My journey into these movies is a learning experience. That's my goal with this. I want to learn and keep my brain busy with something that I find fascinating and enjoy. I think it's important. I think it's important for everyone to do stuff like this. Otherwise you die, inside and outside.
I've never ever been a Western fan. Never watched one. Never even seen a John Wayne movie. Sorry, but that is who I think of when I think of Westerns. But like I said, I'm trying to learn new things, and even if I don't enjoy them, I can appreciate them and gain something from them. Gee, I'm awful sappy today.....
Anyway, I guess I didn't even know that there were silent Westerns. I was reading a review of Buster's(of course), The Frozen North on one of my favorite blogs, and they mentioned the back story behind it. This was back when the Arbuckle trial was going on. William S Hart apparently made some remarks(though no one can find any quotes anywhere) about Roscoe, and Buster did The Frozen North to mock Hart and do his own little revenge. Not that I know Buster, but that really seems out of character to me. Lord knows, Buster had many people do downright mean things to him and take him for granted and use him. I've never heard a story about Buster getting back at any of them. Except maybe Natalie....but marriage is weird and who really knows what goes on behind closed doors. Or what doesn't! ;-) Tsk tsk.
So that's what go me here! I've been meaning to do this one for a while now.
Hart seemed like a nice man. He had a great face. Stoic. Perfect for his films. His films were known for their lessons, which says to me that he felt that there was some kind of social responsibility as part of his prominent place in society. I like that. He also donated his entire estate to LA and wanted them to use it as a park. He was such an icon that a prohibition officer renamed himself after Hart. Of course, his birth name was James Vincenzo Capone. Yes *that* Capone. Al's big brother. So what name would you pick if you wanted a career in law enforcement? ;-) He was also a pallbearer at Wyatt Earp's funeral. Random. He was the first film cowboy to name his horse. Good old Fritz! Others followed suit. Tom Mix had Tony(Tony the horse? Really?), Roy had Trigger(Trigger is good), and, of course, The Lone Ranger had Silver(which is by far the best horse name).
So MOVIES!!!
Of course, I started with The Frozen North. It's interesting seeing Buster as the bad guy. Still charming and funny and talented and amazing. Not that I'm biased or anything! I didn't see anything mocking or malicious in it. Now that I've watched some of Hart's movies, The Frozen North kinda seemed like an homage. Kind of like a Weird Al thing for silent movies. Clever and funny with Buster's typical stone faced emotiveness. Yes, I know emotiveness isn't a word, but it should be. It is on this blog. Now. Buster fell face first in the snow a lot. It made me laugh. Simple pleasures, you know?
Next, I moved on to Hart. I choose The Toll Gate for my first one. The reason that I picked this one is because Anna Q Nilsson was in it. I'd been curious about her since I saw her in Sunset Blvd. She was one of the waxworks. I figured that she had to be a big deal, since they didn't introduce her in the movie. One of those moments that you see in movies or commercials or ads, where they just have a person come in and the audience goes "Oh! Isn't that...." and they're thrilled the person is there and still alive. I did not know what to expect from a Western. I didn't think I would like it. Suppose that's why I went the Anna Q Nilsson angle. Like I said, I always try to find something that I like in what I'm doing. It was far more about relationships than I thought it would be. I guess I was expecting a shoot em up movie? Anna Q Nilsson was beautiful and Hart was touching in his role. That's what he was known for, I think. The good bad guy.
In her time Anna Q Nilsson was HUGE! 30000 fan letters in a month. She welcomed royalty to this country. But nowadays people only seem to know her from Sunset Blvd. Funny how time changes things.
Next I moved onto Bad Buck of Santa Ynez. I think I picked this one up a while ago because it was recommended by my favorite blog. I really really liked this one. Hard to believe it was made almost a hundred years ago. Very sweet story. I found it interesting that the woman's husband was referred to as her "old man". I had no idea the term was that old. Both of the actresses that worked in this film died young. Fanny Midgley died at 52. She got to work with Valentino AND Wallace Reid. But I couldn't find out how she died. The little girl, Thelma Salter, died at just 45. And again, couldn't find out what happened to her. Booo!
