Silent film fans, but are Harold Lloyd fans. People who are not really Silent film fans, but are Silent comedy fans. They assume that they will not like Drama's. People who are not really Silent film fan's, but are Garbo fans. People who are not really Silent film fans, but are Louise Brooks fans. People that are not really Silent fans, but are F. W. Murnau fans, Etc. Those are the people doing much of the voting here. These people have seen little else of Silent film in general, they only know the work of those artists. Have the majority of them seen *THE BIG PARADE* for example? Or *BARBED WIRE?* Probably not.

Frank, Some very nice selections there. Linda Darnell, Veronica Lake, Ella Raines Yes!!! Gail Russell too, if she has enough movies. I'd go for Olivia as well. Pretty impressive group of picks.

JamesH, Those ratings don't impress me in the least. We are talking two pretty high profile Silents films. So naturally they are both going to rank rather high. Keaton's *THE GENERAL* has never been a big favorite of mine either, and I for one can see why it bombed at the time.It is probably the most frequently seen Silent today by a fairly wide margin. So the fact that it is ranked Number 1 doesn't surprise me. Personally, I like *SEVEN CHANCES* allot better among Buster's films. I was always disappointed in *THE GENERAL* from the first time I saw it clear back in 1979. After seeing Chaplin's *CITY LIGHTS* and Lloyd's *THE FRESHMAN* first, *THE GENERAL* seemed a big let down. Very few laughs, and more drama than comedy.Sine than, I've seen the picture many, many times, with a variety of scores including Carl Davis, and I still find it grossly overrated. Anyway, all the numbers on that site basically haven't changed in at least 6 or 7 years. So despite what it says, I don't think the voting has been updated any since that time. I've attempted to submit a list before, and got a message that voting was closed. Have you tried to vote?

Scottman, I would have certainly mentioned Anita Page, but are there enough films? I believe that there are enough films for Renee Adoree.

Some of these have already been mentioned. Lon Chaney Sr. Mary Pickford Rita Hayworth Janet Gaynor John Barrymore Alice Faye Adolphe Mejou Betty Hutton Betty Grable Douglas Fairbanks Sr. Renee Adoree Ramon Novarro Merle Oberon Ronald Colman Constance Bennett Vera Teasdale Ann Harding Joan Blondell Glenda Farrell Paulette Goddard Jeanne Craine Gean Tierney Jean Simmons Anne Margaret Jacqueline Bisset Raquel Welch Incidentally, the reason *THE GREAT DICTATOR* was on twice is the first time that it was on, it was following the Kevin Brownlow documentary *THE TRAMP AND THE DICTATOR.* Which hasn't been shown for years. This is what they aired in homage of Kevin's honorary Oscar. But I agree they probably should have scheduled it later in the month for the second broadcast.

TCM is paying homage to Kevin Brownlow tonight with the broadcast of *THE TRAMP AND THE DICTATOR* documentary. That's nice, but I think that he deserved at least a full evenings worth of programming. Hopefully, Kevin doesn't need to have to pass on before being so honored. What about it Chuck?

Yes, *CALL HER SAVAGE* is a rousing movie, and Clara Bow is simply spectacular in this picture. The myth of her thick Brooklyn accent in my opinion is just that. *A Myth.* She has a terrific voice. Very Sexy. Arguably better than Jean Harlow's. I wonder why Fox Movie Channel never airs *HOOPLA,* which was Clara's final film? Although, actually a remake of *THE BARKER* a 1928 Dorothy Mackaill feature, also with Betty Compson, restored a few years ago.

JamesH, All that being said, there are allot of people on others boards that did not like this movie either. One lady who was very anxious to see it, and is a big Silents fan, set that she "shut it off after the first half hour". And that was last night before the broadcast was half over. Others said "the story, (what story) left them cold."

I still think that many, many people are going to be very disappointed in *PANDORA'S BOX.* I was expecting a Masterpiece and got in my view a complete Turkey! Why can't we get *SEVENTH HEAVEN?* Now that is truly a great film. At least TCM is running *STREET ANGEL* next month. If you want foreign Silents, what about F. W. Murna's *FAUST (1926),* or Pabst *THE LOVE JEANNE NEY?* Neither has been shown on TCM as far as I am aware. Another very underrated film is *THE CHESS PLAYER (1926).* Both these last two films I mention Star Edith Jehanne and she is arguably just as fun to look at as Louise Brooks.

This movie was terrific. And was blown away by Ella Raines. I kept thinking to myself, man, that is a whole lot of good looking woman there. And I thought she was a superb actress, with a great smokey voice too.The way she moved had me captivated throughout. Her poise, grace and elegance. Those eyes cut right though me! Lo! They surely don't make I'm like that anymore. That whole evening of programming was really outstanding!

