The Cat and the Canary
& The Ghost Breakers
Blu ray
Kino Lorber
1939, 1940 / 72, 83 min.
Starring Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard
Cinematography by Charles B. Lang
Directed by Elliott Nugent, George Marshall
Bob Hope’s brand of comedy may have been extinct by the sixties but it was alive and kicking in the pages of God Save the Mark, Donald E. Westlake’s comic crime novel about a schnook on the run for a murder he didn’t commit. Published in 1967, Westlake’s farce resembles one of Hope’s own movies; the pace is frenetic and the patter is as snappy as the comedian’s in his prime—a golden age exemplified by his one-two punch from 1939 and 1940, The Cat and the Canary and The Ghost Breakers. Those films present Hope in excelsis but in the hands of directors Elliott Nugent and George Marshall they serve as master classes in the tricky art of the scare comedy.
& The Ghost Breakers
Blu ray
Kino Lorber
1939, 1940 / 72, 83 min.
Starring Bob Hope, Paulette Goddard
Cinematography by Charles B. Lang
Directed by Elliott Nugent, George Marshall
Bob Hope’s brand of comedy may have been extinct by the sixties but it was alive and kicking in the pages of God Save the Mark, Donald E. Westlake’s comic crime novel about a schnook on the run for a murder he didn’t commit. Published in 1967, Westlake’s farce resembles one of Hope’s own movies; the pace is frenetic and the patter is as snappy as the comedian’s in his prime—a golden age exemplified by his one-two punch from 1939 and 1940, The Cat and the Canary and The Ghost Breakers. Those films present Hope in excelsis but in the hands of directors Elliott Nugent and George Marshall they serve as master classes in the tricky art of the scare comedy.
- 9/19/2020
- by Charlie Largent
- Trailers from Hell
Even after being released nearly 95 years ago now, Rupert Julian’s adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera remains a crowning achievement in gothic storytelling. Its production history is a storied one, with there being a great deal of drama both in front of and behind the camera, but without a doubt, there’s no denying the power that this iteration of Phantom wielded, as not only did it act as the catalyst for Universal Studio’s monster movies, but its legacy still carries on today as one of the most influential horror films of all time.
The first time I ever watched this iteration of Phantom was when I was an extremely young genre fan (I think I was maybe seven or eight at the time), and it was my first experience watching a silent movie ever. In fact, I distinctly remember that I couldn’t read all of...
The first time I ever watched this iteration of Phantom was when I was an extremely young genre fan (I think I was maybe seven or eight at the time), and it was my first experience watching a silent movie ever. In fact, I distinctly remember that I couldn’t read all of...
- 5/4/2020
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
Hello, dear readers! Today I’m kicking off a new ongoing column entitled Phantom Thread, where I’m going to be diving into all the different adaptations of The Phantom of the Opera that have been released over the course of the last 95 years. I’ve mentioned it before, but I have always been a huge nerd for Gaston Leroux’s timeless tale of terror ever since I first read it in my junior high music class, and it is a novel I revisit at least once a year. It’s truly one of the best pieces of gothic fiction ever produced, and Leroux’s enthralling storytelling style is what has kept me obsessed with it for nearly 30 years now.
And because of my deep-rooted love for Le Fantôme de l'Opéra, that has fueled my decades-long obsession with any and all iterations of this timeless story. From Andrew Lloyd Webber...
And because of my deep-rooted love for Le Fantôme de l'Opéra, that has fueled my decades-long obsession with any and all iterations of this timeless story. From Andrew Lloyd Webber...
- 4/14/2020
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
We may not have film of the legendary actresses Lily Langtree or Sara Bernhardt to enjoy, but now we can see the famed Anna Pavlova dance and act, in an epic-length revolutionary saga inspired by a Grand Opera. In conjunction with the BFI and the New York Public Library, The Milestone Cinematheque gives us the full 2015 restored feature. A second disc offers more vintage film clips of the world’s first ballerina with an international touring company.
The Dumb Girl of Portici
Blu-ray
The Milestone Cinematheque
1916 / B&W / 1:33 Silent Aperture / 112 min. / La muette de Portici / Street Date February 6, 2018 / 26.38
Starring: Anna Pavlova (Pavlowa), Rupert Julian, Wadsworth Harris, Douglas Gerrard, John (Jack) Holt, Nigel De Brulier, Lois Wilson.
Cinematography: Dal Clawson, Allen G. Siegler, R. W. Walter
Written by Lois Weber from the opera byDaniel Auber, Germain Delavigne, Eugène Scribe
Produced by Carl Laemmle
Directed by Lois Weber & Phillips Smalley
The...
The Dumb Girl of Portici
Blu-ray
The Milestone Cinematheque
1916 / B&W / 1:33 Silent Aperture / 112 min. / La muette de Portici / Street Date February 6, 2018 / 26.38
Starring: Anna Pavlova (Pavlowa), Rupert Julian, Wadsworth Harris, Douglas Gerrard, John (Jack) Holt, Nigel De Brulier, Lois Wilson.
Cinematography: Dal Clawson, Allen G. Siegler, R. W. Walter
Written by Lois Weber from the opera byDaniel Auber, Germain Delavigne, Eugène Scribe
Produced by Carl Laemmle
Directed by Lois Weber & Phillips Smalley
The...
- 3/10/2018
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Both film and music lovers alike will delight at what Happenings have planned for this Saturday 1st July, in the heart of the city, Merrion Square. We will be landing in the city park and combining great weather and instant communication to gather hundreds of people to witness the 1925 silent horror 'The Phantom of the Opera'.
Not only will we be screening The Phantom of the Opera - but we will be welcoming ' The Happenings Quartet' made up of musicians Matthew Nolan, David Stalling, Sean Mac Elaine and Sharon Phelan who will perform an original score that will accompany Rupert Julian’s 1925 classic.
Happenings & Dcc want Dublin film lovers to grab their mates, loved ones and some picnic blankets for this blissful summer evening as the city centre park will be transformed into a pop-up outdoor cinema, musical amphitheatre with entertainment, music and food.
A true Hollywood...
Not only will we be screening The Phantom of the Opera - but we will be welcoming ' The Happenings Quartet' made up of musicians Matthew Nolan, David Stalling, Sean Mac Elaine and Sharon Phelan who will perform an original score that will accompany Rupert Julian’s 1925 classic.
Happenings & Dcc want Dublin film lovers to grab their mates, loved ones and some picnic blankets for this blissful summer evening as the city centre park will be transformed into a pop-up outdoor cinema, musical amphitheatre with entertainment, music and food.
A true Hollywood...
