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
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