Trouble In Paradise

ALWAYS IN MY HEART (1942) photos

2012-01-29T19:58:00.000-05:00

Kay Francis, Walter Huston, Gloria Warren, Patti Hale and Frankie Thomas in ALWAYS IN MY HEART (1942).

THE MAN WHO LOST HIMSELF (1941) photos

2012-01-02T11:52:00.000-05:00

Kay Francis and Brian Aherne in THE MAN WHO LOST HIMSELF (1941).

WOMEN ARE LIKE THAT (1938) photos

2011-12-04T18:58:00.000-05:00

Kay Francis, Pat O'Brien. Thurston Hall and Joyce Compton in WOMEN ARE LIKE THAT (1938).

Blooper from kayfrancis.com
Trailer from TCM

Kay Francis by Sergio Gargiulo

2011-11-20T10:57:00.000-05:00

An original signed and dated sketch by Sergio Gargiulo. Sketch is for sale by owner. Please contact me for details.

Thanks to Aldo for the image

MY BILL (1938) photos

2011-11-13T14:11:00.000-05:00

Kay Francis, Dickie Moore, Bernice Pilot, Bonita Granville, Anita Louise and Bobby Jordan in MY BILL (1938).

Watch MY BILL (1938) original trailer at TCM

Rare Film Alert!! - THE GLORIOUS LADY (1919), THE RIGHT TO LOVE (1920)

2011-10-02T09:51:00.011-04:00

Thanks to Michelle Vogel for the heads-up. THE GLORIOUS LADY (1919) starring Olive Thomas, Matt Moore and Evelyn Brent can be previewed on line and purchased at ThoughtEquity.

A search of 1920 at the ThoughtEquity site will uncover rare gems BELOW THE SURFACE with Hobart Boswarth and Grace Darmond, THE RIGHT TO LOVE with Mae Murray, and DINTY with Colleen Moore. Happy hunting!

FIRST LADY (1937) photos

2011-09-25T12:50:00.000-04:00

Kay Francis, Preston Foster, Verree Teasdale, Marjorie Rambeau, Anita Loiuse, Grant Mitchell, and Henry O'Neill, in FIRST LADY (1937).

ANOTHER DAWN (1937) photos

2011-08-21T17:33:00.000-04:00

Kay Francis, Errol Flynn and Ian Hunter in ANOTHER DAWN (1937)

THE WHITE ANGEL (1936) photos

2011-07-17T19:31:00.001-04:00

Kay Francis, Ian Hunter, and Donald Crisp in THE WHITE ANGEL (1936).

Kay Francis Photo Art

2011-07-04T19:17:00.001-04:00

To view some stylish Kay Francis photo art by Claroscureaux and Ester, click on the photos below:

Kay Francis in STRANDED (1935) photos

2011-07-04T10:01:00.000-04:00

Kay Francis, George Brent, Joan Gay, June Travis, Patricia Ellis, Donald Woods and Robert Barrat in STRANDED (1935).

THE GOOSE AND THE GANDER (1935) photos

2011-06-19T20:24:00.000-04:00

Kay Francis, George Brent and Helen Lowell in THE GOOSE AND THE GANDER (1935).

THE GOOSE AND THE GANDER reviews at Silents and Talkies, Mystery * File and The New York Times.

LIVING ON VELVET (1935) photos

2011-06-12T19:08:00.000-04:00

Kay Francis, Warren William and George Brent in LIVING ON VELVET (1935).

WONDER BAR (1934) photos

2011-06-05T19:28:00.001-04:00

Kay Francis and Al Jolson in WONDER BAR (1934).

I LOVED A WOMAN (1933) photos

2011-05-29T19:45:00.000-04:00

Kay Francis, Edward G. Robinson and George Blackwood in I LOVED A WOMAN (1933).

MARY STEVENS, M.D. (1933) photos

2011-05-22T18:15:00.000-04:00

Kay Francis, Lyle Talbot and Glenda Farrell in MARY STEVENS, M.D. (1933)

DARKENED ROOMS Film Herald and Evelyn Brent Lucky Strike Place-Card

2011-05-15T19:04:00.002-04:00

Evelyn Brent and Neil Hamilton in DARKENED ROOMS (1929)

JEWEL ROBBERY (1932)

2011-05-14T18:11:00.000-04:00

Kay Francis and William Powell in JEWEL ROBBERY (1932).

GUILTY HANDS (1931)

2011-05-08T11:26:00.000-04:00

Kay Francis, Lionel Barrymore and Alan Mowbray in GUILTY HANDS (1932).

ONE WAY PASSAGE (1932)

2011-05-01T16:46:00.000-04:00

Kay Francis, William Powell and Warren Hymer in ONE WAY PASSAGE (1932)

A Century of Sound, The History of Sound in Motion Pictures: The Beginning 1876-1932

2011-04-25T18:23:00.004-04:00

For those interested in an obtaining an outstanding documentary on the history (form a mostly U.S. perspective) of sound in motion pictures, go to The Rick Chace Foundation Website. From the website: "This educational DVD is now available free of charge ($10 shipping and handling fee) to qualifying institutions, schools, historians, researchers, scholars and other non-profit organizations."

DVD review with screenshots at Summer O' Babylon

Review at David Bordwell's website on cinema

More film sound history and links at FilmSound.org

THE VIRTUOUS SIN (1930)

2011-04-24T17:43:00.000-04:00

Kay Francis, Kenneth MacKenna and Walter Huston in THE VIRTUOUS SIN (1930)

MAZURKA (1935) subtitles / Did Kay Francis do her own singing in CONFESSION (1937)?

2011-04-23T09:14:00.006-04:00

I'm looking for an English, Spanish, French or Italian subtitle file (.srt) for MAZURKA (1935). Thanks!

Does anyone know if Kay Francis did her own singing in CONFESSION?

video courtesy of Taylormayes

BEHIND THE MAKE UP (1930)

2011-04-17T20:04:00.000-04:00

William Powell, Kay Francis and Paul Lukas in BEHIND THE MAKE UP (1930)

ILLUSION (1929)

2011-04-16T19:38:00.000-04:00

(left to right) Regis Toomey, Paul Lukas, Charles 'Buddy' Rogers, Kay Francis and Nancy Carroll in ILLUSION (1929)

(note on back of photo) NOVEL CAMERA CRANE a special camera crane was built by Paramount to film the lavish banquet scene in "Illusion", all-talking adaption of Arthur Turin's novel.

Unheimliche Geschichten (Uncanny Stories) 1932

2011-04-10T20:59:00.004-04:00

HILFE!

I'm looking for either an English subtitled release, or an English, Spanish, French or Italian subtitle file (.srt) for the 1932 version of Unheimliche Geschichten (Uncanny Stories). Thanks!

DANGEROUS CURVES 1929

2011-04-09T17:20:00.006-04:00

Clara Bow, Kay Francis and Richard Arlen in DANGEROUS CURVES.

Cinefest 2011 Report

2011-04-03T18:50:00.214-04:00

Cinefest 31 Syracuse N.Y. March17-20, 2011

Some requests and disclaimers:
Post contains spoilers.
Comments are welcome, but PLEASE, no hate mail from those who disagree with opinions expressed on this blog.
Post will continue to be edited for spelling, grammar and punctuation.

Please notify me;
Of any copyright violations and the offending post will be edited or deleted,
If I failed to properly credit a source,
If link removal is requested,
About errors, corrections, typos, etc.

All silent films were given first rate accompaniment by Dr. Andrew Simpson and Ben Mode l.

THE IDOL OF SEVILLE 1932

Two reel version of Bizet’s CARMEN produced by Educational Pictures, directed by Howard Higgin and starring Rene Denny as Carmen. This very rare short showcases an impressive interior set, lavish costuming and some nicely done songs, but as for Denny's Carmen…en fuego she is not. Overall, THE IDOL OF SEVILLE was a relatively pleasing short film.