- 6/30/2017
- by noreply@blogger.com (Flicks News)
- FlicksNews.net
'The Doll' with Ossi Oswalda and Hermann Thimig: Early Ernst Lubitsch satirical fantasy starring 'the German Mary Pickford' has similar premise to that of the 1925 Buster Keaton comedy 'Seven Chances.' 'The Doll': San Francisco Silent Film Festival presented fast-paced Ernst Lubitsch comedy starring the German Mary Pickford – Ossi Oswalda Directed by Ernst Lubitsch (So This Is Paris, The Wedding March), the 2017 San Francisco Silent Film Festival presentation The Doll / Die Puppe (1919) has one of the most amusing mise-en-scènes ever recorded. The set is created by cut-out figures that gradually come to life; then even more cleverly, they commence the fast-paced action. It all begins when a shy, confirmed bachelor, Lancelot (Hermann Thimig), is ordered by his rich uncle (Max Kronert), the Baron von Chanterelle, to marry for a large sum of money. As to be expected, mayhem ensues. Lancelot is forced to flee from the hordes of eligible maidens, eventually...
- 6/28/2017
- by Danny Fortune
- Alt Film Guide
The Dumb Girl Of Portici (1916) Screens Sunday December 4th at 7:30pm at Webster University’s Moore Auditorium (470 East Lockwood).
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of two of Lois Weber’s most important films, Milestone Films has released restored versions of Shoes and The Dumb Girl Of Portici. Working with the Netherland’s Eye Filmmuseum, the Library of Congress, archivist Lori Raskin and composers Donald Sosin and John Sweeney, these films will both be screening at Webster University. The small but magnificent ensemble Shoes, with Weber’s star discovery Mary MacLaren was released the same year as her epic blockbuster The Dumb Girl Of Portici featuring the legendary dancer, Anna Pavlova. The two films show brilliantly the tremendous range Weber had as a film director.
“Lois Weber was the most successful of all the women directors in the first quarter of the 20th century and, at the time, was placed...
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of two of Lois Weber’s most important films, Milestone Films has released restored versions of Shoes and The Dumb Girl Of Portici. Working with the Netherland’s Eye Filmmuseum, the Library of Congress, archivist Lori Raskin and composers Donald Sosin and John Sweeney, these films will both be screening at Webster University. The small but magnificent ensemble Shoes, with Weber’s star discovery Mary MacLaren was released the same year as her epic blockbuster The Dumb Girl Of Portici featuring the legendary dancer, Anna Pavlova. The two films show brilliantly the tremendous range Weber had as a film director.
“Lois Weber was the most successful of all the women directors in the first quarter of the 20th century and, at the time, was placed...
- 12/1/2016
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Top Ten Scream Queens: Barbara Steele, who both emitted screams and made others do same, is in a category of her own. Top Ten Scream Queens Halloween is over until next year, but the equally bewitching Day of the Dead is just around the corner. So, dead or alive, here's my revised and expanded list of cinema's Top Ten Scream Queens. This highly personal compilation is based on how memorable – as opposed to how loud or how frequent – were the screams. That's the key reason you won't find listed below actresses featured in gory slasher films. After all, the screams – and just about everything else in such movies – are as meaningless as their plots. You also won't find any screaming guys (i.e., Scream Kings) on the list below even though I've got absolutely nothing against guys who scream in horror, whether in movies or in life. There are...
- 11/2/2015
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Every October, horror hounds and cinephiles alike delve into the vast history of this art we call cinema, looking for the greatest in spine chilling horror pictures. Be it the latest in gruesome yet cliche-ridden found footage features or the gothic roots of classic Universal monster pictures, horror cinema comes to life in a distinct and visceral way each October.
And thanks to Kino Lorber, this is going to be a special holiday season, as one of horror’s earliest cinematic entries, and one of its greatest and most unforgettable, is now available on Blu-ray in a shockingly dense new release.
Starring one of horror’s most iconic stars, Lon Chaney, The Phantom Of The Opera has entered the ranks of Kino Lorber’s home video canon, in one of the year’s most enticing classic cinema releases. Released 90 years ago, the story from which it is based is a touch older.
And thanks to Kino Lorber, this is going to be a special holiday season, as one of horror’s earliest cinematic entries, and one of its greatest and most unforgettable, is now available on Blu-ray in a shockingly dense new release.
Starring one of horror’s most iconic stars, Lon Chaney, The Phantom Of The Opera has entered the ranks of Kino Lorber’s home video canon, in one of the year’s most enticing classic cinema releases. Released 90 years ago, the story from which it is based is a touch older.
- 10/13/2015
- by Joshua Brunsting
- CriterionCast
The Phantom of the Opera
Written by John Jacoby, Samuel Hofffenstein, Eric Taylor
Directed by Arthur Lubin
U.S.A., 1943
It comes as a surprise to no one when stating that Hollywood is not averse to remaking movies. It is an old practice that goes back many decades, all the way back to the earliest days of the studio system. Great stories, apparently, bear retelling with more modern casts and more modern filmmaking techniques. In some cases, it is an issue of actually modernizing the setting, whereas in others instances the studio believes that audiences crave a new version of a familiar classic even though it was a period piece to begin with. Among several early attempts at refurbishing highly regarded motion pictures was 1943’s Phantom of the Opera, released not quite 20 years after the terrifying original and about 15 years after said original was itself the subject of tinkering to...
Written by John Jacoby, Samuel Hofffenstein, Eric Taylor
Directed by Arthur Lubin
U.S.A., 1943
It comes as a surprise to no one when stating that Hollywood is not averse to remaking movies. It is an old practice that goes back many decades, all the way back to the earliest days of the studio system. Great stories, apparently, bear retelling with more modern casts and more modern filmmaking techniques. In some cases, it is an issue of actually modernizing the setting, whereas in others instances the studio believes that audiences crave a new version of a familiar classic even though it was a period piece to begin with. Among several early attempts at refurbishing highly regarded motion pictures was 1943’s Phantom of the Opera, released not quite 20 years after the terrifying original and about 15 years after said original was itself the subject of tinkering to...
- 10/11/2015
- by Edgar Chaput
- SoundOnSight
The Phantom of the Opera
Written by Elliot J. Clawson, Raymond L. Schrock and Bernard McConville
Directed by Rupert Julian (uncredited: Edward Sedgwick)
U.S.A., 1925
The following review is based on the silent version from 1925, not the 1930 version that included some dialogue. The version viewed for the purposes the present review also featured colour-tinted scenes and the infamous opening scene in which a man with a lamp walks through a dark tunnel, which is reportedly footage shot later for the 1930 sound version, but has somehow made it into all existing cuts of the original 1925 film.
The 1920s represent a defining decade for film, both in the United States and worldwide. Many of the earliest great pictures we produced during this time, with several film auteurs getting their start, such as Alfred Hitchcock, Jean Renoir and F. W. Murnau but to name a few. For Hollywood, which was growing in...
Written by Elliot J. Clawson, Raymond L. Schrock and Bernard McConville
Directed by Rupert Julian (uncredited: Edward Sedgwick)
U.S.A., 1925
The following review is based on the silent version from 1925, not the 1930 version that included some dialogue. The version viewed for the purposes the present review also featured colour-tinted scenes and the infamous opening scene in which a man with a lamp walks through a dark tunnel, which is reportedly footage shot later for the 1930 sound version, but has somehow made it into all existing cuts of the original 1925 film.
