the silent film thread

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

Not all messages are displayed: show all messages (611 of them)

the entire 1913-14 fantomas serial is on a dvd set from gaumont in france. it only has french intertitles but you can get by with a good dictionary i'd imagine, if you don't read french.

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 8 December 2003 14:26 (twenty years ago) link

thx!! I thought you'd know abt this.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Monday, 8 December 2003 14:29 (twenty years ago) link

amateurist you are a national treasure!

― s1utsky (slutsky), Monday, 8 December 2003 16:37 (twenty years ago) link

one month passes...

Does anyone have the UK "Sunrise" special edition DVD yet? If so, are there any opinions on the audio/visual quality, and the special features?

― Tom May (Tom May), Sunday, 1 February 2004 21:31 (twenty years ago) link

if anyone is in paris this february email me i have a special event to tell you about

― amateur!st (amateurist), Sunday, 1 February 2004 21:31 (twenty years ago) link

I watched that Britney Spears movie with the TV on mute. Does that count?

― El Spinktor (El Spinktor), Sunday, 1 February 2004 21:44 (twenty years ago) link

I feel that Murnau's "Nosferatu" is one of the ten greatest films ever made, and suspect that the only reason people go on about "Sunrise" is that critical opinion does not like to accord just levels of acclaim to a film about a bloodsucking vampire

it probably has more to do with the fact that Sunrise is still a moving film, but Nosferatu (great tho it is) really isn't scary anymore. horror doesn't age well, sadly.

― J.D. (Justyn Dillingham), Monday, 2 February 2004 00:14 (twenty years ago) link

Tom, I think the DVD may not be out yet, since the BFI is set to release a new print in Soho in the next few days. I'd guess it would be make more sense to release the DVD shortly after the theatrical run? Dunno.

Just saw my first silent film screening with live accompaniment (Red Heroine), and I must say that it is somehow more satisfying knowing that there is a guy sitting there watching the film and weaving together different themes in a coherent whole, non-stop, without any sheet music. Whether or not he memorized the piece or improvised it, very impressive. It doesn't exactly feel totally different than watching a silent film with an added score, but it feels just slightly subliminally fuller.

― Girolamo Savonarola, Monday, 2 February 2004 01:52 (twenty years ago) link

nosferatu is totally scary wtf

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 2 February 2004 09:17 (twenty years ago) link

I just saw a British 1926 adaptation of 'A Tale of Two Cities' (called 'The Only Way,' which was apparently an extremely successful stage play -- which the film more or less recreates). Because it's not particularly well-remembered or leved, I ended up enjoying this far more than other sitlents, and has given me the itch to see a whole load more. With so many silents I feel oppressed by the idea that the film is a major leap forward in film language -- I can't just watch the thing, i have to recognize how significant that cut or this track is. This film broke that spell. So I'm gonna see 'Sunrise' (for the third time) when it's out.

Also: Tom -- Murnau's 'The Last Laugh' is out soon on DVD -- for a long time this was even more highly regarded than 'Sunrise'.

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 2 February 2004 09:54 (twenty years ago) link

how long of a time? the two years between their release dates?

i havent seen a murnau film i haven't adored--right now i'm big on his faust

― amateur!st (amateurist), Monday, 2 February 2004 13:36 (twenty years ago) link

'The Last Laugh' got mo' love from the 'socially concerned' critix cos of the whole neue sacherlicht (sp!) thang. I think.

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 2 February 2004 13:39 (twenty years ago) link

"The Last Laugh": great news... I've heard a fair bit about that. Not perhaps as praised as "Sunrise" but not too far off (and how is that a problem when "Sunrise" is one of my few favourite films?).
May well pick up "Faust" today for £7 in Fopp...

Girolamo: No, it is actually out, on Eureka, and I know this because I now possess it! :) I just ask because I won't be able to watch it until March; i.e. my DVD player is at home while I'm at University.