Finally, I moved onto Tumbleweeds. I choose this one because it was Hart's final film. I also got the copy where Hart does the 8 minute into. So I got to hear his voice. I love that! It was different than I expected. I dunno, I expected deeper and more aggressive. Gruffer? Wonderful voice though. His speech at the beginning of the film was so full of emotion. He means it! It was like one of those "Proud to be an American" speeches! This movie was cheesy. Too formulaic. All of the characters seemed to be caricatures. This was what I expected a Western to be. Lots of chasing and shooting. I was half expecting them to tie a girl to the tracks. Yeah, I know that's no in Westerns, I'm just thinking of movie stereotypes. YOU MUST PAY THE RENT!!! On the upside Barbara Bedford was in this! I just saw her in Mockery with Lon Chaney. Her face is so fascinating to me. It's really striking. Look her up. Or better yet, watch Mockery. Not Tumbleweeds.
It was a good Silent Cinema Sunday. Got to watch some Buster and expand my silent film knowledge a little more. If the first two Hart films I watched are an example of his usual, I like Hart. Nice change of pace. I'd watch more of his films. Probably wouldn't buy them, but I'd watch them if they were on. I'm really glad I watched Tumbleweeds. I feel like it added to my knowledge. Gave me a complete picture. And I got to hear Hart's voice. I like doing that.
Love,
Olive
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Richard Barthelmess for Silent Cinema Sunday!
My first Richard Barthelmess movie was several years ago with Broken Blossoms. I was very very new to silent movies and really had only gotten into them because of Buster. I'm afraid I was very narrow minded and had yet to learn to appreciate what I was watching. My first viewing of this movie, well, I'm afraid I thought it was kind of silly. Overly dramatic. Which I guess it is, but now that I'm more seasoned, I see how difficult it is to convey without words or over use of intertitles. How there is real skill there in a face and movement. It's hard. I think there is a balance with intertitles. Too many or too few can ruin a film. I find too few to be the hardest for me. I don't know if it is because of my attention span or because the film can be so contextualized in the time period that I don't quite get all of it.
Anyway, I digress. Last year I opted to watch Broken Blossoms again after reading an article about the closet scene. Which is incredible. Every film fan should see this. I don't have words. Gish is amazing in this movie. I think it is her best. Other than Gish's amazing talents, Barthelmess completely captivated me. The way his face and figure could go from broken apathy to tenderness and concern. They protectiveness that he seemed to so easily convey.... He is now one of my favorite actors. You know, one of those that you will watch any movie they're in no matter how bad it is, just because they're in it? Yep. We all have them. I have several and Barthelmess is one of them.
So today, on the 51st anniversary of his death, I'm spending the day with Richard. I didn't want to rewatch any movies. So no Broken Blossoms, no The Drop Kick, no Way Down East. I'm lucky enough to be very spoiled with movies and I've amassed quite a collection. That's why I can do theme days and completely indulge my OCD. Someday I'll watch them all. ;-)
I started today with Tol'able David. I'd never gotten around to watching this one, and today was a perfect excuse! I gotta say it was a bit too cutsie for me. THE MAIL MUST BE DELIVERED! Meh. Apparently this film was very very popular. His character showed a lot of integrity which was a admired theme at the time. Sacrifice for one's duty and all. He made that wonderful "Barthelmess I'm gonna get you" face several times, so I was happy. Ernest Torrence is in this. I've liked him ever since I saw him in Steamboat Bill Jr. I don't like him as a bad guy, which I understand he played a lot. I can see why, he did it a bit too well. For some reason he always reminds me of Donald Crisp. I don't know why I always get the two of them confused. :-/ Maybe it's the beady eyes. I've chosen to always see him as Buster's dad though not as this bad guy role. It's my brain, and I can do what I want!