The 1920s represent a defining decade for film, both in the United States and worldwide. Many of the earliest great pictures we produced during this time, with several film auteurs getting their start, such as Alfred Hitchcock, Jean Renoir and F. W. Murnau but to name a few. For Hollywood, which was growing in...
- 10/4/2015
- by Edgar Chaput
- SoundOnSight
The latest release of Lon Chaney's most famous silent classic is a Blu-ray, which allows us to marvel at at the actor's artistry in a beautifully tinted HD image. Erik the Phantom is one of the two or three greatest fantasy makeup performances of all time. The release has three separate encodings, of different versions running at different film speeds. A 1929 recut has the best image, while the original 1925 version is uncut. The Phantom of the Opera Blu-ray Kino Classics / Blackhawk 1925/29 / B&W with tints and Technicolor sequences / 1:37 flat Silent Aperture / 78, 92 and 114 min. / Street Date October 13, 2015 / available through Kino Lorber / 29.95 Starring Lon Chaney, Mary Philbin, Norman Kerry, Arthur Edmund Carewe, Gibson Gowland, John St. Polis, Snitz Edwards. Cinematography Milton Bridenbecker, Virgil Miller, Charles Van Enger Consulting Artist Ben Carré Film Editors Maurice Pivar, Gilmore Walker Original Music Makeup Lon Chaney Written by Elliott J. Clawson from the novel...
- 9/29/2015
- by Glenn Erickson
- Trailers from Hell
Bruce Campbell and Edgar Wright will be on hand for a groovy 35mm double bill of The Evil Dead and Evil Dead II at this October's Beyond Fest, held in Los Angeles and presented by Shudder. Other screening highlights include the Kurt Russell-starring Bone Tomahawk, Karyn Kusama's The Invitation, the Henry Rollins-starring He Never Died, and much more.
Press Release: Los Angeles, CA - Thursday, September 3, 2015- Beyond Fest, the highest attended genre film festival in the Us, is excited to announce its full slate of 2015 programming featuring 25 events of mind-bending, movie madness. Presented by Shudder, Beyond Fest returns to Hollywood's famed Egyptian Theatre for 11 days of movies, music and mayhem spanning Thursday, October 1st - Monday, October 12th to generate funds for co-presenter, the nonprofit American Cinematheque.
With a diverse slate that includes films from all corners of the globe Beyond Fest is proud to present...
Press Release: Los Angeles, CA - Thursday, September 3, 2015- Beyond Fest, the highest attended genre film festival in the Us, is excited to announce its full slate of 2015 programming featuring 25 events of mind-bending, movie madness. Presented by Shudder, Beyond Fest returns to Hollywood's famed Egyptian Theatre for 11 days of movies, music and mayhem spanning Thursday, October 1st - Monday, October 12th to generate funds for co-presenter, the nonprofit American Cinematheque.
With a diverse slate that includes films from all corners of the globe Beyond Fest is proud to present...
- 9/3/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Kino Lorber continues to make Halloween dreams come true, announcing that they will release The Phantom of the Opera (1925/1929) on Blu-ray and DVD October 13th.
From Kino Lorber: "The Phantom Of The Opera (1925/1929) - Starring Lon Chaney and Mary Philbin - Directed by Rupert Julian.
Disc 1
24 frames-per-second version (78 Min.) 1920 x 1080 (1.33:1 pillarbox)
• Music composed and performed by Alloy Orchestra (2.0 Stereo)
• Theatre organ score arranged and performed by Gaylord Carter (2.0 Mono)
20 frames-per-second version (92 Min.) 1920 x 1080 (1.33:1 pillarbox)
• Musical setting composed by Gabriel Thibaudeau (2.0 Stereo)
Performed by I Musici de Montréal; Conducted by Yuri Turovsky; Claudine Côté, Soprano
• Audio commentary by film historian Jon Mirsalis (2.0 Mono)
Disc 2
1925 Version (114 Min.) Standard Definition (4x3)
• Musical Setting Arranged and Performed by Frederick Hodges (2.0 Mono)
Extras:
Original Screenplay (91 Min. video scroll)
Montage of Stills (13 Min.)
Interview with composer Gabriel Thibaudeau (9 Min.)
Two travelogues by Burton Holmes, depicting Paris in 1925:
Paris From A Motor (3 1/2 Min.
From Kino Lorber: "The Phantom Of The Opera (1925/1929) - Starring Lon Chaney and Mary Philbin - Directed by Rupert Julian.
Disc 1
24 frames-per-second version (78 Min.) 1920 x 1080 (1.33:1 pillarbox)
• Music composed and performed by Alloy Orchestra (2.0 Stereo)
• Theatre organ score arranged and performed by Gaylord Carter (2.0 Mono)
20 frames-per-second version (92 Min.) 1920 x 1080 (1.33:1 pillarbox)
• Musical setting composed by Gabriel Thibaudeau (2.0 Stereo)
Performed by I Musici de Montréal; Conducted by Yuri Turovsky; Claudine Côté, Soprano
• Audio commentary by film historian Jon Mirsalis (2.0 Mono)
Disc 2
1925 Version (114 Min.) Standard Definition (4x3)
• Musical Setting Arranged and Performed by Frederick Hodges (2.0 Mono)
Extras:
Original Screenplay (91 Min. video scroll)
Montage of Stills (13 Min.)
Interview with composer Gabriel Thibaudeau (9 Min.)
Two travelogues by Burton Holmes, depicting Paris in 1925:
Paris From A Motor (3 1/2 Min.
- 8/3/2015
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Nightbreed: The Cabal Cut (Scream Factory)
This limited special edition of Clive Barker’s heavily discussed alternate cut has finally arrived. For fans of the film, this version is everything you wanted. More monsters and more narrative allow the film to progress more fitting to Barker’s intention and style.
Godzilla by Akira Ifukube (Death Waltz Records)
Beautiful. The guys from Death Waltz have again given genre fans something to be excited about. The 1954 soundtrack of Toho’s “Godzilla” is stunning, a true pleasure to hear on vinyl.
Phantom of the Opera by Rupert Julian (One Way Static Records)
The septet UK group The Laze released their accompaniment for 1925’s “Phantom of the Opera” off One Way Static Records. Styled with a range of musical influences the group makes a worthy companion score to the classic film.
The Innocents (1961) directed by Jack Clayton (Criterion Collection)
One of the greatest classic...
This limited special edition of Clive Barker’s heavily discussed alternate cut has finally arrived. For fans of the film, this version is everything you wanted. More monsters and more narrative allow the film to progress more fitting to Barker’s intention and style.
Godzilla by Akira Ifukube (Death Waltz Records)
Beautiful. The guys from Death Waltz have again given genre fans something to be excited about. The 1954 soundtrack of Toho’s “Godzilla” is stunning, a true pleasure to hear on vinyl.