FORGOTTEN COMMANDMENTS 1932

Paramount’s FORGOTTEN COMMANDMENTS was directed by Louis Gasnier and William Schorr and includes extensive archive footage from DeMille’s 1923 silent THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. This fun film stars Gene Raymond as Paul Ossipoff, a handsome dolt, Marguerite Churchill as his decent wife Marya, top billed Sari Maritza as the seductress Anya, and Irving Pichel as Professor Marinoff.

The story concerns whether eager party member Paul Ossipoff will choose temptress Anya, symbol of everything not bourgeois, the embodiment of amoral, godless communism, or wife Maria, wholesome, domestic minded representative of the Christian valued West. Professor Marinoff personifies communism in all its cold, emotionless, nationalistic glory. Paul has on the Professor what youths of today would call a man crush. Even though the respected Marinoff fervently espouses the tenets of Marxism to Paul, it’s Sari Maritza’s irresistible Anya who effortlessly steals his heart and soul.

DeMille’s THE TEN COMMANDMENTS footage is impressive. Original film titles are used along with narration to parallel the corrupted, false idol worshipping Ancient Israelites with followers of communism, the contemporary Golden Calf. Even though the misguided Bolsheviks of our story don't suffer an epic, Old Testament like demise, be rest assured that goodness triumphs. The red threat eventually collapses under its own hypocrisy, wickedness is punished, and even the most zealous Marxist sees the light and converts to the side of righteousness.

Some amusing lines such as “Don't keep calling me “darling.” It's bourgeois” kept the audience laughing throughout. Judging by Paul’s reaction, for a card carrying communist to be called bourgeois is a grave insult. Gene Raymond is watchable, Marguerite Churchill suffered well as his dutiful wife, Sari Maritza sizzled and Irving Pichel, generally an enjoyable ham, kept histrionics in check. Despite (or depending on your outlook, because of) some heavy handed symbolism, unintentionally funny dialogue, and ill advised narration over titles, FORGOTTEN COMMANDMENTS was an enjoyable film. The audience certainly approved.

GLORIOUS BETSY 1928

Directed by Alan Crosland, GLORIOUS BETSY is a romantic adventure tale based on the 1908 play by Rida Johnson Young about the relationship between Jerome Bonaparte (Conrad Nagel) and Elizabeth Patterson (Dolores Costello). Those expecting a silent film with awkward, out of place sound sequences will be pleasantly surprised by this reasonably entertaining film. A 16mm silent print was screened with first rate accompaniment by Ben Model. The plot revolves around the romance between Elizabeth Patterson and her French teacher. Elizabeth doesn't know her teacher is really Jerome Bonaparte. She eventually learns his true identity and they are wed, but Jerome’s brother Napoleon disapproves of the union.

Conrad Nagel, oftentimes a hambone, acquits himself rather well as Jerome. Although not possessing the debonair qualities of a Barrymore or Gilbert, he is not without swagger and makes an entirely serviceable, If not lively, romantic adventure hero. If you weren't familiar with Dolores Costello’s work, by the second close up you'll be a fan. By the fifth close-up you'll be a big fan. By the tenth close up you'll love her. She's an amazing beauty. This film should have been called Glorious Dolores. The camera absolutely adores her and she is superbly photographed by Hal Mohr.

Nagel lost a few performance points for his on-screen lovemaking, which was, at times, over the top. What Jerome does to Betsy in the privacy of her garden would, if done publicly, likely get him arrested. One wonders just where the acting begins and ends. Nagel must have also adored Costello’s face judging by the amount of kisses he lavished all over it. In one of his more passionate moments he managed to get rather well acquainted with her bosom. In all fairness, others in his shoes would have likely done the same. The scene is an example (albeit silent) of the type of overheated on-screen lovemaking that is often referred to as a catalyst in destroying the talkie film career of John Gilbert via HIS GLORIOUS NIGHT, and typifies the less than subtle performances during the transitional silent to sound period that were wickedly parodied in SINGIN’ IN THE RAIN. If this particular sequence in GLORIOUS BETSY had been selected for use with synchronized sound, perhaps the discussion would be about the career ending talkie debut of Conrad Nagel and a different, less cruel fate would have awaited John Gilbert. Well, I can dream, can’t I? Costello gives a good performance as the coquettish Baltimore belle, though there was a scene where I couldn't determine whether she was trying to express bewilderment or worry. Reacting to Nagel, perhaps she was conveying both.

Costello’s beauty isn't the only reason to see this film, though it is a very good reason. The film holds up on its own as a romantic adventure with credit going to director Alan Crosland. Noted singer Pasquale Amato, in his only screen appearance, does fine as Napoleon and John Miljan is effective as a villainous cad.

RAY FAIOLA’S TRAILER MANIA – THROUGH THE YEARS WITH COLUMBIA

Ray Faiola presented a very entertaining program featuring a generous dose of lively, fast paced Columbia Studio trailers from the mid 1930’s to the 1950’s.

HAPPINESS 1917

Directed by Reginald Barker, starring Enid Bennett, Charles Gunn, Thelma Salter, Adele Belgrade and Jack Gilbert. A friendless young girl finds love. This leisurely paced, simple story, which portrays basic human emotions in the most straightforward manner, makes for a very effective film. Enid Bennett is appealing and gives a subtle performance, ably conveying the pain felt by a lonely, sheltered girl. A young Jack Gilbert is fun as a likeable cad and makes the role his own.

DENNY FROM IRELAND 1918

Only one incomplete print of DENNY FROM IRELAND survives and the Cinefest crowd was fortunate for the opportunity to view this rarity. Shorty Hamilton portrays Denny O'Hara, an unlucky Irishman finding himself in a wee bit of trouble that necessitates hasty departure from his beloved Emerald Isle – and I don't mean North Carolina. Arriving in the United States, his fortunes change for the better after befriending a fellow expatriate. Shorty, a simple man, makes some very poor decisions and once again finds himself in a serious dilemma. This time luck is on his side and he manages, through no fault of his own, to come out practically unscathed. This would not be described as a sophisticated filmmaking even in 1918, but was likely popular fare with its target audience.

WHAT PRICE GLORY? 1926

Rousing war film expertly directed by Raoul Walsh and well acted by the entire cast. I'd seen this film several times before on the small screen, but the impact from viewing a 16mm print with live accompaniment was considerable. This epic film, which spawned two sequels, covers the martial and romantic adventures of friendly enemies Sgt. Quirt (Edmund Lowe) and Capt. Flagg (Victor McLaglen), two career marines fighting, loving and laughing their way through WWI.

Though incessantly battling each other over women, they manage to conserve enough hostility to fight the Hun. The pair's rivalry becomes even more heated after they fall for Charmaine, a beautiful French peasant girl well played by the beautiful Dolores Del Rio. The movie shifts between comedy and serious drama and includes some very impressive night battle scenes. Despite abundant stereotypes and heavy reliance on broad comedy, this remains overall a very compelling film. Inspired accompaniment by Dr. Andrew Simpson, particularly during the battle sequences, made for a powerful film going experience.

AMERICAS LITTLE LAMB 1928

Cute short produced by Fox Film Corporation about sheep farming from the animal's perspective features some nicely photographed vistas and well composed shots.

MUSIC IN THE AIR 1934

Lively, clever, well done musical comedy had plenty of talent associated with the production including Joe May, Gloria Swanson, John Boles, June Lang, Douglass Montgomery, Oscar Hammerstein, Jerome Kern and Billy Wilder. So naturally it was a box office failure.

The plot revolves around the personal and professional entanglements encountered by amateur provincial musical artists after bringing their operetta to the big city. Once there, the novice players and young lovers Karl (Montgomery) and Sieglinde (Lang) meet renowned theatrical couple Frieda (Swanson) and Bruno (Boles). Frieda hungrily pursues inexperienced beefcake Karl, Bruno charms the lovely young Sieglinde and trouble ensues for all. Swanson is superb as a stage diva. Boles is amusing as her egocentric on and off-stage partner, Montgomery is appealing as the juvenile and Lang is gorgeous in the ingénue role.

