Screenings and Performances
During May 1996


*May 1
"Charlie Chaplin Evening": A NIGHT IN THE SHOW (1915), POLICE (1916), TRIPLE TROUBLE (1918), THE RINK (1916) & BURLESQUE ON CARMEN (1916); Bob Mitchell, organ; Silent Movie, H'wood CA 8PM
May 2-30
"Musicals Before the Code": Bruce Goldstein, Dir. or Repertory Programming at Film Forum 2 has done it again! He's put more than 50 films of early sound musicals up to about 1934, some with two-color sequences, a few entirely in color, many rarely shown outside studio vaults or film archives. These are not silents, but many are of great interest to our readers. Here are some of the highlights:
BROADWAY MELODY (1929), and the Duncan Sisters in part-Technicolor IT'S A GREAT LIFE (1929)
May 6 "A Song in the Dark," author Richard Barrios hosts highlights and lowlights from early musicals incl Mae Murray's "Bullfight Dance" and Busby Berkeley's "Hall of Human Harps"; FF2 says there's a jawdropper for everyone!, and RIO RITA (1929), with a long color seq.
May 14 "A Night at the Palace," a two hour program of old-time vaudeville as might have been at the Palace, compiled from Vitaphone shorts incl Al Jolson in the newly restored "The Plantation Act," made a year before THE JAZZ SINGER, by Vitaphone Project's Ron Hutchinson.
May 20 SALLY (1929), with legendary Marilyn Miller in a beautifully restored Technicolor sequence that helps explain her great popularity; and SUNNY SIDE UP (1929), with silent stars Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell in an "All Talking! All Singing! All Dancing!" musical, featuring parka-shedding, igloo-melting Eskimos in "Turn on the Heat"!
May 30 "Technicolor Treasures from the UCLA Film Archive": FOLLOW THRU (1930), Buddy Rogers, Nancy Carroll, Jack Haley, Thelma Todd and Eugene Pallette all in pastels in one of the crown jewels of UCLA's collection; and (sep. adm.) THE VAGABOND KING (1930), which must be seen in color to appreciate the beauty of this Dennis King/Jeanette MacDonald musical.
And more to fill the 5 weeks (for more detailed info, see FF2's beautiful program sheet, or access their Internet site at http://www.filmforum.com ) Film Forum 2, 209 West Houston St, New York, NY 10014, call (212)-727-8110.
*Apr 26-May 31
"Silents at the National Film Theatre with Hi-Fi taped scores": a season of silents with Thames Television or Channel Four scores (Carl Davis except as noted below); most films restored by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill):
May 2,12 THE BIRTH OF A NATION (1915) John Lanchberry arrang. of Breil score; Dir. by D.W. Griffith
May 13 WOMAN OF AFFAIRS (1929), Dir, Clarence Brown
May 15 STUDENT PRINCE IN OLD HEIDELBERG (1927), Dir. by Ernst Lubitsch
May 17 LA TERRE (1921) Adrian Johnston score; Dir. by Andre Antoine
May 18 INTOLERANCE (1916), Dir. by D.W. Griffith
May 19 BEN-HUR (1926), Dir. by Fred Niblo
May 21 THE IRON HORSE (1924) John Lanchbery score Dir. by John Ford
May 22 BROKEN BLOSSOMS (1919) Carl Davis arrang. of Gottschalk score; Dir. by D.W. Griffith
May 28 THE BLOT (1921) Jim Parker score; Dir. by Lois Weber; film restored by Robert Gitt.
May 31 THE WIND (1928), Dir. by Victor Seastrom
All of the above films will be shown at the National Film Theatre, South Bank, Waterloo, London, SEI 8XT, Tel: 0171-928-3232 (Thanks to Lynne Wake, Photoplay Productions, Ltd., for the above info)
*May 2
THE SIREN OF THE TROPICS (1927, France), Dir. by Henri Etiavant and Mario Nalpas, with Josephine Baker in her very first, rarely shown film; program will be introduced by Jean-Claude Baker, her adopted son; live original jazz accompaniment by Dominique Pifarely (violin) and Francois Couturier (piano); part of the Closing Night Gala of the S.F. Film Festival at the Castro 7PM (Tickets for film at 7 only: $20-15; tickets for film at 7 and party at 9: $50-45); see ticket info for SFIFF under Apr 25 MAN WITH THE MOVIE CAMERA (SIREN will be repeated May 3 at 9:15PM, with live piano accomp. by Bruce Loeb; Pacific Film Archive, Univ. Art Museum, Berkeley, CA)
*May 3-4
"Buster Keaton Comedy Evening": shorts THE PLAYHOUSE (1921), THE BOAT (1921), COPS (1922) & SPEAK EASILY (1932, sound); Stan Kann, organ, will accompany silents; Silent Movie, Hollywood CA 8PM
*May 4
THE KID (1921), Dir. by and starring Charlie Chaplin Carl Davis will conduct the Brighton Festival Society Orchestra using his adaptation of the original Chaplin score, with the film projected at 21 FPS; Brighton, England
*May 4
"Mirror, Mirror: Movies About Movies": SHERLOCK, JR. (1924), Dir. by and starring Buster Keaton; music track (?) at 7PM & sound film SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950), Dir. by Billy Wilder, with those silent greats Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, Cecil B. DeMille, Anna Q. Nilsson, Buster Keaton at 8PM Rich Auditorium, High Museum of Art, 1280 Peachtree St. NE, Atlanta, GA, (404) 733-4570, both films for one $5-4 admission.