Phantom of the Opera by Rupert Julian (One Way Static Records)
The septet UK group The Laze released their accompaniment for 1925’s “Phantom of the Opera” off One Way Static Records. Styled with a range of musical influences the group makes a worthy companion score to the classic film.
The Innocents (1961) directed by Jack Clayton (Criterion Collection)
One of the greatest classic...
- 1/3/2015
- by Monte Yazzie
- DailyDead
One Way Static Records announced it will be releasing a score for the 1925 film The Phantom of the Opera (directed by Rupert Julian) conducted by The Laze. Pre-orders are now available via One Way's website. The score is being offered up on vinyl, CD and cassette. One Way describes the The Laze as "an amazing 7 piece band bringing you a great score in the vein of Goblin & Carpenter mixed with nervous classical music and Baroque Dance." Luke Insect is responsible for the art created for this release.
The post 1925 Phantom of the Opera Coming from One Way Static Records appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.
The post 1925 Phantom of the Opera Coming from One Way Static Records appeared first on Shock Till You Drop.
- 6/19/2014
- by Ryan Turek
- shocktillyoudrop.com
Even if you’ve seen 1925′s classic silent film The Phantom of the Opera countless times, you’ve likely never seen Lon Chaney haunt the Paris Opera House to a horn-heavy, rock-infused backdrop. From the Belgium-based One Way Static Records and available now for pre-order comes a re-score soundtrack to Rupert Julian’s highly-regarded adaptation of the novel of obsessive and lethal love by Gaston Leroux.
Performed by The Laze, this new soundtrack to The Phantom of the Opera will hit shelves on August 12th in a wide variety of formats: vinyl, cassette, compact disc, and digital. This release features retro artwork showcasing Lon Chaney as the disfigured, passionate Phantom. The non-digital versions of this soundtrack are limited in number, ranging from 300 to 1,000 copies depending on the format. One Way Static Records is releasing The Laze’s re-score soundtrack through both a European and a North American distributor. To pre-order...
Performed by The Laze, this new soundtrack to The Phantom of the Opera will hit shelves on August 12th in a wide variety of formats: vinyl, cassette, compact disc, and digital. This release features retro artwork showcasing Lon Chaney as the disfigured, passionate Phantom. The non-digital versions of this soundtrack are limited in number, ranging from 300 to 1,000 copies depending on the format. One Way Static Records is releasing The Laze’s re-score soundtrack through both a European and a North American distributor. To pre-order...
- 6/18/2014
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
‘Dracula’ 1931 actress Carla Laemmle dead at 104 (photo: Carla Laemmle ca. 1930) Carla Laemmle, a bit player in a handful of silent movies and at the dawn of the sound era — e.g., the horror classics The Phantom of the Opera (1925) and Dracula (1931) — and a niece of Universal Studios co-founder Carl Laemmle, died on June 12, 2014, at her Los Angeles home. Laemmle, who had reportedly been in good health, was 104 years old. Born Rebekah Isabelle Laemmle on October 20, 1909, in Chicago, Carla Laemmle was less known for her movie work than for having survived most of her contemporaries and for her family connection to the Universal mogul — her father, Joseph Laemmle, was Carl’s brother. ‘Dracula’ actress was a member of Carl Laemmle’s ‘very large faemmle’ "Uncle Carl Laemmle, Has a very large faemmle," once half-joked poet Ogden Nash, in reference to Laemmle’s penchant for hiring family members. As Laemmle’s niece,...
- 6/13/2014
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
(Rupert Julian, 1925; BFI, PG)
Reading this on mobile? Click here to view video
A few years ago it seemed that TV was helping to revive a public interest in early cinema by broadcasting classic pre-talkies and backing the cinematic presentation of restored silent movies accompanied by live orchestras. Sadly this trend has been largely discontinued despite the success of Michel Hazanavicius's The Artist and Martin Scorsese's Hugo. The peak of that great silent revival was Kevin Brownlow's restoration of Abel Gance's Napoleon, but other major successes include this handsome version of the 1925 Phantom of the Opera with a new score by Carl Davis that Brownlow, David Gill and Patrick Stanbury's Photoplay Productions put on in 1998.
Its conventional hero and heroine are rather dull, but Lon Chaney's Phantom, the mad, disfigured, lovelorn musician manipulating the world from the cellars and dungeons beneath the Opera House in fin-de-siècle Paris,...
Reading this on mobile? Click here to view video
A few years ago it seemed that TV was helping to revive a public interest in early cinema by broadcasting classic pre-talkies and backing the cinematic presentation of restored silent movies accompanied by live orchestras. Sadly this trend has been largely discontinued despite the success of Michel Hazanavicius's The Artist and Martin Scorsese's Hugo. The peak of that great silent revival was Kevin Brownlow's restoration of Abel Gance's Napoleon, but other major successes include this handsome version of the 1925 Phantom of the Opera with a new score by Carl Davis that Brownlow, David Gill and Patrick Stanbury's Photoplay Productions put on in 1998.
Its conventional hero and heroine are rather dull, but Lon Chaney's Phantom, the mad, disfigured, lovelorn musician manipulating the world from the cellars and dungeons beneath the Opera House in fin-de-siècle Paris,...
- 1/5/2014
- by Philip French
- The Guardian - Film News
★★★★☆The last of nine home cinema titles released by the BFI as part of their ongoing Gothic: The Dark Heart of Film season, Rupert Julian's 1925 production of French novelist Gaston Leroux's The Phantom of the Opera has stood the test of time better than most, thanks in no small part to an iconic turn from Lon Chaney, the "man of a thousand faces". Revitalised by a 1996 Photoplay Productions restoration, complete with the original tints intended, Julian's Phantom drips with latent desire, Chaney's monster - like the vampire of Stoker, Murnau and Herzog - a potent if grotesque symbol of unrequited love.
- 12/4/2013
- by CineVue UK
- CineVue
The British Film Institute has been busy this year restoring and releasing cinema classics onto Blu-ray. The latest to be announced by the BFI is 1925′s The Phantom of the Opera, the silent film directed by Rupert Julian and starring Lon Chaney. We’ve included a look at the cover art below and a list of special features. The UK will see The Phantom of the Opera arrive on Blu-ray as part of a three disc set on December 3rd. Image Entertainment released this movie to Blu-ray back in 2011 for Us readers who are interested in seeing the movie in high-definition.
“BFI Video proudly presents this definitive three-disc Dual Format Edition of this celebrated classic of silent film and horror cinema.
Lon Chaney, ‘the man of a thousand faces’, gives his most famous performance in this first version of the oft-filmed tale. Based on Gaston Leroux’s novel, Chaney stars...
“BFI Video proudly presents this definitive three-disc Dual Format Edition of this celebrated classic of silent film and horror cinema.