THE NEWLYWEDS’ PEST 1929

Hugely popular child star Sunny Jim McKeen starred as “Snookums” in a series of late 1920s two-reel shorts about various comedic mishaps caused by an impish tyke. Judging from the edited version screened, this appeared to be an uninspired entry in the series. Also in the cast was Jack Egan, who would go on to lead roles in two rare 1929 Columbia musicals, THE BROADWAY HOOFER and BROADWAY SCANDALS.

MANNEQUIN 1926

Directed by James Cruze, and starring Alice Joyce, Warner Baxter, Dolores Costello, Zasu Pits and Walter Pidgeon.

A beautiful 16mm print was viewed. Good drama about a couple's unexpected reunion with their daughter who had been kidnapped years before. Well acted by the entire cast with Pitts a standout.

INFORMATION PLEASE 1940

Humorous, entertaining short notable for the repartee and witty retorts between guests Boris Karloff, Oscar Levant, Franklin P. Adams, Alice Marble and host Clifton Fadiman.

HE WAS HER MAN 1929

More art film than mainstream fare, this innovative, stylized short film expertly blends Blues music, melodrama and song and dance with evocative wardrobe and dreary sets, infusing the viewer with the smoky, boozy atmosphere of a sleazy dive bar. Based on the song FRANKIE AND JOHNNY, all the film's varied visual and audio elements were combined so effectively they hung like a dark cloud over the characters, creating a sense of impending tragedy. Auteur Dudley Murphy obviously had a vision for this short. Direction, Photography and Art Direction were all first rate. Starring Gilda Grey and Walter Fenner.

THE BISCUIT EATER 1940

Directed by Stuart Heisler, starring Billy Lee, Cordell Hickman and Richard Lane. Touching story about a father and his young son brought closer through their relationship with an underachieving bird dog.

Well directed and acted film includes some nice outdoor shots of bird dogs in the field. Also explores the tradition and culture of dog breeding and raising.

THE SILENT TRAILER SHOW

This was another very entertaining program presented at the festival and showcased numerous silent film trailers. It provided viewers with a chance to see some rare film excerpts and in some cases the only extant footage of lost films. Trailers screened included; DETECTIVES 1928, THE HEAD MAN 1928, FORBIDDEN HOURS 1928, KEEPER OF THE BEES 1928, A CERTAIN YOUNG MAN 1928 and several others.

THE HUSHED HOUR 1919

Directed by Edmund Mortimor and starring Winter Hall, Lydia Knott, Wilfred Lucas, Blanche Sweet, Milton Sills and Gloria Hope.

An Interesting cast and film afforded the audience a rare opportunity to watch actress Gloria Hope. My favorite segment was the near the end of the film with Buck Blodgett (Harry Northrup) loving and desperately yearning for love in return from his cold, unresponsive wife Virginia (Blanche Sweet).

DEVIL'S LOTTERY 1932

Morality, vengeance, justice and redemption are the themes explored in this well acted pre-code film. Victor McLaglen, Elissa Landi, Alexander Kirkland and Ralph Morgan star.

WOLF SONG 1929

Directed by Victor Fleming, starring Gary Coooper, Lupe Velez and Louis Wolheim.

Well directed, entertaining film most notable for Gary Cooper's so-called nude scene, which elicited giggles of delight from several ladies and a few gentlemen seated behind me. Also worth noting was the Cooper and Velez dance scene, which made up in primal passion what it lacked in technical virtuosity. The fire from Valentino's torrid tango in FOUR HORSEMAN OF THE APOCALYPSE and the slow burn from Garbo and Gilbert's smoldering, sensual waltz in FLESH AND THE DEVIL are comparable to the amount of heat that emanated from the screen during the Cooper/Velez two-step. Whew…I can't believe I just wrote that.

Although it was reported that their romance had cooled such during shooting that only acrimony remained, I could find no onscreen evidence. The chemistry between the two was palpable and they set the screen on fire. Then again, it's been said that there's a thin line between love and hate, so I might have interpreted lingering glances between the two as passionate rather than tempestuous. The plot, as it is, concerns coarse frontiersman Sam Lash (Cooper) marrying lovely Spanish girl Lola Salazar (Velez). As the wide open spaces continue to beckon, Sam finds it increasingly difficult to remain domesticated and defy the call of the wild. The crowd seemed pleased both with the film and the fine accompaniment by Dr. Andrew Simpson.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND 1931

Ruth Gilbert is delightful as Alice and the best thing about this odd, plodding independent short film shot in Fort Lee New Jersey.

FOILED 1931

The opportunity to see a very rare short film and to hear some unintentionally funny dialogue are the reasons to see this episode in the William J. Burns Detective series produced by Educational.

A SONG IN THE DARK – The Birth of the Musical Film. Hosted by Richard Barrios

A Song in the Dark author Richard Barrios introduced many delightful film clips from Dawn of Sound musicals, my favorite early sound cinema genre. A few of the many clips screened included Maurice Chevalier and Evelyn Brent in the Lubitsch directed APACHE DANCE segment from PARAMOUNT ON PARADE, an excerpt of Wheeler and Woolsey with Dorothy Lee in glorious two color from RIO RITA not included in the circulated print, Lupino Lane singing and performing an acrobatic dance from the legendary GOLDEN DAWN, the toe-tapping SINGING IN THE RAIN finale from HOLLYWOOD REVUE OF 1929 and Buddy Rogers in an impressively choreographed song and dance number from SAFETY IN NUMBERS.

SUNSHINE DAD 1916

Directed by Eddie Dillon, story and screenplay by Tod Browning, Chester Withey and F.M. Pierson, starring DeWolf Hopper Sr., Fay Tincher, Chester Witney, Max Davidson, Jewell Carmen, Eugene Pallette, with Lillian Gish and Wallace Reid in cameos. Plenty of talent was on board for this funny, fast paced comedy. My notes are incomplete on this one, but from what I remember the story involves mystics, swamis, vamps and other assorted crazy characters chasing after some sacred jewels in what I suspect may have been an all-in-one spoof of various genre and sub-genre films and characters popular at the time. I found DeWolf Hopper Sr. to be particularly funny as a blustery, broke and on the make actor.

LOVE COMES ALONG 1930

Directed by Rupert Julian and starring Bebe Daniels, Lloyd Hughes, Montagu Love and Ned Sparks with songs by Oscar Levant and Sidney Clare.

Bebe's follow up to RIO RITA and another example of an early sound seriotragimusicomedy, or STMC for short. LOVE COMES ALONG had just about everything Rio Rita did - except in much smaller, less satisfying, black and white portions and sans Wheeler and Woolsey. The plot concerns an influential scoundrel's attempts to thwart lifelong happiness between a tough-talking dame with a soft heart and a boastful sailor with a soft head. Peggy (Bebe Daniels) cracks wise more often than Johnny (Lloyd Hughes) hitches up his sailor pants, and that’s saying something.

Beebe is at her best emoting during the singing scenes, especially during the final rendition of UNTIL LOVE COMES ALONG. As Peggy pours her heart out to lost love, she is overcome with emotion and eventually breaks down. It's a wonderful scene and the best the film has to offer. Bebe is also afforded some beautiful gowns to wear and looks stunning. Hughes is bland but serviceable as the love interest. Ned Sparks plays a perpetually drunk sidekick named “Happy” and has a few - too few - good lines. Montagu Love obviously relished his role as the villainous Sangredo. Just a fair film worth seeing for Bebe Daniels.

THE WOMAN AND THE PUPPET 1920

Directed by Reginald Barker and starring Geraldine Farrar and Lou Tellegen. The plot concerns well-to-do ladies man Don Mateo Diaz falling hard for commoner Concha Perez. It's not long before the lovely but hot-tempered Concha has Don Mateo wrapped around her little finger and their stormy relationship leaves him an emotionally shattered, shell of a man.

Ferrar has definite screen presence and is convincing as the untamed, emotionally abusive woman. Tellegen is effective as the battered boyfriend.

THE MICHIGAN KID 1928

Directed by Irvin Willat and starring Renee Adoree and Conrad Nagel. The audience viewed the thrilling, nail-bitingly effective rapids scene which contained amazing special effects and proved to be an impressive piece of filmmaking.