Next up, I chose The Enchanted Cottage. I've seen the 1945 remake. Really like Dorothy McGuire ever since I saw her in A Summer Place. Seeing the original was very different. Much more fantasy. Great costumes! Barthelmess is wonderfully physical as a disabled soldier. He conveys the pain and torment so well. And the bliss...when we get to the bliss parts, he gets that beautiful wistful look of his. May McAvoy is stunning. Even when they try and make her unattractive. It's all about the teeth here. You had to be blessed with good teeth, or else you ugly. She was actually in The Jazz Singer. Which I have yet to see. Turns out that McAvoy was a pretty tough broad. Cecil B DeMille tried to put a stop to her career because she turned down a role(bit too much nudity for her taste), so she bought out her contract and worked freelance. This movie was one of those freelance movies. Atta girl! Not so sure about how I feel about DeMille after this. I'd always liked him. Especially after knowing the way Gloria Swanson felt about him. Eh, no one is perfect all the time.
The copy I have of The Enchanted Cottage has a terrible soundtrack and I couldn't read all the intertitles or the hand written letter, but with Barthelmess and McAvoy, it was pretty easy to get past the flaws in my bad DVD. Sweet film without being too syrupy. I wonder if they're going to have an ugly baby? That really is how it ended.... ::::giggle:::: I LOVE IT!
I wrapped things up with The Stolen Jools. I wanted to wind it up with hearing his voice. Sometimes I do that on Silent Cinema Sunday. Yeah, I know "silent". Whatever. I love this short and EVERYONE is in it. Barthelmess has such a pleasant voice and he's funny. I mean he's in there for a split second, but I liked it.
One of the things I love about Barthelmess is his connection to Nazimova(who I think is just such a cool lady). She was a family friend and Barthelmess' mother actually taught her to speak English. Nazimova is the one that convinced Richard to go into acting. Thanks Nazimova! One more reason to like you!
So that was my Richard Barthelmess day! Got a little more variety and roles I haven't seen him in before. It was a good day.
Love,
Olive
Anyway, I digress. Last year I opted to watch Broken Blossoms again after reading an article about the closet scene. Which is incredible. Every film fan should see this. I don't have words. Gish is amazing in this movie. I think it is her best. Other than Gish's amazing talents, Barthelmess completely captivated me. The way his face and figure could go from broken apathy to tenderness and concern. They protectiveness that he seemed to so easily convey.... He is now one of my favorite actors. You know, one of those that you will watch any movie they're in no matter how bad it is, just because they're in it? Yep. We all have them. I have several and Barthelmess is one of them.
So today, on the 51st anniversary of his death, I'm spending the day with Richard. I didn't want to rewatch any movies. So no Broken Blossoms, no The Drop Kick, no Way Down East. I'm lucky enough to be very spoiled with movies and I've amassed quite a collection. That's why I can do theme days and completely indulge my OCD. Someday I'll watch them all. ;-)
I started today with Tol'able David. I'd never gotten around to watching this one, and today was a perfect excuse! I gotta say it was a bit too cutsie for me. THE MAIL MUST BE DELIVERED! Meh. Apparently this film was very very popular. His character showed a lot of integrity which was a admired theme at the time. Sacrifice for one's duty and all. He made that wonderful "Barthelmess I'm gonna get you" face several times, so I was happy. Ernest Torrence is in this. I've liked him ever since I saw him in Steamboat Bill Jr. I don't like him as a bad guy, which I understand he played a lot. I can see why, he did it a bit too well. For some reason he always reminds me of Donald Crisp. I don't know why I always get the two of them confused. :-/ Maybe it's the beady eyes. I've chosen to always see him as Buster's dad though not as this bad guy role. It's my brain, and I can do what I want!
Next up, I chose The Enchanted Cottage. I've seen the 1945 remake. Really like Dorothy McGuire ever since I saw her in A Summer Place. Seeing the original was very different. Much more fantasy. Great costumes! Barthelmess is wonderfully physical as a disabled soldier. He conveys the pain and torment so well. And the bliss...when we get to the bliss parts, he gets that beautiful wistful look of his. May McAvoy is stunning. Even when they try and make her unattractive. It's all about the teeth here. You had to be blessed with good teeth, or else you ugly. She was actually in The Jazz Singer. Which I have yet to see. Turns out that McAvoy was a pretty tough broad. Cecil B DeMille tried to put a stop to her career because she turned down a role(bit too much nudity for her taste), so she bought out her contract and worked freelance. This movie was one of those freelance movies. Atta girl! Not so sure about how I feel about DeMille after this. I'd always liked him. Especially after knowing the way Gloria Swanson felt about him. Eh, no one is perfect all the time.