Lon Chaney, ‘the man of a thousand faces’, gives his most famous performance in this first version of the oft-filmed tale. Based on Gaston Leroux’s novel, Chaney stars...
- 11/12/2013
- by Jemma George
- DailyDead
During my years at McGill, I decided to stray from studying the sciences and take my love of cinema more seriously: I turned my mind towards Cultural Studies and spent my early twenties relishing in Canadian cinema, slasher films, the French New Wave, Godard’s wonderfully bizarre oeuvre, and the philosophy of film.
It’s been three years since I decided to take my career down a different path, turning towards my other major in anthropology. Right after obtaining my fancy arts degree and wanting nothing to do with, well, anything anymore, I began looking for alternatives to my film studies courses and Bazin quoting peer community. I was looking to re-ignite my passion for the screen; from the cerebral to the heart and back.
Thus, I began volunteering for film festivals, but found myself wanting and in need of more starch in my film diet. Since I’d turned...
It’s been three years since I decided to take my career down a different path, turning towards my other major in anthropology. Right after obtaining my fancy arts degree and wanting nothing to do with, well, anything anymore, I began looking for alternatives to my film studies courses and Bazin quoting peer community. I was looking to re-ignite my passion for the screen; from the cerebral to the heart and back.
Thus, I began volunteering for film festivals, but found myself wanting and in need of more starch in my film diet. Since I’d turned...
- 9/20/2013
- by Pamela Fillion
- SoundOnSight
The hit sound film The Jazz Singer (1927), starring Al Jolson and directed by Alan Crosland, fueled the mainstream appetite for newfangled "talkies"... and brought on the death throes of the ol' fashioned silent film. Over the next few years, silent motion picture production around the world slowed, withered, and died. Before this era came to a close, however, the horror genre took root, clawed its way into mainstream popularity, and spawned a wealth of atmospheric and unsettling thrillers. These films built the foundation upon which a century of horror movies would be constructed. The art of film was still in its infancy, and this silent era of experimentation gave rise to some of the most striking and fascinating horror movies ever made. While Germany would soon rise to dominate horror of the silent era, Italy helped get the ball rolling with their first feature length film, Dante's Inferno (1911), directed by Giuseppe de Liguoro.
- 7/4/2013
- by Eric Stanze
- FEARnet
The British Film Institute (BFI) is to launch a major project dedicated to Gothic cinema, which includes more than 150 films and around 1,000 screenings throughout the UK.
Running from August until January 2014, the Gothic project include the longest ever season at BFI’s Southbank venue in London, UK wide theatrical and DVD releases, an education programme, a new BFI Gothic book, a range of partnerships, special guests and commentators including project ambassador Sir Christopher Frayling.
Heather Stewart, creative director at the BFI, said: “Gothic has never been more potent or popular, reflecting the turbulent times we are living in, our deepest fears and hidden passions.
“The British discovered sex in vivid Technicolor through Gothic. With a new generation gripped by the post modern Gothic world of Twilight’s ‘vegetarian’ vampires, Harry Potter’s spells and El James’s 50 Shades, its meaning has mutated yet again. It’s now time to look back into the deep dark beating heart of...
Running from August until January 2014, the Gothic project include the longest ever season at BFI’s Southbank venue in London, UK wide theatrical and DVD releases, an education programme, a new BFI Gothic book, a range of partnerships, special guests and commentators including project ambassador Sir Christopher Frayling.
Heather Stewart, creative director at the BFI, said: “Gothic has never been more potent or popular, reflecting the turbulent times we are living in, our deepest fears and hidden passions.
“The British discovered sex in vivid Technicolor through Gothic. With a new generation gripped by the post modern Gothic world of Twilight’s ‘vegetarian’ vampires, Harry Potter’s spells and El James’s 50 Shades, its meaning has mutated yet again. It’s now time to look back into the deep dark beating heart of...
- 6/27/2013
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Earlier this month I discovered this Deco delight on the excellent silent film Tumblr The Loudest Voice, where it was billed as “Ad for Bettina Loved a Soldier, 1916” with no further information as to where it came from. The film has an IMDb page but on its listing on the Progressive Silent Film List the survival status of the fim is “unknown.” A synopsis of the film can be found in Clive Hirschhorn’s The Universal Story (which documents the 2,641 films produced by Universal from the silent era until 1982) and there is also a synopsis on the TCM database.
Searching for the origins of the ad, which was more than likely an insert in a trade magazine (though what a poster it would have made), I stumbled across a treasure trove of similar ads on Flickr. The ads, all for Bluebird Photoplays Inc. and all seemingly drawn by one Burton Rice,...
Searching for the origins of the ad, which was more than likely an insert in a trade magazine (though what a poster it would have made), I stumbled across a treasure trove of similar ads on Flickr. The ads, all for Bluebird Photoplays Inc. and all seemingly drawn by one Burton Rice,...
- 5/31/2013
- by Adrian Curry
- MUBI
This is part 20 out of 30 in our daily January countdown of the 300 Greatest Films Ever Made. These are numbers 110-101.
110) Notorious (1946) Alfred Hitchcock USA
109) Nosferatu (1922) F. W. Murnau Germany Silent
108) Romeo & Juliet (1968) Franco Zeffirelli British/ Italy
107) The Phantom Of The Opera (1925) Rupert Julian USA Silent
106) Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Irvin G. Kirshner USA
105) The Lion In Winter (1968) Anthony Harvey British
104) The Thin Man (1934) W. S. Van Dyke USA
103) Tokyo Story (1953) Yashujira Uzu Japan
102) M (1931) Fritz Lang German
101) City Of God (2002) Fernendo Meirelles Brazil
Numbers 100-91 coming next.
film cultureClassicslist300...
110) Notorious (1946) Alfred Hitchcock USA
109) Nosferatu (1922) F. W. Murnau Germany Silent
108) Romeo & Juliet (1968) Franco Zeffirelli British/ Italy
107) The Phantom Of The Opera (1925) Rupert Julian USA Silent
106) Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Irvin G. Kirshner USA
105) The Lion In Winter (1968) Anthony Harvey British
104) The Thin Man (1934) W. S. Van Dyke USA
103) Tokyo Story (1953) Yashujira Uzu Japan
102) M (1931) Fritz Lang German
101) City Of God (2002) Fernendo Meirelles Brazil
Numbers 100-91 coming next.
film cultureClassicslist300...
- 1/21/2013
- by feeds@cinelinx.com (Rob Young)
- Cinelinx
In 1925, Universal released what would become one of the most influential and important movies ever made. Even today it stands as a singular achievement in film that still impresses some eighty years on.
From Lon Chaney’s outstanding makeup to the beautiful sets and costumes, it is a breathtakingly lavish film that entertains as much as it educates. The film cannot be overstated in its historical importance, as it was the first of the Universal Monsters to be born.
Without Chaney and his amazing creation, we would arguably never have seen Lugosi’s Dracula or Karloff’s Monster and so on. One could point to this film and say it was the birth of the horror film, as we know it today. Sure, Nosferatu had come before, as had The Golem, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and of course Edison’s Frankenstein. However, The Phantom of the Opera was the...