BURGLAR BY PROXY 1919

Directed by John Francis Dillon and starring Jack Pickford, Gloria Hope and John Francis Dillon.

This was the second film of the festival to feature actress Gloria Hope. Perhaps someday I'll get the opportunity to see her in 1919’s TOO MUCH JOHNSON. Plot involves innocent bystander Jack Robin (Pickford) mistaken for a “Jimmy Valentine” type safecracker. Jack Pickford is not without talent, but here proves to be just an ordinary juvenile lead, unable to lift this tale above mildly diverting. Director Jack Dillon appears in a supporting role as “Spider” and tries his best liven things up.

LONESOME 1928

Directed by Pal Fejos and starring Barbara Kent and Glenn Tryon.

One of my favorite films is a beautifully told story about two lonely people who find each other. I'd only seen the silent print before, so it was a treat to finally see the sound sequence version. The first talkie sequence at the beach is a nicely done, suitably understated scene reflecting the awkward anxiety of budding romance and flows well enough with the previously silent portion of the film. The other two talkie sequences, however, especially the belabored scene at the police station, are incongruous and rather jarring. Thankfully, these awkward talking scenes do little to dampen the overall effect of this wonderful film.

Masterfully directed by Fejos, who vividly transforms Coney Island’s Luna Park from joyous delight for lovers united, to heartlessly cruel for lovers divided. Kent and Tryon as the girl and boy next door are both charming and likeable.

THE STORY OF TEMPLE DRAKE 1933

A stunning 35mm print, beautiful photography by Karl Struss and fine performances made this film one of the highlights of the festival. The plot revolves around WASPy southern socialite Temple Drake, a bad girl from a good family. She realizes that fully exploring her peculiar proclivities would open Pandora's Box, so she remains an unconscionable tease.

Unfortunately, fate, amongst other things, places her in an uncomfortable position where the box is opened for her. Based on William Faulkner's novel SANCTUARY. Talented Steven Roberts directed, adeptly using lingering, extreme close-ups focused on the menace drenched face of unforgettable bad guy “Trigger”, superbly played by Jack LaRue. Miriam Hopkins is outstanding as Temple Drake.

THE FLAMING FOREST 1926

Robust, grand adventure tale takes place in the Canadian wilderness and details the lawlessness that necessitated the formation of the Royal North West Mounted Police.
Starring Antonio Moreno and the lovely and talented Renee Adoree.

JAZZMANIA 1923

Amusing and sometimes silly comedy about Queen Ninon (Mae Murray), ruler of the land known as Jazzmania. The film is strictly a vehicle to showcase the talents and personality of Mae Murray

*HARRY FOX AND HIS SIX AMERICAN BEAUTIES 1929

Although I was familiar with Harry Fox's earlier work as an actor through available episodes of the 1916 serial BEATRICE FAIRFAX, I was always curious as to what one of his vaudeville performances might look like. The restoration of the 1929 Vitaphone short HARRY FOX AND HIS SIX AMERICAN BEAUTIES has made that possible. Harry Fox, the man who may or may not have originated the fox-trot, was born Harry Messman in San Francisco in 1882. Fox was already a longtime successful musical theater performer and vaudeville headliner before appearing in this 8 min. short. He had worked his way up from café entertainer and burlesque performer before coming to prominence around 1909 as a vaudeville solo act. He then went on to partner with The Melnotte Twins, The Millership Sisters, and then later formed on and off stage partnerships with both Yancsi Dolly and Beatrice Curtis. This Vitaphone short shows Fox to be a talented, confident performer. He gives an amusing performance and shows off a capable singing voice. Also known as an eccentric dancer, he unfortunately doesn't display that talent in this short. If anyone gets a chance to view this short, keep your eyes on the six American beauties to see if you can recognize one of the girls. Here's a hint: she would go on to become a famous and beloved film comedienne. A few years after making this short Fox would team with Evelyn Brent on a successful Vaudeville tour. The two teamed as well in a successful offstage partnership that would last until his death in 1959.

*Originally reviewed for Capitolfest 2010

POOR JAKES DEMISE 1913

All eyes on Lon Chaney mugging shamelessly as a mincing, flamboyant dandy.

LESSONS IN LOVE 1921

Enjoyable film with Constance Talmadge perfect as an heiress masquerading as a maid in order to put a potential beau through his paces. Kenneth Harlan also stars.

THE PHANTOM PRESIDENT 1932

Entertaining film contains good performances and several lively, eccentric musical segments.
Some of George M. Cohan's patented dance moves showcased in THE PHANTOM PRESIDENT (and presumably originating from the stage) can also be seen, done spot on by Cagney as Cohan, in YANKEE DOODLE DANDY.

THE AUCTION - Hosted by Leonard Martin, Lafe McKee, Jr. and Paul Doherty

Leonard Maltin was a good natured, entertaining host/auctioneer and kept things moving along. There were some wonderful lots and great deals to be had.

Capitolfest 2010 Report

2010-08-16T13:52:00.161-04:00

Capitolfest Report Day 1, August 13, 2010 at the Rome Elks Club Rome, N.Y.

All films were shown in 16mm and featured excellent accompaniment by Avery Tunningly.

KING OF THE RODEO 1929

The 1929 silent feature KING OF THE RODEO stars Hoot Gibson as The Montana Kid. The “Kid’s” fondess for racing horses over a college education gets him booted off his family’s Montana ranch by his disapproving father. The "Kid" and his two sidekicks (Slim Summervile and Jack Krapp) travel to Chicago - via horse and saddle - and take part in the Chicago Rodeo. While there he meets, flirts with and wins over pretty Dulcie Harlan (Kathryn Crawford), competes in the rodeo, and even manages to capture a thief who not only stole his white shirt, but the Rodeo box office as well. This act of courage finally enables the “Kid” to gain his unyielding father's approval. A fun film that features lots of exciting authentic rodeo footage from Soldier Field and some nice location shots of Chicago.

THE LEATHER PUSHERS - ROUND TWO 1922

Courtesy of serialsquadron

The LEATHER PUSHERS series of silent comedy/drama shorts starred Reginald Denny as former wealthy college athlete Kane Halliday now a down on his luck boxer by the name of Kid Roberts. This short is titled ROUND TWO and revolves around the "Kid" being depressed from thinking back about his relationship with wealthy fiancé Irene (Helen Toombs) and his current hand to mouth existence as a “leather pusher.” Cute comedy that also depicts some seedier aspects of boxing's lower rung and the assorted denizens who inhabit it. The short also shows Denny and cast in some authentic Central Park location footage.

THE COLLEGIANS - THE RELAY 1929

Courtesy of tvdays.com

If video below doesn't work, click HERE to watch THE COLLEGIANS-THE RELAY 1929

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0130219/

The Collegians series of silent comedy shorts were a series of 44 shorts spanning four years (1926-1929) which followed the antics of a group of mostly likeable young adults making their way through college. THE RELAY, directed by Wesley Ruggles, was the seventh in the series and starred George Lewis with future stars Sally Blane, Andy Devine and Robert Livingston also in the cast. THE RELAY offers a generous dose of healthy, good looking men and women participating in various college hijinks, pranks, fights, dances, athletic competitions and other assorted craziness all crammed into two reels. It’s a fun comedy short and I would like to see more of this series.

FROGLAND 1924

Courtesy of robberdotcom

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0014063/

FROGLAND (LES GRENOUILLES QUI DEMANDENT UN ROI) or THE FROGS WHO WANTED A KING is a fascinating short animated film by Ladislaus Starevitch. This short was evidently intended to be a satire or parable of a political situation or event of the time. Exactly what I have no idea but it held everyone's interest throughout the 9 minute running time.

HIS PEOPLE 1925

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0015918/

http://www.silentera.com/PSFL/data/H/HisPeople1925.html

HIS PEOPLE aka PROUD HEART was directed by Edward Sloman and starred Rudolph Schildkraut, George Lewis, Rosa Rosanova, Arthur Lubin, Blanche Mehaffey and Kate Price. This fine silent drama follows an Jewish immigrant father's sacrifices and struggles raising a family on New York's Lower East Side with particular focus on his complex relationship with his two sons. Acting is uniformly excellent from the stars down to the supporting players and the film features authentic settings of a Lower East Side tenement and neighborhood.