― Tom May (Tom May), Monday, 2 February 2004 15:46 (twenty years ago) link

ARGH don't remind me of Cambridge Fopp

a) that's where my december paycheck went
b) oxford doesn't have a fopp grrr

― Enrique (Enrique), Monday, 2 February 2004 15:48 (twenty years ago) link

;-) Only "Faust" and the (mentioned on ILM; loads of classic late 70s/80s disco-r'n'b) "Pure Groove" compilation this time, I think. Though I got the Upsetters' "Super Ape" for a fiver a few days ago, too.

They've also had in stock (or did, anyway) "...Caligari", "The Blue Angel" and a special edition "Nosferatu". Is the "Nosferatu" package recommended?

― Tom May (Tom May), Monday, 2 February 2004 15:56 (twenty years ago) link

one month passes...

recommended, highly: the king vidor version of 'la boheme' with lillian gish

― amateur!st (amateurist), Saturday, 20 March 2004 23:10 (twenty years ago) link

KING VIDOR I LOVE YOU CAN I BE IN ONE OF YOUR MOVIES PLEAS!!

― s1ocki (slutsky), Sunday, 21 March 2004 00:03 (twenty years ago) link

I AM DEAD SORRY

--KING VIDOR

― amateur!st (amateurist), Sunday, 21 March 2004 12:14 (twenty years ago) link

THX SORRY

― s1ocki (slutsky), Sunday, 21 March 2004 17:29 (twenty years ago) link

eleven months pass...

I just found Sjoman's The Phantom Chariot. I'm going to probably watch it on Monday.

― A Nairn (moretap), Sunday, 6 March 2005 04:01 (nineteen years ago) link

I'd really like to see 1923's Trilby, i'm not even sure if there are any prints of it left but I've been fascinated since I bought a production still of ebay of it.

http://photos3.flickr.com/5930783_db2693c8c6.jpg

It starred Audree LaFayette and Philo McCoullough

― kate/baby loves headrub (papa november), Sunday, 6 March 2005 04:34 (nineteen years ago) link

sjostrom--i hope you like it! i hope you found a good copy. a good-looking print of the film will be positively gorgeous. it's a very moody and subtle film (though not as subtle as some of his other films).

i can check to see if that one exists. somehow i think it does, but i may be wrong.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Sunday, 6 March 2005 08:19 (nineteen years ago) link

Silent drama can be avery dangerous thing. If it's not made by a great visual stylist (Murnau, Lang, Vidor etc), the going can be tough.

I was gifted with the Keaton box last Christmas. Still, his films are best seen first on the big screen, cuz it's vital to see his face.

Orson Welles said, purely on aesthetics, silents should have continued alongside talkies as a distinctly different art form.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Monday, 7 March 2005 14:44 (nineteen years ago) link

two months pass...

Edison box set! Anders als die Andern FINALLY available on home video!

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 29 May 2005 14:48 (nineteen years ago) link

And then there's this enticing forthcoming little number.

― L'Histoire d'Eric H. (Eric H.), Sunday, 29 May 2005 16:01 (nineteen years ago) link

wow! that looks amazing.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Sunday, 29 May 2005 16:22 (nineteen years ago) link

By the way, my favorite Edison (based on the dozen or so I've seen) is this:

http://www.railwaybridge.co.uk/images/topsyelectrornd.jpg

Seemingly establishing the format as being capable of great cruelty, et al.

― L'Histoire d'Eric H. (Eric H.), Sunday, 29 May 2005 16:24 (nineteen years ago) link

The only Keaton I've been underwhelmed with so far is The Navigator. But the scene where Keaton and his love interest chase each other around the ship's deck, trying to catch up with each other's phantom presence for what seems like five minutes is teh roffle.

― L'Histoire d'Eric H. (Eric H.), Sunday, 29 May 2005 16:28 (nineteen years ago) link

The somewhat grim stories of ">Edison, Tesla, Westinghouse and Topsy the Elephant.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 29 May 2005 16:37 (nineteen years ago) link

Which is to say Electrocuting an Elephant also helps establish the format as excellent for Toxic Sludge is Good for You-style manipulation.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 29 May 2005 16:42 (nineteen years ago) link

Topsy the Elephant had killed three people, and even if one of them had fed her a lit cigarette...