From Lon Chaney’s outstanding makeup to the beautiful sets and costumes, it is a breathtakingly lavish film that entertains as much as it educates. The film cannot be overstated in its historical importance, as it was the first of the Universal Monsters to be born.
Without Chaney and his amazing creation, we would arguably never have seen Lugosi’s Dracula or Karloff’s Monster and so on. One could point to this film and say it was the birth of the horror film, as we know it today. Sure, Nosferatu had come before, as had The Golem, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari and of course Edison’s Frankenstein. However, The Phantom of the Opera was the...
- 12/29/2011
- by Derek Botelho
- DailyDead
Claire Bloom, Julie Harris, The Haunting The Movies’ Top Ten Scream Queens 10 – Mary Philbin, The Phantom of the Opera (1925). Okay, so this is a silent film; in other words, Universal star Mary Philbin's screaming was all in my head. But it worked. Lon Chaney at his most grotesque had the title role; Norman Kerry was Philbin's dashing leading man. Rupert Julian directed. 9 – Patricia Owens, The Fly (1958). Wouldn't you also scream if you saw a fly named Andre — who happens to be your husband, no less — coming straight at you? David Hedison plays the unlucky Andre, a scientist who exchanges his head with that of a buzzing fly. Kurt Neumann directed the 1958 The Fly, which, though less pretentious, I find more disturbing than the 1986 David Cronenberg remake starring Jeff Goldblum and Geena Davis. 8 – Denise Cheshire, Jaws (1975). Few people know the name of the soon-to-be shark-breakfast swimming woman in Steven Spielberg's Jaws,...
- 11/3/2011
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
For the horror buff, Fall is the best time of the year. The air is crisp, the leaves are falling and a feeling of death hangs on the air. Here at Sound on Sight we have some of the biggest horror fans you can find. We are continually showcasing the best of genre cinema, so we’ve decided to put our horror knowledge and passion to the test in a horror watching contest. Each week in October, Ricky D, James Merolla and Justine Smith will post a list of the horror films they have watched. By the end of the month, the person who has seen the most films wins. Prize Tbd.
Ricky D (5 viewings) Total of 76 viewings
-
Purchase
Spirits Of The Dead (Histoires extraordinaires)
Directed by Federico Fellini (segment Toby Dammit), Louis Malle (segment William Wilson), Roger Vadim (segment Metzengerstein)
France, 1968
First thing to notice is the three directors: Federico Fellini,...
Ricky D (5 viewings) Total of 76 viewings
-
Purchase
Spirits Of The Dead (Histoires extraordinaires)
Directed by Federico Fellini (segment Toby Dammit), Louis Malle (segment William Wilson), Roger Vadim (segment Metzengerstein)
France, 1968
First thing to notice is the three directors: Federico Fellini,...
- 11/2/2011
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
The Phantom Of The Opera was the first horror film I ever saw. It was at my grandparents’ house. I was about 3 or 4 and it was either on television or my grandfather had a VHS tape of it or something like that. I clearly remember the now famous shot of Mary Philbin pulling off the mask of Lon Chaney’s horrific Phantom as he played the organ. The look of sheer shock and fury etched on Chaney’s horribly disfigured face scared and delighted my admittedly warped young mind, as it must have very well done so for countless fans of the classic film.
I’m happy to say that that iconic scene, and many more, have never looked better than on Image Entertainment’s newly remastered high definition transfer of The Phantom Of The Opera, out November 1st on Blu-Ray. For classic horror fans who have had to make due with scratchy video recordings,...
I’m happy to say that that iconic scene, and many more, have never looked better than on Image Entertainment’s newly remastered high definition transfer of The Phantom Of The Opera, out November 1st on Blu-Ray. For classic horror fans who have had to make due with scratchy video recordings,...
- 11/1/2011
- by Marc
- FamousMonsters of Filmland
Rank the week of November 1st’s Blu-ray and DVD new releases against the best films of all-time: New Releases Cars 2
(Blu-ray & DVD | G | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #2213
Win Percentage: 48%
Times Ranked: 3502
Top-20 Rankings: 35
Directed By: John Lasseter
Starring: Larry the Cable Guy • Owen Wilson • Michael Caine • Emily Mortimer • Eddie Izzard
Genres: Action Comedy • Adventure • Adventure Comedy • Animation • Comedy • Family • Family-Oriented Adventure • Family-Oriented Comedy
Rank This Movie
Water For Elephants
(Blu-ray & DVD | PG13 | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #3022
Win Percentage: 51%
Times Ranked: 2226
Top-20 Rankings: 17
Directed By: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Reese Witherspoon • Robert Pattinson • Christoph Waltz • Paul Schneider • Hal Holbrook
Genres: Animal Picture • Drama • Romance • Romantic Drama
Rank This Movie
Crazy Stupid Love
(Blu-ray & DVD | PG13 | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #816
Win Percentage: 57%
Times Ranked: 3830
Top-20 Rankings: 19
Directed By: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Starring: Steve Carell • Ryan Gosling • Julianne Moore • Emma Stone • Marisa Tomei
Genres: Comedy Drama • Comedy of Manners • Drama • Romance • Romantic Comedy
Rank This Movie
Snow Flower And The Secret Fan...
(Blu-ray & DVD | G | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #2213
Win Percentage: 48%
Times Ranked: 3502
Top-20 Rankings: 35
Directed By: John Lasseter
Starring: Larry the Cable Guy • Owen Wilson • Michael Caine • Emily Mortimer • Eddie Izzard
Genres: Action Comedy • Adventure • Adventure Comedy • Animation • Comedy • Family • Family-Oriented Adventure • Family-Oriented Comedy
Rank This Movie
Water For Elephants
(Blu-ray & DVD | PG13 | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #3022
Win Percentage: 51%
Times Ranked: 2226
Top-20 Rankings: 17
Directed By: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Reese Witherspoon • Robert Pattinson • Christoph Waltz • Paul Schneider • Hal Holbrook
Genres: Animal Picture • Drama • Romance • Romantic Drama
Rank This Movie
Crazy Stupid Love
(Blu-ray & DVD | PG13 | 2011)
Flickchart Ranking: #816
Win Percentage: 57%
Times Ranked: 3830
Top-20 Rankings: 19
Directed By: Glenn Ficarra, John Requa
Starring: Steve Carell • Ryan Gosling • Julianne Moore • Emma Stone • Marisa Tomei
Genres: Comedy Drama • Comedy of Manners • Drama • Romance • Romantic Comedy
Rank This Movie
Snow Flower And The Secret Fan...