Capitolfest Report Day 2. August 14, 2010 at the Capitol Theater Rome N.Y. All films were shown in 35mm.

BILLY “SWEDE” HALL AND HIS COMPANY IN "HILDA" 1929

U.S. debut of the Vitaphone short with Billy “Swede” Hall as a Swedish cleaning lady named Hilda. Judging by this short I could say Billy “Swede” Hall was a comic genius, underappreciated by contemporary audiences and unjustly ignored by his peers. A man whose comedic legacy sat languishing in relative obscurity these many years, patiently awaiting re-discovery and re-assessment by a sophisticated audience possessing the ability to understand and appreciate the brilliant subtleties of his unique brand of humor. Someone whose time had finally come after evidence of his great talent had been discovered and rescued from previously unexplored depths of Vaudeville's murky past. But I won't because I'd be lying. Billy “Swede” Hall's drag comedy ranges from slightly amusing to pure cornball. There is nothing subtle about his character "Hilda" nor is there meant to be. Needless to say I like this short for those very reasons and also for allowing me a glimpse into a past, previously lost record of Vaudeville where many long forgotten performers didn't possess the talent of a Headliner, but perhaps believed they did.

THE VIRTUOUS HUSBAND 1931

THE VIRTUOUS HUSBAND is a 1931 Universal feature starring festival tribute performer Jean Arthur. Also with Elliot Nugent, Betty Compson, J.C. Nugent, Alison Skipworth and Tully Marshall. The plot revolves around the difficulties encountered by a newly wedded wife whose husband remains tied to his deceased mother's apron strings via a series of advice letters full of not very good advice. Good cast in a generally well acted adaption of the Dorance Davis play APRON STRINGS. Jean Arthur does well as a very patient bride. Elliott Nugent plays the dense husband. Alison Skipworth and J.C. Nugent make a good comedy team and provide plenty of laughs with their portrayal of domineering wife and milquetoast husband. Betty Compson isn't given much to do with her limited screen time. The outdoor scenes feature nice photography and include attractive close-ups of Jean Arthur. There is some clever dialogue and plenty of funny situations throughout. All in all this was quite an enjoyable early comedy.

MODERN LOVE 1929

Part talkie comedy feature from 1929 with Charley Chase and Kathryn Crawford and includes Jean Hersholt and Anita Garvin in support. The film is comprised of silent, synchronized sound and talking segments. Modern Love depicts the trials and tribulations of everyman John Jones (Charley Chase) as he clashes with career driven wife Patricia (Kathryn Crawford). John's desire to appease Patricia results in humorous situations which get even sillier after an amorous Frenchman (is there any other kind?) sets his sights on her. Although there are some rough patches throughout where not everything works, the film does contain some funny bits. Chase and Crawford are seen to best advantage during the silent segments and Anita Garvin makes the most of her scene. Being a Charley Chase fan, this was one of the films I was really looking forward to viewing at the festival.

DRUG STORE COWBOY 1925

Drug Store Cowboy is a silent western with Franklyn Farnum, Robert Walker and Jean Arthur. In what may be a case of art imitating life, Boston born Farnum portrays Marmaduke Grandon, a greenhorn from back east who goes west to become a film Cowboy. Lots of good guy vs. bad guy cowboy action and Jean Arthur stands around looking pretty, which is nice.

PARAMOUNT ON PARADE 1930

Evelyn Brent and Maurice Chevalier in PARAMOUNT ON PARADE

Featuring an All Star Cast. One of the main reasons I attended this year's event was to see the restored 100 min. version of this film. One of the best of the early talking All Star Studio revue films, PARAMOUNT ON PARADE is filled with entertaining performances. Although difficult to pick favorites with so many enjoyable sequences, audience choices appeared to be Maurice Chevalier and Evelyn Brent in the Lubitsch directed ORIGIN OF THE APACHE, regarded as one of the best sequences in the film and one which received some of the loudest applause. Clara Bow’s confident and polished musical performance in the TRUE TO THE NAVY sequence also received loud and sustained applause. The restored two-strip Technicolor sequences included TORNA A SORRENTO with Nino Martini displaying his celebrated singing voice. Although visually pleasing, the DRINK TO THE GIRL OF MY DREAMS was missing the sound elements. Dennis King's commanding presence dominates the NICHAVO sequence. The ISADORE THE TOREADOR sequence with dialect comedian Harry Green features Kay Francis' lone appearance in a color film. Kay had just one line and her role is purely ornamental. Unfortunately the sound elements for this sequence also remain lost. Or so everyone thought. Here's some great news. Evidently one of the projectionists had in his collection a set of sound discs for this sequence and the sound elements were played for the audience. Folks, please check your attic. UCLA will be doing a restoration of the sequence with the newly found sound discs.

FORBIDDEN ADVENTURE AKA NEWLY RICH 1931

An absolutely beautiful print of this film was screened at the Capitol theater. This 1931 film is a send up of the Hollywood child actor and stage mother phenomenon with scene stealing actors Mitzi Green, Edna May Oliver, Louise Fazenda and Jackie Searle leading the cast. Stage mothers Bessie Tait (Edna May Oliver) and Maggie Tiffany (Louise Fazenda) reap the fruits of their children's labor. Famous but unhappy child actress Daisy Tait (Mitzi Green) just wants her childhood back. Mitzi Green proves to be an exceptional child actress and carries the more emotional scenes. Edna May Oliver and Louise Fazenda provide laughs as former friends who are now uneasy rivals. I'm curious to know if Don Knotts was familiar with Edna May Oliver's comedy performances and facial expressions. He seems to have employed similar facial mannerisms in his role as Barney Fife on the Andy Griffith Show.

POOR AUBREY 1930

George Kelly’s domestic comedy in one act POOR AUBREY was filmed in 1930 as a Vitaphone short with Franklin Pangborn, Helen Ferguson, Ruth Lyons and Clara Blandick. POOR AUBREY is a reasonably amusing comedy revolving around gasbag Aubrey Piper’s (Franklin Pangborn) hapless attempts to put on airs in order to impress his wife’s friend.

WOMANHANDLED 1925

WOMANHANDLED is Gregory La Cava directed silent comedy starring Richard Dix as wealthy playboy Bill Dana and Esther Ralston as Mollie, the object of his affection. After a chance encounter in Central Park, Bill becomes smitten with the lovely Molly and would like nothing more than to make her his one and only. When Bill learns that Mollie prefers Western tough guys to Eastern softies he decides to trade his Manhattan polo pony for a Montana bronco. The comedy follows Bill's attempts to toughen up on his uncle's Western ranch, but the rough-and-tumble West just ain't what it used to be. This was an enjoyable comedy with plenty of humorous situations. I actually preferred the beginning portion of the film where the action took place in the East and felt the film lost just a little bit of steam after the scenes moved out West. The lead and supporting roles were well played and Esther Ralston looked stunning. I don't have a name to credit for the excellent accompaniment due to my notes being incomplete for this entry.

FISH FEATHERS 1932

FISH FEATHERS is a two-reel RKO comedy short starring Edgar Kennedy and Florence Lake as married couple Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy and Dot Farley and William Eugene portraying Edgar's ever present In-Laws. The comedy revolves around a Kennedy family fishing trip which quickly degenerates into a fiasco. Although this short had the potential to be a great comedy - and there are some funny gags - it doesn't quite make it. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It's still an entertaining short.

SCANDAL FOR SALE 1932

A beautiful 35mm print was shown. SCANDAL FOR SALE is a potent newspaper drama starring Charles Bickford as hard-nosed newspaper editor Jerry Strong, Rose Hobart as his neglected wife, and Pat O’Brien as ace reporter and loyal family friend. Newspaperman Jerry Strong's uncompromising dedication to his work leads to disastrous results for those closest to him. The three leads give good performances with Bickford particularly effective. Look for unbilled Glenda Farrell as an unrepentant murderess.