Also establishing the notion that most inmates executed under death penalties are either innocent or committed justifiable crimes.

Electrocuting an Elephant is the birth of the 20th century in nearly every conceivable way.

― L'Histoire d'Eric H. (Eric H.), Sunday, 29 May 2005 16:59 (nineteen years ago) link

Annabelle Serpentine Dance: BIG DANCING VAGINA.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 29 May 2005 16:59 (nineteen years ago) link

that edison boxset is insane!

― cozen (Cozen), Sunday, 29 May 2005 17:10 (nineteen years ago) link

It's really good, Cozen! I bought it a while back, and I still get a kick out of showing some of the stuff to friends.

― Remy (x Jeremy), Sunday, 29 May 2005 18:27 (nineteen years ago) link

i think my entire april paycheck went to box sets of silent films

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Sunday, 29 May 2005 19:21 (nineteen years ago) link

you should list what was on the receipt.

― L'Histoire d'Eric H. (Eric H.), Sunday, 29 May 2005 19:44 (nineteen years ago) link

three weeks pass...

http://www.cadrage.net/dossier/aelita.gif

Oh, now I remember where I saw this. On Chris Marker's Immemory. (It's on Netflix!)

― Eric H: not a troll, with one exception (Eric H.), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 16:08 (eighteen years ago) link

it's funny that protazanov (sp???) is primarily known in the west for that film, when he made really intense, sometimes beautiful and very moving, very slow, and verrrrrry russian dramas before and after the revolution. "father sergius" etc. SPOILERS: (that's the one where the monk chops off his finger so as to resist the temptation of a flirtatious crazy woman)

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 18:28 (eighteen years ago) link

(inspiring a collective "aieeeeeeeeee!!!!" from the audience, always.)

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 18:29 (eighteen years ago) link

http://www.silentfilm.org/

We're going to see

http://www.silentfilm.org/thebigparade.jpg

and

http://www.silentfilm.org/2005festival/thescarletletter/images/thescarletletter.jpg

'The Scarlet Letter'

― M. White (Miguelito), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 18:35 (eighteen years ago) link

both are extraordinary. the latter especially.

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Tuesday, 21 June 2005 18:37 (eighteen years ago) link

three months pass...

has anyone seen this buster keaton film? (not strictly silent.)

― N_RQ, Tuesday, 18 October 2005 08:25 (eighteen years ago) link

I have, and as the comments there would suggest, for completists only. From the bottom of Buster's derailed-career bottle. (I think there are clips in that 'A Hard Act to Follow' PBS biography they use just cuz you can see he has the shakes.)

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 18 October 2005 13:57 (eighteen years ago) link

hmmm, it's funny cos it's directed by what was basically a member of the uk avant-garde, who made little pastiche movies through the '20s. on the wants for now.

― N_RQ, Wednesday, 19 October 2005 07:38 (eighteen years ago) link

Well, that would make a strange precursor to that Beckett film Buster did the year before he died.

― Dr Morbius (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 19 October 2005 18:43 (eighteen years ago) link

three months pass...

Tonight I saw Sunrise for the first time in twelve years and the second time ever, and I'm still comfortable calling it my all-time favorite movie, if I have to have one.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 6 February 2006 03:22 (eighteen years ago) link

but what about janet gaynor's wig?

― Amateur(ist) (Amateur(ist)), Monday, 6 February 2006 04:24 (eighteen years ago) link

Is it a wig, though? Towards the end, there's a scene where her hair is long and damp and yet still blonde. Ish.

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 6 February 2006 04:28 (eighteen years ago) link

Er OK, I'm seeing a website that says it was a wig used in Murnau's Faust:

http://ec1.images-amazon.com/images/P/B00005ASOS.01._SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 6 February 2006 04:36 (eighteen years ago) link

(And holy shit take a look at this AMAZING film poster for Faust.)

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Monday, 6 February 2006 04:37 (eighteen years ago) link

Skipping 511 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.