- 11/1/2011
- by Jonathan Hardesty
- Flickchart
Title: The Phantom of the Opera Directed by: Rupert Julian Starring: Lon Chaney, Mary Philbin and Norman Kerry Running time: 78-114 minutes, Unrated Image Entertainment has released the original 1925 version and two 1929 re-release versions of Lon Chaney’s most memorable performance in The Phantom of the Opera on Blu-ray. The story of Erik, the disfigured “Phantom” that lives underneath the Paris Opera house and whom has a fixation on the beautiful and talented new opera singer Christine. The 1925 version is the original 6 millimeter with a piano score by Frederick Hodges. This version is longer than the 1929 reissues, and contains a lackluster happy ending. There were two...
- 10/31/2011
- by juliana
- ShockYa
Release Date: Nov. 1, 2011
Price: DVD $39.98
Studio: Image Entertainment
Lon Chaney lurks beneath the Paris Opera House in the 1925 silent classic The Phantom of the Opera.
The Blu-ray debut of the 1925 classic silent film The Phantom of the Opera, starring “Man of a Thousand Faces” Lon Chaney, contains three different versions of the movie. And this disc is the first time all three have appeared together in a single release.
Produced by respected silent film preservationist David Shepard, the Phantom of the Opera Blu-ray includes the following versions:
new high-definition digital transfer of the 24 frames per second reissued version of 1929 film taken from the 35mm negative, with tinted sequences including the Bal Masque sequence in two-strip Technicolor. It features a new music score by Alloy Orchestra, plus Gaylord Carter’s famous theatre organ score, released for the first time in stereo.new high-definitiom transfer of 20 frames per second version of the 1929 reissue with tinting,...
Price: DVD $39.98
Studio: Image Entertainment
Lon Chaney lurks beneath the Paris Opera House in the 1925 silent classic The Phantom of the Opera.
The Blu-ray debut of the 1925 classic silent film The Phantom of the Opera, starring “Man of a Thousand Faces” Lon Chaney, contains three different versions of the movie. And this disc is the first time all three have appeared together in a single release.
Produced by respected silent film preservationist David Shepard, the Phantom of the Opera Blu-ray includes the following versions:
new high-definition digital transfer of the 24 frames per second reissued version of 1929 film taken from the 35mm negative, with tinted sequences including the Bal Masque sequence in two-strip Technicolor. It features a new music score by Alloy Orchestra, plus Gaylord Carter’s famous theatre organ score, released for the first time in stereo.new high-definitiom transfer of 20 frames per second version of the 1929 reissue with tinting,...
- 9/8/2011
- by Laurence
- Disc Dish
This horror classic The Phantom of the Opera starring the legendary Lon Chaney has been added to the ever growing list of films that are receiving the Blu-ray treatment. Rupert Julian's silent masterpiece will be presented in its 1929 re-edited reissue version, featuring a rare early 2-color Technicolor sequence. The Blu-ray release from Image Entertainment will also feature the beautiful 1080p video upgrade which we've grown accustom to as well…...
- 8/27/2011
- Horrorbid
There are few films more revered than Rupert Julian's silent Lon Chaney starrer, Phantom of the Opera. The film just bleeds the word "classic", and with Image Entertainment behind the Blu-ray release, you know the upcoming release is in good hands.
In an early announcement to retailers, Image Entertainment is prepping Phantom of the Opera for Blu-ray on November 1st.
Lon Chaney is Erik, the horribly disfigured Phantom who leads a menacing existence in the catacombs and dungeons beneath the Paris Opera House. When Erik falls in love with a beautiful prima donna, he kidnaps her and holds her hostage in his lair.
This horror classic, presented in its 1929 re-edited reissue version, features a rare early 2-color Technicolor sequence. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video and an uncompressed mono soundtrack. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.98.
Special Features
Phantom of the Opera trailer An Interview with Gabriel Thibaudeau...
In an early announcement to retailers, Image Entertainment is prepping Phantom of the Opera for Blu-ray on November 1st.
Lon Chaney is Erik, the horribly disfigured Phantom who leads a menacing existence in the catacombs and dungeons beneath the Paris Opera House. When Erik falls in love with a beautiful prima donna, he kidnaps her and holds her hostage in his lair.
This horror classic, presented in its 1929 re-edited reissue version, features a rare early 2-color Technicolor sequence. The Blu-ray will feature 1080p video and an uncompressed mono soundtrack. Suggested list price for the Blu-ray is $39.98.
Special Features
Phantom of the Opera trailer An Interview with Gabriel Thibaudeau...
- 8/27/2011
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Lon Chaney on TCM: He Who Gets Slapped, The Unknown, Mr. Wu Get ready for more extreme perversity in West of Zanzibar (1928), as Chaney abuses both Warner Baxter and Mary Nolan, while the great-looking Mr. Wu (1927) offers Chaney as a Chinese creep about to destroy the life of lovely Renée Adorée — one of the best and prettiest actresses of the 1920s. Adorée — who was just as effective in her few early talkies — died of tuberculosis in 1933. Also worth mentioning, the great John Arnold was Mr. Wu's cinematographer. I'm no fan of Laugh, Clown, Laugh (1928), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923), or The Phantom of the Opera (1925), but Chaney's work in them — especially in Hunchback — is quite remarkable. I mean, his performances aren't necessarily great, but they're certainly unforgettable. Chaney's leading ladies — all of whom are in love with younger, better-looking men — are Loretta Young (Laugh, Clown, Laugh), Patsy Ruth Miller...
- 8/15/2011
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
The Fantasia Film Festival is by far my favourite film festival in the world and I’ve been impatiently awaiting some news of what films they’ll be screening this year. Considered the world’s largest genre film festival and running over three weeks long, the event is celebrating it’s 15th edition this year and the lineup is already pretty incredible. In the past I’ve seen some of my favourite films premiere at the fest and last year I wrote up a list of the best films ever screened at the fest which you can read here. This year Kevin Smith’s Red State opens the festival and directors Robin Hardy (The Wicker Man) and Richard Stanley (Hardware, Dust Devil) will be in the house to discuss the occult on film. The full lineup which includes 130-feature titles will be announced on July 7. For now here is the...
- 6/27/2011
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
With July rapidly approaching, that means two things - the one/two punch of both Comic-Con and Canada's incredible Fantasia Film Festival! Speaking of the latter, the first wave of announcements is here! Read on for details!
From the Press Release
While less than two weeks away from announcing the full line-up of its 15th edition, Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival has revealed a first wave of titles and happenings. The full 130-feature array of titles will be announced at our press conference on July 7.
Opening Film – Kevin Smith’S Red State
Fantasia is proud to open the 2011 edition of the festival with the Canadian Premiere of Kevin Smith's acclaimed Sundance hit Red State. The director of Clerks and Zack And Miri Make A Porno has made a jump to an entirely new genre with tremendous success. Red State is a powerhouse film featuring fantastic performances by Michael Parks,...
From the Press Release
While less than two weeks away from announcing the full line-up of its 15th edition, Montreal’s Fantasia International Film Festival has revealed a first wave of titles and happenings. The full 130-feature array of titles will be announced at our press conference on July 7.