*May 4-5
AELITA, QUEEN OF MARS (1924, USSR), Dir. by Yakov Protazanov, with Valentina Kuinzhi, Nicolai Tseretelli, Konstantin Eggert, Julia Solntseva, Yuri Zavadsky, Igor Ilinsky and Nicolai Batalov; Musica Curiosa Ensemble (Dennis James will introduce the program, conduct and play the theremin, cristal and piano, with two accompanying musicians playing phonoviolin, cello and Ondes Martinot); James' original score for the Soviet's first sci-fi film incorporates fragments of the original Soviet film score and published Soviet silent film generics; Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema, Int'l. House Theatre, 3701 Chestnut St., Philadelphia PA 19104, (215)-387-5125, there will be two performances: 9:30PM on May 4; 1PM on May 5
*May 5
CITIZEN LANGLOIS (1995), docu dir. by Edgardo Cazarinsky, repeated from earlier showing at S.F. Kabuki Theatre (for details see Apr 27) Pacific Film Archive, Univ. Art Museum, Berkeley CA 6:30
*May 5
"Forgotten Laughter": Five rare silent comedy shorts repeated from earlier showing at S.F. Castro (for details see Apr 20); Jon Mirsalis will accomp. on piano; Pacific Film Archive, Berkeley CA 8:30PM
*May 6
Buster Keaton Festival": Third of four successive Mondays featuring 35MM prints with live organ accompaniment by Bob Vaughn for 7PM main evening feature, music tracks for shorts and early show: SHERLOCK JR/THE PLAYHOUSE/OUR HOSPITALITY/NEIGHBORS; UC Theatre, University Ave., Berkeley
*May 8
D.W. Griffith Evening": HEARTS OF THE WORLD (1918), Dir. by Griffith, with Lillian Gish, Dorothy Gish, Robert Harron, Erich von Stroheim; Bob Mitchell at the organ; Silent Movie, Hollywood, CA, 8PM
May 10
"Silent Siren Series": PANDORA'S BOX (1928, Germany) Dir. by G.W. Pabst, with Louise Brooks, Fritz Kortner, Francis Lederer; music track; The Silent Film Society of Atlanta, Goethe Institut Atlanta, 1197 Peachtree St. NE (Colony Square Plaza Level), (404)-633-5131 $5-3 Open at 7:30, Show at 8PM
*May 10-11
"Buddy Rogers/Mary Pickford Evening": MY BEST GIRL (1927), Dir. by Sam Taylor, with Pickford and Rogers; Bob Mitchell at the organ; Buddy Rogers in person on the 11th; Silent Movie, H'wood CA 8PM
May 12
THE KID & THE IDLE CLASS (both 1921), a Charlie Chaplin double-bill; Carl Davis conducting the Los Angeles Chamber Symphony in his adaptation of Chaplin's original scores, with restored films projected at 21 FPS; at the Orange County Philharmonic; Costa Mesa, CA 3PM
*May 12, 14
THE STRONGEST (1929, Sweden), co-dir. by Alf Sjoberg; Raymond Brubacher, organ; AFI Theatre, JFK Ctr, Washington DC 2PM on May 12, 8:15 on May 14
*May 13
"Buster Keaton Festival": Last of four successive Mondays featuring 35MM prints with live organ accompaniment by Bob Vaughn for 7PM main evening feature, music tracks for shorts and early show: THE GENERAL/THE GOAT/GO WEST/THE PALEFACE; UC Theatre, University Ave., Berkeley, CA, call theatre, (510) 843-6267, for showtimes
*May 14
Silent TBA; live accomp. by Rick Parks, 3/18 Wurlitzer; Elsinore Theatre, Salem OR; for details call stage office (503) 375-0279 $3 7PM
(Silents usually shown on 2nd Tues. each month)
*May 15
"Alfred Hitchcock Evening": EASY VIRTUE (1927), Dir. by Hitchcock, with Isobel Jeans, Franklin Dyall, Eric Bransby Williams; based on a play by Noel Coward; Bob Mitchell, organ; Silent Movie, 611 N Fairfax, Hollywood, CA, (213) 653-2389 8PM
*May 17-18
"Special 35MM showing of rare Lillian Gish film": ANNIE LAURIE (1927), Dir. by John S. Robertson, with Gish, Norman Kerry, Hobart Bosworth; last reel in 2-color Technicolor, with great scenes of Scotland; seldom shown because Gish thought it not one of her best, but her fans, especially those (like this writer), who saw it many years ago at the Cleveland Institute of Art as part of the Cinecon, loved it --organist Bob Vaughn's great use of CIA's classical organ created stirring bagpipes for the warring clans, leading Silent Society President Randy Haberkamp to call it one of his greatest experiences with silent film; as far as we know, no bagpipes will be at the Silent Movie, but it should be interesting to see what Bob Mitchell is able to do with their organ; special admission: $8 ; Silent Movie, 611 N Fairfax, Hollywood, CA, (213) 653-2389 8PM
