Four days of silent films, spectacularly presented with live music at the Castro, is too much even for me. I left before last night’s screening of Häxan: Witchcraft Through the Ages and, as I type this, am missing Amazing Tales from the Archives: First the Bad News...then the Good! I plan to miss The Shakedown, … Continue reading Silent Film Festival Report
Category: Silent Films
Silent Film Festival Opening Night
Last night I attended the San Francisco Silent Film Festival opening. The movie: John Ford’s first big-budget western, The Iron Horse. I had seen it once before on television. It was much better on the Castro’s very big screen. Ford biographer Joseph McBride introduced the film, comparing it to Jaws in the effect it had … Continue reading Silent Film Festival Opening Night
The Ultimate Festival Movie
Check out the Current Festivals section in the right panel of this page, and you’ll see a lot of activity this summer. Playing right now or opening soon, we’ve got festival for the LGBT community and another for Jews. There’s a festival of horror films, another of comedies, and two of silent films. So here’s … Continue reading The Ultimate Festival Movie
Upcoming June Festivals
United Film Festival In theory, United Film Festivals exists to bring filmmakers together into a “united film community.” I’m not sure how it does this, but it results in yet another excuse to see some (hopefully) excellent independent movies you’re not going to see elsewhere. This one starts with a comedy called How to Make … Continue reading Upcoming June Festivals
Silent Film Festival Program Announced
The schedule for this year’s San Francisco Silent Film Festival is up. Running, as usual, at the Castro, the festival has been expanded from three days to four. Author, filmmaker, and archivist Kevin Brownlow will be in attendance, making this his second Bay Area festival appearance in a little over three years. As usual, all … Continue reading Silent Film Festival Program Announced
The Newly Restored Metropolis
The latest restoration of Fritz Lang’s silent sci-fi epic Metropolis won’t play the Bay Area until the The San Francisco Silent Film Festival in July. But I’m currently in New York, and I saw it Friday night at the Film Forum. I’m finally willing to call it a true masterpiece. I can no longer say … Continue reading The Newly Restored Metropolis
SFIFF: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea with Stephin Merritt
I saw 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea with Stephin Merritt last night (Tuesday night). It will probably be my last event at this year’s San Francisco International Film Festival. What a disappointing way to end an otherwise enjoyable festival! Coincidentally, this was the third silent film event I’ve attended in the last two months where … Continue reading SFIFF: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea with Stephin Merritt
The Gold Rush and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
Friday night, I finally saw Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush properly—a good print with live musical accompaniment. And by the San Francisco Symphony, no less. Definitely the best way to see this wonderful comedy (although in the pantheon of great silent comic features, I still prefer City Lights, The General, and Kid Brother). Like The … Continue reading The Gold Rush and the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra
The General at the Paramount
I’ve seen The General countless times, in classrooms, museums, theaters, festivals, and home. I’ve rented it on VHS, and have owned it on Laserdisc, DVD, and Blu-ray. Yet Friday night at Oakland’s Paramount Theater, I had what is probably my greatest General experience. And it wasn’t even, officially speaking, a movie event. It was part … Continue reading The General at the Paramount
Coming Attractions
Just a quick note to share some upcoming events. The Stanford will start a Kurosawa festival this Saturday. The schedule has yet to be announced, but it will tentatively start with Seven Samurai. Check here for more information. And The San Francisco Silent Film Festival made an exciting announcement about their summer festival (July 15-18). … Continue reading Coming Attractions
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