Opening Film – Kevin Smith’S Red State
Fantasia is proud to open the 2011 edition of the festival with the Canadian Premiere of Kevin Smith's acclaimed Sundance hit Red State. The director of Clerks and Zack And Miri Make A Porno has made a jump to an entirely new genre with tremendous success. Red State is a powerhouse film featuring fantastic performances by Michael Parks,...
- 6/27/2011
- by Uncle Creepy
- DreadCentral.com
Huang Jianxin and Han Sanping's Beginning of the Great Revival Political propaganda has always been a movie staple, from Rupert Julian's The Kaiser, the Beast of Berlin, made during World War I, and Leni Riefenstahl's Nazi-glorifying Triumph of the Will to Leo McCarey's anti-Red My Son John and Huang Jianxin and Han Sanping's pro-Red Beginning of the Great Revival. Featuring an all-star that includes John Woo, Andy Lau, Daniel Wu, Zhou Xun, Chow Yun-fat, and Curse of the Golden Flower's Liu Ye as Mao Zedong, Beginning of the Great Revival had its premiere today as part of commemorations for the 90th anniversary of the [...]...
- 6/8/2011
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Over the last few weeks, we've been going "Back to Basics" by looking at the horror films produced by Universal Studios. After my previous post, I realized that before we dive into anymore of the horrors created for us by Universal, I really should set the stage and provide a little background information on the studio itself. We'll be looking at James Whale's 1935 masterwork, Bride of Frankenstein, next. But, until then, let's go back and take a look at where it all began.
Before there was Universal Studios, there was Carl Laemmle. Laemmle was born in 1867 and emigrated with his family from Germany to the United States in 1884. Soon after he arrived, Laemmle became entranced with a wondrous new technology and art form: moving pictures. At that time, nickelodeons were all the rage, and Laemmle was so mesmerized by motion pictures that he soon left behind his bookkeeping career...
Before there was Universal Studios, there was Carl Laemmle. Laemmle was born in 1867 and emigrated with his family from Germany to the United States in 1884. Soon after he arrived, Laemmle became entranced with a wondrous new technology and art form: moving pictures. At that time, nickelodeons were all the rage, and Laemmle was so mesmerized by motion pictures that he soon left behind his bookkeeping career...
- 11/17/2010
- by Theron
- Planet Fury
The 16th annual Bradford International Film Festival, which will run March 18-28, is a total celebration of all forms of cinema, from classic films to modern world cinema to a tribute to Cinerama and more. But, most excitingly, is a bombastic collection of some of the best, most exciting underground films being made today.
From Bad Lit’s perspective, the most thrilling screening of the entire 10-day affair is the new film by British filmmaker Peter Whitehead, Terrorism Considered as One of the Fine Arts. In the U.S., Whitehead is a “lost” filmmaker from the underground’s heyday in the ’60s, being left out of most histories of the underground movement. Whitehead directed several influential films, including Wholly Communion and The Fall, before dropping out of filmmaking in the mid-’70s.
Film historian Jack Sargeant wrote extensively about and interviewed Whitehead for his wonderful book on Beat cinema, Naked Lens.
From Bad Lit’s perspective, the most thrilling screening of the entire 10-day affair is the new film by British filmmaker Peter Whitehead, Terrorism Considered as One of the Fine Arts. In the U.S., Whitehead is a “lost” filmmaker from the underground’s heyday in the ’60s, being left out of most histories of the underground movement. Whitehead directed several influential films, including Wholly Communion and The Fall, before dropping out of filmmaking in the mid-’70s.
Film historian Jack Sargeant wrote extensively about and interviewed Whitehead for his wonderful book on Beat cinema, Naked Lens.
- 3/5/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
The 1925 silent classic The Phantom of the Opera, starring Lon Chaney (above) in the title role, will be screened on Sunday, Oct. 25, at 2:30 pm at the San Gabriel Mission Playhouse. This Halloween Special presentation by the Los Angeles Theatre Organ Society will feature live musical accompaniment on a Wurlitzer theatre organ restored with the support of the Peter Lloyd Crotty Charitable Fund. Directed by Rupert Julian, The Phantom of the Opera is perhaps Lon Chaney’s best-known movie role. At about that time, Chaney became a contract player at MGM, where he would star in a number of highly successful productions, some of which have popped up on Turner Classic Movies. Based on Gaston [...]...
- 10/23/2009
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
Flicker Alley in association with the Blackhawk Film Collection has announced the release of "Under Full Sail – Silent Cinema on the High Seas," a new DVD release featuring, as per its press release, "five breathtaking films that preserve the romance, grandeur and allure of windjammers sailing open waters, exquisitely photographed in the style of the time." The following information is from the Flicker Alley release: The Yankee Clipper (1927), produced by Cecil B. DeMille and directed by Rupert Julian, restored to the most complete version available since the film’s release, is a feature-length melodrama recreating the real-life race from Foo Chow to Boston for the China tea trade. The gorgeous production filmed at sea for six weeks aboard the 1856 wooden square-rigger Indiana with stars William Boyd, Elinor Fair and Frank “Junior” Coghlan. Renowned organist Dennis James, in his solo DVD premiere, accompanies the film on an original-installation 1928 Wurlitzer pipe organ...
- 4/12/2009
- by Andre Soares
- Alt Film Guide
By Matt Singer
We're getting into the Halloween spirit at IFC.com this week by taking a look back at some famous movie makeup jobs (that are, at minimum, 25 years old) that have maintained their power to scare the bejeezus out of viewers. These kids today with their computer generated imagery and their Blu-rays and their "Saw V"s! Back in our day, we didn't have computers to do our imagination's dirty work for us. Visionary artists had only prosthetics, wire, plaster, rubber and a whole lot of Karo syrup to bring their creations to life! Back in our day, these were the movies you rented on Halloween! At the video store! As far as we're concerned, they still should be. And don't you dare teepee our Web site or we're calling the cops. [Part one of our list can be found here.]
5. Videodrome (1983)
Directed by David Cronenberg
Special Makeup Effects by Rick Baker
To the best of my knowledge,...
We're getting into the Halloween spirit at IFC.com this week by taking a look back at some famous movie makeup jobs (that are, at minimum, 25 years old) that have maintained their power to scare the bejeezus out of viewers. These kids today with their computer generated imagery and their Blu-rays and their "Saw V"s! Back in our day, we didn't have computers to do our imagination's dirty work for us. Visionary artists had only prosthetics, wire, plaster, rubber and a whole lot of Karo syrup to bring their creations to life! Back in our day, these were the movies you rented on Halloween! At the video store! As far as we're concerned, they still should be. And don't you dare teepee our Web site or we're calling the cops. [Part one of our list can be found here.]
5. Videodrome (1983)
Directed by David Cronenberg
Special Makeup Effects by Rick Baker
To the best of my knowledge,...
- 10/30/2008
- by Matt Singer
- ifc.com
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