Capitolfest Report Day 3. August 15, 2010 at the Capitol Theater Rome N.Y. All films were shown in 35mm.

HARRY FOX AND HIS SIX AMERICAN BEAUTIES 1930

Although I was familiar with Harry Fox’s earlier work as an actor through available episodes of the 1916 serial BEATRICE FAIRFAX, I was always curious as to what one of his vaudeville performances might look like. The restoration of the 1930 Vitaphone short HARRY FOX AND HIS SIX AMERICAN BEAUTIES has made that possible. Harry Fox, the man who may or may not have originated the fox-trot, was born Harry Messman in San Francisco in 1882. Fox was already a longtime successful musical theater performer and vaudeville headliner before appearing in this 8 min. short. He had worked his way up from café entertainer and burlesque performer before coming to prominence around 1909 as a vaudeville solo act. He then went on to partner with The Melnotte Twins, The Millership Sisters, and then later formed on and off stage partnerships with both Yancsi Dolly and Beatrice Curtis. This Vitaphone short shows Fox to be a talented, confident performer. He gives an amusing performance and shows off a capable singing voice. Also known as an eccentric dancer, he unfortunately doesn't display that talent in this short. If anyone gets a chance to view this short, keep your eyes on the six American beauties to see if you can recognize one of the girls. Here’s a hint: she would go on to become a famous and beloved film comedienne. A few years after making this short Fox would team with Evelyn Brent on a successful Vaudeville tour. The two teamed as well in a successful offstage partnership that would last until Harry’s death in 1959.

UNDER A TEXAS MOON 1930

This Michael Curtiz directed 1930 comedy starred Frank Fay, Raquel Torres, Myrna Loy, Noah Berry and included a cast of familiar supporting players. Viewing a beautiful print of this 1930 feature on the big screen in glorious two-strip Technicolor was a tremendous film going experience. UNDER A TEXAS MOON is truly a feast for the eyes. Although actually filmed in 1929, this is no stagy, static, technically primitive early sound comedy/musical. It's a funny, well paced, beautiful to look at film. Frank Fay's acting was really an eye opener for me as I didn't expect him to carry the film with such a fine comedy performance. Not playing the role too broadly, Fay managed to keep just the right amount of tongue in cheek. He even employed a Mexican accent which by no means was terrible for the comedic tone of the film. Curtiz deserves much credit for the keeping the comedy rolling along and for some beautifully composed shots. The action follows Mexican Caballero Don Carlos (Fay) fighting and romancing - not necessarily in that order - his way across the Texas/Mexico border and leaving a trail of broken hearts in his wake. Judging by audience reaction, this film was one of the big hits of the festival.

ALIAS THE DEACON 1927

ALIAS THE DEACON is an Edward Sloman directed 1927 silent comedy starring Jean Hersholt, June Marlowe, Ralph Graves and Ned Sparks. The plot follows Jean Hersholt as a “Deacon” who’s “religion” is Poker and whose “service” to the flock is separating the unworthy from their earnings. “The Deacon” is a righteous fellow though, in that he takes only from those who deserve to be taken and gives generously to those worthy of being helped. June Marlowe and Ralph Graves play a previously down on their luck couple trying to turn their lives around. Ned Sparks is also on board a crooked fight promoter. This film went over pretty well with the crowd. Many in the audience were impressed by Jean Hersholt’s performance and found the intertitles rather clever. I was in the minority with the feeling that Hersholt's acting lacked subtlety (please, no hate mail from Jean Hersholt fans) and many of the intertitles were not as witty as intended. That's not to say it wasn't an enjoyable comedy. The accompaniment was first-rate but I am unable to give proper credit due to my notes being incomplete for this entry.

SHE WHO GETS SLAPPED 1930

SHE WHO GETS SLAPPED is a recently restored 1930 one-reel Vitaphone short starring Tommy Dugan as another in a long line of husbands suffering an overbearing wife affliction. Tommy meets a man who claims to have a surefire “cure” for the “wife” problem. Hilarity does not ensue. Just an okay comedy, but early Vitaphone shorts are all treasures as far as I'm concerned.

THE GANG BUSTER 1931

A stunning 35mm print of THE GANG BUSTER was viewed at the Capitol Theatre. Edward Sutherland directed this fast paced comedy featuring Jack Oakie as compulsively superstitious insurance salesman Charlie “Cyclone” Case and Jean Arthur as his love interest Slyvia Martine. The cast also includes William “Stage” Boyd and Wynne Gibson. Ace insurance agent Charlie “Cyclone” Case sells Andrew Martine (William Morris) a large life insurance policy and falls for his lovely daughter Sylvia. Seems that no one besides "Cyclone" would sell insurance to Andrew due to his risky association with ruthless gangster “Sudden Mike” Slade (William “Stage” Boyd). “Cyclone” and Sylvia end up getting in deep trouble with Slade and his gang. This is a gem of a film. The scenes at the gang's hideout feature a great set with beautiful photography. Oakie’s tendency to mug is held in check and he gives a fine, funny performance. Jean Arthur is charming in the ingénue role. This film was a big hit with the audience and one of the most enjoyable of the festival.

Jack Teakston’s Short Subject Follies - Jack presented four interesting and enjoyable short films.

INTIMATE INTERVIEWS: BELA LUGOSI 1931

A funny short featuring Bela spoofing his ghoulish celluloid persona in a mock interview with Dorothy West.

INTIMATE INTERVIEWS: BELA LUGOSI Download link

The second short presented was a 1950s theatre sponsored (I assume) study on the importance of employing polite, well mannered, attentive staff to run a customer- centric business. Yes, I just said customer-centric. Don't hate me for it.

The third short was a school educational film from the early 1930s which stressed the vital importance of having good oral hygiene. The consequences for an otherwise sanitary young man continually disregarding his daily brushing regimen are a jack-o’-lantern smile and the air, quickly and unconscionably given him by a previously sociable female companion. Animation then demonstrates proper tooth brushing methodology. Folks, please brush your teeth. Shown was the existing first reel of a what originally was a two reel short and it was a mighty interesting time capsule.

The highlight of the presentation for me was the last short subject. It was a manufacturer sponsored short touting the efficiency of their all electric appliances. The film demonstrated how Sally Homemaker saves time and energy by using Manufacturer X’s kitchen appliances. This immaculate 1934 print was in dazzling, eye popping three-strip Technicolor.

If for some reason anyone happens to read this post and is able to tell me the titles of the last three shorts, it would be much appreciated.

YOU NEVER KNOW WOMEN 1926

William Wellman directed this silent film starring Florence Vidor, Lowell Sherman, Clive Brook and El Brendel. Unfortunately I had to leave after about 30 minutes into what appeared to be a well crafted and acted silent drama with fine accompaniment by Dr. Phil Carli.

Vintage Train Travel Posters

2010-06-19T22:42:00.016-04:00

MOTOR BOATING Vintage Cover Art

2010-06-19T22:20:00.011-04:00

Evelyn Brent in Silk Stocking Sal

2010-05-02T17:02:00.033-04:00

Pressbook and lobby card for the 1924 film Silk Stocking Sal. Produced by Gothic Pictures and released by FBO, the film starred Evelyn Brent and was directed by Tod Browning. This 16 page pressbook offered suggestions, gimmicks, press releases, prepared reviews, catchlines, notices, advertising, a musical programme, and just about every other type of publicity needed by theatre owners to hype a picture and attract filmgoers.

Movie Magazine Covers

2010-04-11T20:52:00.016-04:00

Mary Pickford and Doug Fairbanks

Ricardo Cortez

Ramon Novarro

Lilyan Tashman

Joan Blondell

Mae Clarke

Helen Twelvetrees

Clara Bow

Betty Bronson

Olive Borden

Media History Digital Library Project

2010-03-21T19:34:00.006-04:00

GREAT NEWS!!

First found from a post at the San Francisco Silent Film Festival blog.