*May 18
THE FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE APOCALYPSE (1921), Dir. by Rex Ingram, with Rudolph Valentino, Alice Terry, Alan Hale, Jean Hersholt, Nigel de Brulier, Wallace Beery; version restored with tints and tones, one color scene, by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill; live organ accompaniment; Free Trade Hall, Manchester, UK
May 18
THE KID & THE IDLE CLASS (both 1921), a Charlie Chaplin double-bill; Carl Davis, conducting the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra in his adaptation of Chaplin's original scores, with films projected at 21 FPS; annual benefit for the Orchestra, with tickets priced $25 and up; this gala event will again be held at the Alex Theatre, Glendale, CA; for further info, call (213) 622-7001 8PM
*May 18
"The Origins of American Film: Origins of American Animation": Nine short films, 1902-21, by Porter, Blackton, La Cava, W. O'Brien, McCay, etc.; Stuart Oderman, piano; The Museum of Modern Art NY 5PM
*May 18
"Golden Silents - The Strange Animation of Ladislaw Starewicz": THE SCARECROW (1921), THE CAMERAMAN'S REVENGE (1911), THE MASCOT (1933), FROGLAND (1922) & TOWN RAT, COUNTRY RAT (1926); sophisticated films made with stop-motion photography by Russian born Starewicz (1882-1965) who created his most important work in France; live musical accomp. by Brian Dewan (home-built electric zither, adapted autoharp and organ); The Film Society of Lincoln Center, The Walter Reade Theatre, 70 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023, (212) 875-5600 Tickets: $15-12 2 perfs: 6PM and 8PM
*May 19
BROKEN BLOSSOMS (1919), Dir. by D.W. Griffith, with Lillian Gish, Richard Barthelmess, Donald Crisp; Jeff Barker, 3/12 Kimball; Galaxy Theatre, Guttenberg, NJ, 2PM
May 20
THE BLACK PIRATE (1926), Dir. by Albert Parker, with Douglas Fairbanks, Billie Dove, Donald Crisp; 35MM print in 2-color Technicolor; Dennis James, 2/11 Wurlitzer (formerly at San Francisco's Parkside Theatre); State Theatre, Alvarado Street, Monterey, CA; for advance tickets: send check payable to "Golden State Theatre Organ Society" ($10 each; children 12 and under: $1) 143 Willow St., Salinas, CA 93901, incl SASE if you want the tix mailed; otherwise, pick up at Will Call (house open 7 PM) show at 8PM
*May 22
"Fritz Lang Evening": WOMAN IN THE MOON (1929, Germany), Dir. by Lang, with Klaus Pohl, Willy Fritsch, Gerda Maurus, Fritz Rasp, Gustav von Wangenheim; Bob Mitchell, organ; Silent Movie, Hollywood 8PM
May 24-25
"Classic Buster Keaton": THE BOAT (1921) & COPS (1922), two shorts starring Keaton, shown at 7:30 & STEAMBOAT BILL JR. (1928), Dir. by Charles F. Reisner, starring Keaton, with Ernest Torrence, Marion Byron; music tracks will be used (?) 8:15 Sonoma CA Film Institute, Sonoma State University, Darwin Theatre, Rohnert Park CA (707) 664-2606
*May 24-25
"Lon Chaney Evening": MR. WU (1927), Dir. by William Nigh. with Lon Chaney, Louise Dresser, Ralph Forbes, Renee Adoree, Anna May Wong & OLIVER TWIST (1922), Dir. by Frank Lloyd, with Chaney, Jackie Coogan, Gladys Brockwell, George Siegmann, Esther Ralston; Stan Kann at the organ. Michael Blake, author of two Chaney books, will appear in person for book-signing and purchasing; Silent Movie, 611 N Fairfax, Hollywood, CA, 8PM
May 24-27
"28th Annual Columbus, Ohio, Cinevent": A mix of sound and silent films. Held at the Radisson Hotel Columbus North. Very large show by dealers, incl tapes, books, posters, films, stills, etc. Silents announced so far include THE CAT AND THE CANARY (1927), a "Festival of Early Silent Laurel and Hardy Shorts," BROKEN BLOSSOMS (1919), A PAIR OF SILK STOCKINGS (1918) with Constance Talmadge and Harrison Ford; accompaniment for silents by George Eastman House's Phil Carli; screenings begin 1 PM Fri. 24, and end at 1 PM Mon. 27. Held at Radisson Hotel Columbus North. Write Cinevent, P.O. Box 13463, Columbus, OH 43213 or leave your address on the 24 hour voice mail at (614) 229-3555, or send E-Mail to shaynes@ee.net. Visit the Cinevent Home Page on the World Wide Web at http://user1.ee.net/shaynes/ (new address).