The copy I have of The Enchanted Cottage has a terrible soundtrack and I couldn't read all the intertitles or the hand written letter, but with Barthelmess and McAvoy, it was pretty easy to get past the flaws in my bad DVD. Sweet film without being too syrupy. I wonder if they're going to have an ugly baby? That really is how it ended.... ::::giggle:::: I LOVE IT!
I wrapped things up with The Stolen Jools. I wanted to wind it up with hearing his voice. Sometimes I do that on Silent Cinema Sunday. Yeah, I know "silent". Whatever. I love this short and EVERYONE is in it. Barthelmess has such a pleasant voice and he's funny. I mean he's in there for a split second, but I liked it.
One of the things I love about Barthelmess is his connection to Nazimova(who I think is just such a cool lady). She was a family friend and Barthelmess' mother actually taught her to speak English. Nazimova is the one that convinced Richard to go into acting. Thanks Nazimova! One more reason to like you!
So that was my Richard Barthelmess day! Got a little more variety and roles I haven't seen him in before. It was a good day.
Love,
Olive
Sunday, August 3, 2014
Renee Adoree for Silent Cinema Sunday!
I'm so excited! I spent the day watching Renee Adoree movies.
I became intrigued with Renee Adoree because she died so young. 35. Of TB. Nothing strange or shocking. Just so young and from the movies I've now seen of hers, so talented. She did used to be married to Tom Moore who was the brother of Owen Moore. Owen Moore was Mary Pickford's first husband. They were divorced by the time Tom and Renee married though, so no relation.
I've really been looking forward to this one. Her career has so much variety. Some actors seemed to fall into a niche and get stuck there. All they did was comedies, or car racing movies, or cowboy movies, or movies where they perpetually played children(that's not a jab, cause I love me some Mary!). Renee's movies seem to have a bit of everything, at least the movies that I have of hers.
So I started off with Daydreams(Buster!). This movie was so much fun! Buster goes through a variety of careers to make himself worthy enough to marry Renee's character. There are cameos from Buster's father Joe and Big Joe Roberts. Big Joe was a lifelong friend of the Keaton family from way back in their vaudeville days and worked with Buster on most of his films. Luke the Dog is also in this! Uncredited, but I know my mutt and that's him!
Next I moved onto The Big Parade. I've been saving this one for a while. It has been touted as one of the best silent films ever made. I've also been holding back on watching it because it's 2 and a half hours long! Now I love me some silent movies, but I can't sit still for 2 and a half hours of anything sometimes! I have to admit, it went really really fast. I was looking up information on the actors at the same time, and most of them had really really interesting lives. So that helped to keep me focused.
I really became interested in Karl Dane who plays Slim. He just so stood out to me. I guess because he looked so much like Al St John. Karl was nicknamed The Great Dane. And yes, he was a Dane. He had a terrible tragic lonely life where everything just seemed to go wrong for this man. Just couldn't catch a break. He seemed to spend most of his life trying to find a way to support himself. I couldn't find any information on drinking or drugging as the cause for him being unable to hold a job. It just seems like bad luck. His first wife and children decided not to join him in America. His second wife and their child died during child birth. When he tried to invest his money, it was stolen. He even tried running a hot dog stand. On his last day, he was robbed of all of the money he had($18), which seemed to be the final straw, so he went home and shot himself in the head. He was only 47 years old. No one wanted to claim the body. Jean Hersholt made MGM pay for his funeral. I now really like Jean.
Hobart Bosworth who played John Gilbert's father lost part of his jaw and five teeth when he stuck dry ice directly into his mouth on the set of Dirigible in 1931. Ow.
Next I moved onto Mr Wu. Getting me some Lon Chaney in there. I love this man. I love him in everything he's in. Back to the movie, great sets, great make up. Very racist. It just is what it is there. I don't like it either, but that's how things were. They are different now.
Louise Dresser is in this. I only know her from the Buster episode of This is Your Life. She used to be married to the guy that wrote the lyrics to Take Me Out to the Ball Game. However, she divorced him the year before he wrote it. Tsk tsk.