C. Bogle, Be aware that some of those photos, err most of those are fakes. Some of the Harlow's are fakes also. Just like the Male Nudes floating around of George O' Brien and Charles Farrell are fakes too. Don't put much stock in them.

Scottman, *JUST ANOTHER BLONDE (1926)* I think that is the title, is a First National film with Louise and Dorothy Mackaill. It is supposed to survive. So that is one movie not tied up in copyright to Paramount. I think personally that a double bill William Wellman DVD release of *WINGS* and *BEGGARS OF LIFE* would sell pretty well. With both Clara Bow and Louise Brooks fan's happy.*BEGGARS* was restored in 35 Millimeter by Eastman House in 2006. *WINGS* has been restored several times, but we will probably get the same old transfer on TCM next month. Although I hope that if not the Photoplay version, at least it's that new transfer that paramount was purportedly working on in the fall of 2008. More than just Wellman, Paramount should also include *CHILDREN OF DIVORCE.* Because it has Clara and Gary Cooper, not to mention Esther Ralston, and was partly directed by Josef' Von Sternberg. Plus this is one film that is virtually impossible to see outside of festivals. The Coop fans would by it for his short appearance in *WINGS* too.

musicalnovelty Thanks. It sure looks like one of the outfits she wore in *THE BATTLE OF THE SEXES.* Have you seen *SLIDE KELLY SLIDE?* Be sure to check out the Silent Crushes thread for several more new photos. Also look at my TCM CFU page. I have posted a bunch of new videos there. Would appreciate your feedback very much.

Wendy, Oh, no! I'm sorry that you missed *TIDE OF EMPIRE,* but at least it is on DVD-R from Warner Archive. So that is the good thing. Hey, I also posted a clip of Milton Sills with Doris Kenyon you might be interested in. Plus Renee Adoree with Conrad Nagel. And don't forget to watch the *AT THE MOVING PICTURE BALL* video. Your bound to get a kick out of that.

Wendy, I knew that I mis-spelled the title. To late to edit. I have a so-so copy of the movie around here someplace. I have never gotten around to watching it. Now I am curious. I posted some additional new photos in the other thread too. Did you see the new Colleen Moore clips that I posted on TCM CFU? From *IRENE, ELLA CINDERS* and *TWINKLETOES.* Also a frenetic scene from Lubitsch *SO THIS IS PARIS.* Two Anita Page fan videos, and some other stuff. Did you get to see *TIDE OF EMPIRE* last week?

Lo! *THE CALL OF THE FLESH* features Renee Adoree's final screen appearance. I haven't seen this movie either. Happy to have that on the schedule.

Sad to say, that I didn't like anything about *PANDORA'S BOX.* Many people who have never seen this before, expecting something great, are bound to be brutally disappointed. I know that I sure was. Mortified that the drunken old reprobate father was prostituting his own daughter. No one had any redeeming qualities in this film, including Lu Lu. Louise Brooks beauty and overt sexiness just doesn't make up for a weak, crummy and confusing story. I watched this movie just one time and had no desire to ever see it again. And yes I bought the Criterion Edition with the three scores. Viewed it with the Gillian Anderson music. I was so depressed with *PANDORA'S BOX,* that I have never watched *DIARY OF A LOST GIRL,* and I have had the DVD for several years. If you want a great G. W. Pabst film try *THE LOVE OF JEANNE NEY (1927).* It is on DVD in a beautiful print from Kino. This picture has a real story with a plot and genuine suspense. *PANDORA'S BOX* has none of that.

Yes *THE UNINVITED* was great. I had seen her in other movies, but didn't recall her looking like this. Beautiful lady in her day. Those eyes just smouldered!

The debut (I assume), of the newly restored *SPARROWS (1926)* with the Jeffrey Mark Silverman score. But it is on early Friday morning, not during Silent Sunday Nights. Back to back double bill of Mary Pickford, with a rebroadcast of *THE POOR LITTLE RICH GIRL* from November. TCM used to run *SPARROWS* years ago in the Killiam version with a Bill Perry piano score. They never showed the Gaylord Carter scored version, which was the previous version on DVD from Milestone. *LAILA (1929)* on the 3rd of the month, is a brand new restoration forth coming from Flicker Alley. This will certainly be a TCM and probably Television Premier. I have heard great things about the movie. A Civil War festival of Silents is on the 11th. Including Harold Lloyd's *GRANDMAS BOY (1922)* I wonder if they finally got the rights to the Carl Davis scored version of Keaton's *THE GENERAL?* The usual Harold Lloyd Birthday Tribute on the 20th. Also Cecil De Mille's Masterpiece *THE GODLESS GIRL* for Easter!