We're here... The idea of reconstructing the human body has intrigued the scientific community for over a century now, and we all know that it can be done with varying degrees of success. Even face transplants. No one ever thinks those body parts will cause people to do things the previous owners might have, though. … Continue reading The Hands of Suggestion
Charlie Chaplin’s Chagrin
Charlie Chaplin was certainly multi-talented, and 1928's The Circus tested every performing skill he had, along with others that he probably would have preferred not to exercise. The whole business was so bad that in after years Chaplin preferred to act as if the film never existed, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. The movie opens … Continue reading Charlie Chaplin’s Chagrin
Another Go With “Steamboat Bill, Jr.”
Welcome back, Mr. Keaton... 1928's Steamboat Bill, Jr. seems like one of the quintessential Buster Keaton movies. I'll be honest: I tried reviewing this movie for last year's Buster Keaton Blogathon and just couldn't muster an opinion. It wasn't for lack of trying, either. Long story short, as soon as I saw Lea was bringing … Continue reading Another Go With “Steamboat Bill, Jr.”
Talking To Moonyeen
Absolute silence... The title, "Smilin' Through" seems to have a lengthy history. The song, "Smilin' Through," was written by Arthur A. Penn and published in 1919. The song is vaguely connected to a play of the same name from the same year by Jane Cowl and Jane Murfin. The play was adapted into a feature … Continue reading Talking To Moonyeen
Three Gunmen And A Baby
Who's been to Bodie? We've talked about this infamous ghost town before, and it's only natural that such a picturesque place would be fodder for film crews. The 1929 movie, Hell's Heroes was not only one of the first, but the only known feature film to show Bodie prior to the 1932 fire that left only … Continue reading Three Gunmen And A Baby
Shamedown #10: The Pleasure Garden
Happy Halloween! We're already in the double-digits with these Shamedowns, all...can you believe it? The year is going by FAST. As usual, if anyone is just joining us and wants to know what the heck a Shamedown is, CinemaShame's 2023 Call To Shame can be found here. My previous 2023 Shamedowns can be found here. … Continue reading Shamedown #10: The Pleasure Garden
Hitch Films A Play
Good evening... Ever heard of Juno and the Paycock? Any Irish people reading this probably have, but the rest of us, not so much. I hadn't, either, although I've owned the movie for a couple of decades or so. That's what I get for buying a Hitchcock collection sight unseen from the bargain bin at Wal-Mart, … Continue reading Hitch Films A Play
Checkmate
Happy National Silent Film Day! There's nothing new under the sun, of course, and this year I thought I'd revisit the 1923 film, White Tiger, a Tod Browning tale of murder, mistaken identity, mayhem, and a chess-playing automaton. I couldn't make this up if I tried. The movie opens in a London suburb, where a young … Continue reading Checkmate
Paddy Lee and ‘The Patsy’
Time to celebrate Paddy... One of the last blogathons that our dear friend, Paddy Lee participated in was the Odd Or Even Blogathon the lovely Gill of Realweegiemidget Reviews and I held back in January. For those of you who missed that event, we had a coin toss decide whether our participants would review a … Continue reading Paddy Lee and ‘The Patsy’
That Crazy, Crazy Town
Here we go... William Randolph Hearst certainly wanted Marion Davies to be presented as beautifully as possible, like an ethereal creature out of a dream. Yet every time, even in the most lavish of lavish costume movies, Davies' natural comic abilities came through. In the 1925 movie, Lights Of Old Broadway, she got to do … Continue reading That Crazy, Crazy Town
The Things We Do For Love
Buster is back... We all know Buster Keaton was a versatile fellow, and he certainly knew how to bring the physical comedy. One of these is 1927's College, about an honors student who goes to great lengths to win his ladylove. Ronald (Buster Keaton) is one of the top students in his class. He has … Continue reading The Things We Do For Love
The Rest of the Movie
Happy Silent Movie Day! Anyone who's ever watched a documentary about film history, especially of MGM, has probably seen a shot of John Gilbert lunching with a group of his fellow stars. That clip comes from 1928's Show People, a fantastic Marion Davies vehicle that's beloved by film buffs and geek bait for historians. Peggy Pepper … Continue reading The Rest of the Movie
Why “Peter Pan” Might Be Your Ideal First Silent Movie
Swish, swish... Who else likes silent movies? I do. I'm no expert, but I've been dipping my toe into that pool for a few years now and it feels fine. One of my favorites is Peter Pan, which came out in 1924 and stars Betty Bronson as Peter, Mary Brian as Wendy, and Esther Ralston as Mrs. … Continue reading Why “Peter Pan” Might Be Your Ideal First Silent Movie
Five Reasons To See “The General”
Mr. Keaton is back... The General is one of Buster Keaton's most iconic films. Released in 1927, it was mostly filmed in Oregon with great attention to detail, using real Civil War-era locomotives. Keaton directed, produced, and starred in the movie, which didn't have the impact he was hoping for on its first release. The story begins … Continue reading Five Reasons To See “The General”
Is That You, Hitch?
Good evening (again)... Hitchcock had a long time to develop his trademark style. Before the taut mysteries and thrillers we all know and love, he accumulated a sizeable and assorted filmography. One of these was his 1928 British film, Champagne. It's so unlike what we think of as traditional Hitch that if anyone misses the opening … Continue reading Is That You, Hitch?
Before Errol Flynn
Remake Fever in Hollywood is definitely not a new thing, and one of the great parts about being a film blogger is finding out movies I thought were stand-alone works actually weren't. One of these is The Sea Hawk. Mentioning this title usually brings to mind Errol Flynn, but it turns out that he wasn't the … Continue reading Before Errol Flynn
Five Reasons To See “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari”
When people talk about horror or silent movies, the 1920 German expressionist masterpiece, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari inevitably comes up. There's been a lot said about it (Movies Silently and Silent-ology are two excellent examples), which I don't feel like I can add much to, but I will say this: Even people who don't normally … Continue reading Five Reasons To See “The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari”
Taking Up Room 