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Overwhelmed...

87.112.17.167

In Reply to: RE: Sunrise (1927) posted by delboy on September 13, 2008 at 07:06:42

I had no idea there was such a passionate following for the silents. Thank you guys for your recommendations, it will keep me busy in the coming months.

The event was a huge success. Kevin gave a 1hr talk on the life and influences of David Lean. Unfortunately, as the projectionist I was more focussed on ensuring the selection of film clips were loaded and stopped in time and missed most of what he was saying, which was humourous and very well presented. He kindly gave me the paper copy of the speech and I have a list of the excerpts which I will follow up on (The Gold Rush, Mare Nostre, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse).

Sunrise was a revelation, the techniques, the performances, the humour shattered all my preconceptions about the silent era. The facial expressions on the barber were priceless. The drunken pig hilarious and utterly tasteless.

Lord Glasgow was an excellent and enthusiastic host and I got the impression every one of the fifty or so guests had a good night. I have a feeling it may happen again sometime soon.

Follow Ups:

Ooo! Chaplin, Murnau and Rex Ingram too? - Harmonia 20:08:53 09/14/08 (3)
All in one evening? And the topic was David Lean? With fifty guests...ohmygawd...

I have never seen Mare Nostrum. It wasn't readily available for many years. I have seen the restoration of Four Horseman and it holds up very well indeed, and of course contains the famous debut of Rudolf Valentino. Ingram also directed a famous and entertaining silent version Scaramouche - it was on TCM a few years ago. He did Prisoner of Zenda too...I would be interested to hear what Brownlow had to say about Ingram.

Ummm...about those notes...
- RE: Ooo! Chaplin, Murnau and Rex Ingram too? - delboy 01:39:46 09/15/08 (2)
  I'm sure Kevin will not mind a few quotes from his speech being put up here as he struck me as very generous. I will ask him of course and assuming he agrees will post some of his insight.
  
  I found a ton of stuff relating to Kevin on youtube yesterday. I was particularly interested in viewing the 'Hollywood' series he made in the eighties which is narrated by James Mason. I'm sure you would find it fascinating.
  - Thanks! - Harmonia 11:11:21 09/15/08 (1)
    I look forward to it. Mr. Brownlow has participated in several fine programs and commentaries, and he has written some of the most illuminating books on early cinema. There is no better guide through early film history I can think of. I recorded his wonderful Unknown Chaplin series on PBS back in the 80s - that's just one of the programs written/directed by Brownlow and David Gill and narrated by James Mason. Of course, the Chaplin series is on DVD now. Alas, not all of them were, last time I checked. They are all well worth seeking out - especially the ones on fellow comedians Buster Keaton and Harold Lloyd. They included interviews with co-workers and collaborators who passed away soon after these progams were produced.
    Since Patrick is fairly fuming, when you venture into 1930s sound films, allow me to urge you to include L'Atalante, by Jean Vigo on your list.
    My favorite French films of the thirties would have to be this film and Renoir's Rules Of the Game.
    
    Edits: 09/15/08 09/15/08 09/15/08
    - Good points Harmonia, I think I'll stick with silents for this thread, but... - Audiophilander 15:12:49 09/15/08 (0)
      ...your mention of L'Atlantic reminded me of another, perhaps greater film soon to be released (Region 2, PAL)!
      L'Argent (Open in New Window)

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