Holmes Herbert is in this as well. Turns out he was the second husband of Elinor Kershaw. Her first husband was Thomas Ince. And yes, I think Hearst did it.
I know that I was going to watch The Pagan as well, but.....sushi and a Stany movie are calling my name. I'm itching to hear her voice for some reason! It happens. So East Side, West Side, here I come. I think I'll have to have a Ramon Navorro Silent Cinema Sunday to make up for it! I promise to try not to write about "that", cause, well, it's just gross and sad. I just saw the episode of Bonanza he was in and "that" was all I could think about. Couldn't help myself.
Love,
Olive
I became intrigued with Renee Adoree because she died so young. 35. Of TB. Nothing strange or shocking. Just so young and from the movies I've now seen of hers, so talented. She did used to be married to Tom Moore who was the brother of Owen Moore. Owen Moore was Mary Pickford's first husband. They were divorced by the time Tom and Renee married though, so no relation.
I've really been looking forward to this one. Her career has so much variety. Some actors seemed to fall into a niche and get stuck there. All they did was comedies, or car racing movies, or cowboy movies, or movies where they perpetually played children(that's not a jab, cause I love me some Mary!). Renee's movies seem to have a bit of everything, at least the movies that I have of hers.
So I started off with Daydreams(Buster!). This movie was so much fun! Buster goes through a variety of careers to make himself worthy enough to marry Renee's character. There are cameos from Buster's father Joe and Big Joe Roberts. Big Joe was a lifelong friend of the Keaton family from way back in their vaudeville days and worked with Buster on most of his films. Luke the Dog is also in this! Uncredited, but I know my mutt and that's him!
Next I moved onto The Big Parade. I've been saving this one for a while. It has been touted as one of the best silent films ever made. I've also been holding back on watching it because it's 2 and a half hours long! Now I love me some silent movies, but I can't sit still for 2 and a half hours of anything sometimes! I have to admit, it went really really fast. I was looking up information on the actors at the same time, and most of them had really really interesting lives. So that helped to keep me focused.
I really became interested in Karl Dane who plays Slim. He just so stood out to me. I guess because he looked so much like Al St John. Karl was nicknamed The Great Dane. And yes, he was a Dane. He had a terrible tragic lonely life where everything just seemed to go wrong for this man. Just couldn't catch a break. He seemed to spend most of his life trying to find a way to support himself. I couldn't find any information on drinking or drugging as the cause for him being unable to hold a job. It just seems like bad luck. His first wife and children decided not to join him in America. His second wife and their child died during child birth. When he tried to invest his money, it was stolen. He even tried running a hot dog stand. On his last day, he was robbed of all of the money he had($18), which seemed to be the final straw, so he went home and shot himself in the head. He was only 47 years old. No one wanted to claim the body. Jean Hersholt made MGM pay for his funeral. I now really like Jean.
Hobart Bosworth who played John Gilbert's father lost part of his jaw and five teeth when he stuck dry ice directly into his mouth on the set of Dirigible in 1931. Ow.
Next I moved onto Mr Wu. Getting me some Lon Chaney in there. I love this man. I love him in everything he's in. Back to the movie, great sets, great make up. Very racist. It just is what it is there. I don't like it either, but that's how things were. They are different now.
Louise Dresser is in this. I only know her from the Buster episode of This is Your Life. She used to be married to the guy that wrote the lyrics to Take Me Out to the Ball Game. However, she divorced him the year before he wrote it. Tsk tsk.
Holmes Herbert is in this as well. Turns out he was the second husband of Elinor Kershaw. Her first husband was Thomas Ince. And yes, I think Hearst did it.
I know that I was going to watch The Pagan as well, but.....sushi and a Stany movie are calling my name. I'm itching to hear her voice for some reason! It happens. So East Side, West Side, here I come. I think I'll have to have a Ramon Navorro Silent Cinema Sunday to make up for it! I promise to try not to write about "that", cause, well, it's just gross and sad. I just saw the episode of Bonanza he was in and "that" was all I could think about. Couldn't help myself.
Love,
Olive
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