From David Pierce at Nitrateville, "I've been working on a project to digitize trade and fan magazines, and the first batch, from the collection of the Pacific Film Archive, is now on-line.
http://www.archive.org/search.php?query=%22media%20history%20digital%20library%22

There are eight volumes (four years) of Photoplay, and one volume each of Motion Picture Classic (1920) and Moving Picture World (April-June 1913). Thanks to Nancy Goldman of the Pacific Film Archive for working with me on this group of materials.

As always with the Internet Archive, you can download high-quality PDFs, embed their viewer on your webpage, and download the original full-quality scans. (the July-December 1925 volume of Photoplay is still in work; I can send the PDF to anyone who can't wait)."

From Leonard Maltin's Movie Crazy blog, "One dedicated film scholar and archivist is trying to change all that. David Pierce has initiated a privately-funded project called Media History Digital Library, which is described—

—as “A major conservation and access project for historical printed materials related to cinema, broadcasting and recorded sound.” Several major libraries and an individual described as “the owner of the largest private collection of such materials” are participating in the project.

The goal: widespread, free access to a world-class collection of periodicals."

The Media History Project contains more info.

The Internet Archive download page to browse and download available texts.

Embedded viewer courtesy of Internet Achive. Starts with the Photoplay July 1925 edition.

Celebrate CINEFEST 2010 - March 25-28

2010-03-21T18:44:00.005-04:00

From the CINEFEST website:

The following are among the films scheduled to be shown at Cinefest 30. All titles are subject to change.

The Valiant 1929 Paul Muni
Life's Harmony 1916 Frank Borzage
The Wild Girl 1917 Eva Tanguayeason
Tight Shoes 1941 Broderick Crawford
Little Church Around The Corner 1923 Claire Windsor
Conrad In Quest Of His Youth 1920 Thomas Meighan
The Sting Of Stings 1927 Charley Chase
The Miracle Of The Wolves 1924 Raymond Bernard
Life Returns 1935 Onslow Stevens
Information Please 1940 Clifton Fadiman
Hats Off 1936 Mae Clarke
The Doll House Mystery 1915 Sidney Franklin
Human Hearts 1922 House Peters
Pearl Of The Army Chapter 9 1916 Pearl White
A Tale Of Two Worlds 1921 Leatrice Joy
Peacock Alley 1922 Mae Murray
Freckles 1935 Virginia Weidler
Orchids And Ermine 1927 Colleen Moore
The Lost Patrol 1934 Victor McLaglen (Complete Version)
Girl Without A Soul 1917 Viola Dana
Are Parents People 1925 Betty Bronson
Winged Victory 1944 Edmond O'Brien
College Holiday 1936 Jack Benny
Justin Herman Shorts
Littlest Expert On My Favorite President 1951
Pardon Us Penguins 1952
Rhumba Seat 1950 Tom Ewell
Cheer Up 1936 Stanley Lupino
The Motion Picture Camera 1979 Karl Malkames
A Holy Terror 1931 George O'Brien
The Lady Lies 1929 Walter Huston
Captain Celluloid Vs. The Film Pirates 1965 William K. Everson
Ray Faiola Trailers Show III
A Song In The Dark-Excerpts From Early Sound Musicals presented by Richard Barrios
A Tribute To Art Clokey

In 35MM:

Gentlemen Of Polish 1933 Shaw & Lee
East Side West Side 1927 George O'Brien
The Iron Mule 1925 Al St. John and Buster Keaton
Thanks Again 1931 Edgar Kennedy
Pleasure Before Business 1927 Max Davidson
The Grasp Of Greed 1916 Louise Lovely & Lon Chaney
Roaring Rails 1924 Harry Carey

Vintage Advertising - Motion Picture Herald 04/18/1931

2010-03-21T10:11:00.009-04:00

Evelyn Brent and others - Picture Show magazine 1922

2010-03-21T09:37:00.006-04:00

Glass Slides and Tragic Deaths

2010-02-28T21:10:00.026-05:00

Willard Lewis, typhoid fever, aged 44

John Gilbert, heart attack, aged 36

Marjorie White, auto accident, aged 31

Mabel Normand, tuberculosis, aged 34

Lilyan Tashman, cancer, aged 34

Lige Conley, struck by automobile, aged 40

Billie Ritchie, stomach cancer, aged 42.

http://www.silentcomedians.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=785&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

thanks rudyfan

Jean Harlow, uremic poisoning, aged 26

Helen Twelvetrees, suicide/drug overdose, aged 49
Edith Roberts, septicemia contracted during childbirth, aged 35

Elaine Hammerstein, auto accident, aged 51

Smitty - Lt. Donald Haines, killed in action in WWII, aged 24

Charles Ray, impacted tooth infection, aged 52

Please Check Your Attic - Lobby Cards of Rare and Lost Films

2010-02-21T18:32:00.033-05:00

Film Heralds - El Brendel and others

2010-02-21T18:28:00.007-05:00

Comet Over Broadway (1938) Lobby Cards

2010-02-14T20:38:00.004-05:00

Jungle Madness! Tropic Love!

2010-02-07T13:53:00.010-05:00

Hollywood & Indians

2010-02-07T13:42:00.006-05:00

Warner Bros. Bloopers Featuring Kay Francis and Many Others

2010-01-16T08:38:00.035-05:00

Warner Brothers "Break Downs" and "Blow Ups" 1936-1947 at Internet archive. A who's who of Warner Bros. contract players are featured in the studio's annual blooper and outtake reels available at Internet Archive. The footage at Internet Archive is public domain, free and legal to download. The description from Internet Archive states that "These are most of the surviving Blooper reels produced by The Warner Club an organisation comprising Warner Bros Stars and Crew. These reels were produced most years and shown at their annual dinner to poke fun at the mistakes that had been made during that year's productions."

A sample of the Warner Bros. "BREAKDOWNS OF' blooper and outtake reels are also available below, courtesy of nicoley132 and YouTube.

The Warner Bros. blooper reel, BREAKDOWNS OF 1935. Personalities include Kay Francis, Warren William, James Cagney, Rudy Vallee, Allen Jenkins, Hugh Herbert, George Brent, Glenda Farrell, Dick Powell, Pat O'Brien, Busby Berkeley, and others. The Kay Francis blooper begins at 6:56.

The Warner Bros. blooper reel, BREAKDOWNS OF 1936, courtesy of nicoley132. Blooper footage of Kay Francis, Barton MacLane, Edward G. Robinson, Humphrey Bogart, Bette Davis, Leslie Howard, Claude Rains, Claire Dodd, James Dunn, Joe R. Brown, Allen Jenkins, James Cagney, Ricardo Cortez, Warren William, Pat O'Brien, Ann Dvorak, Paul Muni, Ross Alexander, Victor Jory, Leslie Howard, Ian Hunter, Paul Lukas, and others. The first of three Kay Francis outtakes begin at 8:26.

The Warner Bros. blooper reel, BREAKDOWNS OF 1937, courtesy of nicoley132. Reel includes blooper footage of Kay Francis, Hugh Herbert, Errol Flynn, Ricardo Cortez, Dick Powell, Boris Karloff, Pat O'Brien, Edgar Kennedy, Allen Jenkins, Patsy Kelly, Humphrey Bogart, Barton MacLane, Glenda Farrell, Claude Rains, and others. The Kay Francis footage begins at 0:53.

The Warner Bros. blooper reel, BREAKDOWNS OF 1938, courtesy of nicoley132. Footage includes outtakes of Kay Francis, Basil Rathbone, Hugh Herbert, Carole Lombard, Pat O'Brien, Paul Muni, Claude Rains, Ian Hunter, Errol Flynn, Ronald Reagan, Paul Kelly, Bette Davis, and others. The first of four Kay Francis outtakes begins at 2:56.

The Warner Bros. blooper reel , BREAKDOWNS OF 1939, courtesy of nicoley132. Outtakes include footage of Kay Francis, Glenda Farrell, Joan Blondell, Pat O'Brien, Bette Davis, Anna Mae Wong, John Garfield, Errol Flynn, William Gargan, Humphrey Bogart, and others. The Kay Francis blooper footage is at 7:21 in part 1, and 0:01 and 6:55 of part 2.