** update: Silents added to the schedule include: THE SEA BEAST (1926) with John Barrymore as Captain Ahab in silent version of MOBY DICK; LUCRETIA LOMBARD (1923) with Norma Shearer; LORNA DOONE (1922), Dir. by Maurice Tourneur, with Henry Sharp's beautiful cinematography, starring Madge Bellamy, John Bowers; WHY WORRY with Harold Lloyd; THE HILLS OF KENTUCKY (1927) with Rin-Tin-Tin; Josef von Sternberg's UNDERWORLD (1927); festival of early silent Laurel and Hardy shorts; festival of Charley Chase shorts; and many sound films. The 4th Annual Vintage Poster Art Auction (Morris Everett, Jr. and Marty Davis) will be held at the same hotel on May 25 (catalogs available)
*May 26
"All Buster Keaton Show": THREE AGES (1923), Keaton's take-off on Griffith's INTOLERANCE & THE GOAT (1921) & COPS (1922) & THE PLAYHOUSE (1921); Bob Vaughn, 3/14 Wurlitzer (formerly at S.F. Avenue and State-Lake Chicago); Towne Theatre 1433 The Alameda, San Jose, CA, Free parking. 5PM. Jack Gustafson in concert before film at 4:30.
*May 26
NAPOLEON (1927, France), Kevin Brownlow's restoration of the Abel Gance Masterpiece; Carl Davis will conduct the orchestra using his score; Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, Scotland
May 29
THE CIRCUS (1928), Dir. by and starring Charles Chaplin; Gillian Anderson, cond., orchestra in the original score compiled by Arthur Kay under Chaplin's supervision in 1928 (not the 1960's reissue score composed by Chaplin); Lawrence Golan, first violin; shown at 20 FPS; State Theatre, Portland, Maine
*May 29
"Cecil B. DeMille Evening": THE ROAD TO YESTERDAY (1925), Dir. by DeMille, with Joseph Schildkraut, Jetta Goudal, Vera Reynolds, William Boyd, Trixie Friganza, Iron Eyes Cody; Bob Mitchell at the organ; Silent Movie, Hollywood, CA, 8PM
May 31
THE CIRCUS (1928), Charles Chaplin; Gillian Anderson cond.; other details as for May 29 above; Flynn Theatre, Burlington VT, call (802) 863-5966
*May 31 - June 1
"Buster Keaton Comedy Evening": NEIGHBORS (1920), ELECTRIC HOUSE (1922), THE BLACKSMITH (1922) & STEAMBOAT BILL, JR (1928), Dir. by Charles F. Reisner, with Keaton, Ernest Torrence, Marion Byron; Stan Kann, organ; Silent Movie, H'wood 8PM
Silent and Early Vitaphone/Movietone Films on Turner Classic Movies (TCM Cable) May '96: DEVIL MAY CARE-color seq. (5/1); THE FIRST AUTO (5/5); SPEEDWAY (5/7); OUR DANCING DAUGHTERS (5/12); FOUR HORSEMEN -21, THE CONQUERING POWER, PRISONER OF ZENDA-22 (all 5/20); MARE NOSTRUM (5/25), TRAIL OF '98 (5/26); HE WHO GETS SLAPPED, BEN-HUR -26, FLESH AND THE DEVIL (all 5/30) + "Great Hollywood Composers" (45 films!)
American Movie Classics (AMC Cable) ; Harold Lloyd's GET OUT AND GET UNDER & HIGH AND DIZZY-music by Vince Giordano and His Nighthawks (5/10, 5/22); HOLLYWOOD SOUNDTRACK STORY (5/24)
For more information, visit AMC's website at http://www.amctv.com.

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