Category: silent film

Film Festivals, silent film

Kansas Silent Film Fest Celebrates Women Pioneers

“Half of all the films copyrighted between 1911 and 1925 were written by women.” Noted author Cari Beauchamp’s words to a sold-out ballroom on the Washburn University campus at the 22nd annual Kansas Silent Film Festival stuck with me long after the fest’s last screening. As keynote speaker at the fest’s Cinema Dinner, Beauchamp went on to explain more shocking reveals that painted a very … Continue reading Kansas Silent Film Fest Celebrates Women Pioneers

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Blogathon, Classic Film, classic tv, silent film

Zasu Pitts, Funny Lady with a Funny Name

  First things first. Before I can gush on about this distinctively funny lady with the fluttering hands that stole every scene, one must learn how to say her name correctly. Oh sure, many of my ‘old movie weirdo’ friends may know, but it’s a common mistake. To honor her properly, let’s begin with this lesson, provided via Thelma Todd and ZaSu herself: YouTube: ZaSu … Continue reading Zasu Pitts, Funny Lady with a Funny Name

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Blogathon, classic film review, Modern Film, New classics, silent film

It’s here! 6th Annual WHAT A CHARACTER! Blogathon: Day One

The anticipation is over! Today we bring you the first day of the 6th annual What A Character Blogathon, hosted by yours truly and my fellow co-hosts, the classic film loving ladies: Paula of Paula’s Cinema Club @Paula_Guthat and Aurora of Once Upon A Screen @CitizenScreenings. As promised, this annual event celebrates the character actors. Quirky and silly roles in the service industry like the … Continue reading It’s here! 6th Annual WHAT A CHARACTER! Blogathon: Day One

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Blogathon, classic film review, silent film, Uncategorized

Clara Bow is “IT”(1927)

Elinor Glyn’s novel “It” may be a different story than the film adaption, but the concept of “It” remains the same. What exactly is “It”? To claim it simply meant sex or sex appeal is selling it short. According to Clarence Badger’s/Josef von Sternberg’s IT (1927), “Self-confidence and indifference as to whether you are pleasing or not – and something in you that gives the … Continue reading Clara Bow is “IT”(1927)

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Blogathon, classic film review, silent film

Buster Keaton in COLLEGE (1927)

Buster Keaton was at his best in the years prior to leaving for MGM. During this time in the mid to late twenties, anything collegiate was all the style rage. Although Harold Lloyd tackled the topic first in THE FRESHMAN (1925), Keaton ‘took a run’ at it in his lesser known classic, COLLEGE (1927). In this story, scholarly nerd Ronald (Buster Keaton) starts off on … Continue reading Buster Keaton in COLLEGE (1927)

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Blogathon, classic film review, silent film

Dolores Del Rio in RAMONA (1928)

“Take care of your inner, spiritual beauty. That will reflect in your face.” … Dolores Del Rio Of his romance with her, Orson Welles called her “the most exciting woman I’ve ever met.” Her friend Marlene Dietrich thought she was, “the most beautiful woman in Hollywood.” As impressive as that sounds, Dolores Del Rio was all of this and so much more. Drawn to the … Continue reading Dolores Del Rio in RAMONA (1928)

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