More rare footage and bloopers can be found here at the Kay Francis Website.

A Kay Francis birthday celebration on TCM

2010-01-09T13:09:00.024-05:00

TCM will celebrate Kay's birthday on January 13th with a mini marathon of films.

Playgirl (1940) will be shown on January 12th at 7:45 am.
An aging gold digger takes a young woman under her wing. Cast: Kay Francis, James Ellison, Mildred Coles, Nigel Bruce. Dir: Frank Woodruff. BW-77 mins, TV-PG

January 13, 2010 schedule:

7:00 AM The Goose And The Gander (1935) A divorcee can't stop meddling in her ex-husband's affairs. Cast: Kay Francis, George Brent, Genevieve Tobin. Dir: Alfred E. Green. BW-66 mins, TV-G

8:15 AM Another Dawn (1937)

An officer's wife at a British outpost in Africa falls for another man. Cast: Errol Flynn, Kay Francis, Ian Hunter. Dir: William Dieterle. BW-73 mins, TV-G, CC

9:30 AM Comet Over Broadway (1938) A stage star's rampant ambition leads to murder. Cast: Kay Francis, Ian Hunter, Donald Crisp. Dir: Busby Berkeley. BW-70 mins, TV-G, CC

10:45 AM My Bill (1938) An impoverished widow fights scandal for the sake of her four children. Cast: Kay Francis, Bonita Granville, Anita Louise. Dir: John Farrow. BW-65 mins, TV-G, CC

12:00 PM Secrets Of An Actress (1938)

A leading lady falls for a married architect who's invested in her play. Cast: Kay Francis, George Brent, Ian Hunter. Dir: William Keighley. BW-70 mins, TV-G, CC

1:15 PM Women Are Like That (1938) Years after their break-up, a couple finds each other all over again. Cast: Kay Francis, Pat O'Brien, Ralph Forbes. Dir: Stanley Logan. BW-79 mins, TV-G, CC

2:45 PM It's A Date (1940) Mother-and-daughter singers vie for the same man and the same stage part. Cast: Deanna Durbin, Walter Pidgeon, Kay Francis. Dir: William A. Seiter. BW-104 mins, TV-G, CC

4:30 PM The Feminine Touch (1941) An author writing a book on jealousy discovers his wife is an expert on the subject. Cast: Rosalind Russell, Don Ameche, Kay Francis. Dir: W.S. Van Dyke II. BW-98 mins, TV-G, CC

6:15 PM Always In My Heart (1942) A convict returns home to find his family has forgotten him. Cast: Walter Huston, Kay Francis, Gloria Warren. Dir: Jo Graham. BW-92 mins, TV-G, CC

Sheet Music Covers and a Rio Rita Advert

2010-01-03T20:52:00.009-05:00

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-23T11:09:00.008-05:00

A New Kay Francis Website

2009-12-16T22:30:00.002-05:00

A new Kay Francis website at

http://www.kayfrancisfilms.com/

Kay Francis' Life and Career

EARLY HOLLYWOOD MUSICALS Sheet Music 1929-1930

2009-12-06T19:23:00.009-05:00

And Now For Something Completely Different. Film Heralds 1926-1934

2009-11-29T17:18:00.021-05:00

Wheeler and Woolsey THE NITWITS Lobby Cards

2009-11-22T11:32:00.007-05:00

Even More Film Heralds 1924 -1935

2009-11-08T19:14:00.012-05:00

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-30T13:48:00.030-04:00

Conrad Veidt - The Man Who Laughs 1928

Bela Lugosi - Dracula 1931

Edward Van Sloan, Colin Clive, and Dwight Frye - Frankenstein 1931

Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's monster - Frankenstein 1931

King Kong 1933

Lon Chaney - London After Midnight 1927

Max Schreck - Nosferatu 1922

Lon Chaney - The Phantom of the Opera 1925

Boris Karloff - The Black Cat 1934

The Merry Frolics of Satan 1906

More Film Heralds 1928 - 1933

2009-10-18T16:36:00.011-04:00

Film Heralds 1927 - 1930

2009-10-12T11:44:00.014-04:00

Film Heralds 1928 - 1930

2009-10-04T19:02:00.021-04:00

Film Heralds 1926 - 1930

2009-09-26T20:30:00.014-04:00

Wonderbar 1934 title and lobby cards

2009-09-13T21:41:00.003-04:00

Shadowland Magazine cover art by A. M. Hopfmuller

2009-09-13T20:42:00.014-04:00

Living on Velvet U.K Pressbook

2009-08-30T19:30:00.017-04:00

The New 112 H.P. Chrysler Imperial "80" 1928

2009-08-16T09:38:00.003-04:00

Fashion Illustrations circa 1928

2009-08-09T13:37:00.006-04:00

Jack Oakie and Co.

2009-08-09T13:21:00.006-04:00

Jack Oakie

Mary Brian, Jack Oakie, and Olive Borden in The Social Lion 1930

Unidentified player, Jack Oakie, and Ginger Rogers in The Sap from Syracuse 1930

Kay Francis and Co.

2009-08-09T13:12:00.008-04:00

Kay and Kenneth MacKenna in The Virtuous Sin 1930

with Walter Huston in The Virtuous Sin 1930

with Al Jolson in Wonderbar 1934

with Herbert Marshall in Trouble in Paradise 1932

Film adverts 1928-1931

2009-08-02T15:41:00.014-04:00

MURAD Cigarette Ads circa 1928

2009-08-02T15:20:00.007-04:00

Illustrations by Fish

Screen Couples

2009-07-26T11:28:00.014-04:00

Wallace Beery and Marie Dressler in Tugboat Annie 1933

Herbert Marshall and Claudette Colbert in Secrets of a Secretary 1931

Lupe Velez and Lee Tracy in The Half Naked Truth 1933

Kay Francis and David Manners in Man Wanted 1932

John Barrymore and Carole Lombard in Twentieth Century 1934

Carole Lombard and George Raft in Bolero 1934

Clark Gable and Carole Lombard in No Man of Her Own 1933

Charles Farrell and Janet Gaynor and in Delicious 1931

Elissa Landi and Charles Farrell in Body and Soul 1931

Charles Rogers and Clara Bow in Wings 1927

Evelyn Brent and Charles Bickford in Pagan Lady 1931

Gentlemen of the Press 1929

2009-07-26T10:14:00.011-04:00

Stills from the 1929 film Gentlemen of the Press starring Walter Huston, Betty Lawford and Charles Ruggles. The film marked the screen debut of Kay Francis (billed as Katherine Francis). Brian Donlevy had an uncredited bit part and can been seen in one of the stills.

Vintage Advertising - House Beautiful - September 1927

2009-07-26T09:46:00.022-04:00

Front cover art by Harold Sichel

Rare Film Alert - Border River 1919 with Evelyn Brent

2009-05-17T18:34:00.018-04:00

Many thanks to Ben Model for providing the excellent score and allowing us the opportunity to view the very rare short film Border River. This film was one of several shorts produced in Augusta, Maine in 1919 by the obscure Edgar Jones Production Co. The film was described by a local newspaper as a "Northwoods Drama" and runs about two reels in length. This outdoor adventure stars Edgar Jones, Ben Hendricks Jr. and a young Evelyn Brent. This print is the only readily available source (a 35mm print exists at LoC) to see Brent in a substantial early career role (she had a bit in Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman 1917 [Grapevine Video]) until her appearance in Trapped by the Mormons 1922 (Grapevine Video). An added bonus for Old Time Radio fans is the chance to see Carleton Brickert in a main role. IMDB's current entry for Border River can now be updated, edited and expanded.

Assorted Beauty

2009-04-12T13:08:00.019-04:00

Kay Francis

Alice Faye

Barbara Stanwyck

Constance Bennett

Clara Bow

Claudette Colbert

Carole Lombard

Fay Wray

Ina Claire

Joan Blondell

Joan Crawford

Jean Harlow

Marion Davies

Nancy Carroll

Sylvia Sidney

Thelma Todd