Silents In A Talky World

[Setting the mood - Old-timey theater ads played before the show.]

The first silent movie I laid eyes on taught me that once technology had evolved to allow for spoken dialogue in films, all those silent movie actors became obsolete. Oh, and the only thing to soothe the actors after being kicked out of their career was their best friend - adorable dogs that did tricks.

This all sounds like a plausible plot for a flick right out of the 20s, but au contraire, it was actually 2011's The Artist! I know, I know,  I didn't see a silent movie until four years ago. Bring on the chastising, because I deserve to be ridiculed.

Nowadays, the original silent movies are historical landmarks that can still move an audience to tears. They are rolled out in some old theaters across the country just for special events, like a concert or play. And people are going! Well, I can only judge based on a sold out showing of a silent movie I was able to attend just recently.

I've been trying to catch up on these oldies over the last couple years and continued with that effort over the weekend at a classy affair that pulled off, what I imagined was, quite the authentic experience.

Over the last couple months my hometown has been hosting a silent movie series at our local historic theater. Every showing comes with a professional organist who plays the original scores live as accompaniment to the flicks. It is just like the old days and as the movies were intended to be seen. The organist, Dennis James, brings these productions to places all over the world. Based on a quick perusal of his website, it seems like he is the preeminent guy that is keeping the true art of silent movies alive. Three cheers for him!

The second I saw that the Buster Keaton classic The General was playing, I jumped at the chance to finally be able to see it. The event even came just in time for me to treat my Grandma to the movie as a birthday present. Not only is it regarded as one of the best silent movies of all time, it is also on many highfalutin lists as one of the best movies ever made. It is one of two silent movies included in the top 20 of AFI's "100 Greatest Movies Of All Time" list.

All this buzz speaks for itself - I was all in. 

Within the first couple minutes of the movie, it is clear why people still adore Buster Keaton. He is a master actor who is able to convey a deep story through very little means. Keaton infamously will never be seen smiling in the majority of his films, remaining "stone faced", but he was still able to express emotion in different ways.

Mostly this is done through his extraordinary talent for physical comedy and his gutsy stunts. The fact that he is running on top/sitting on the front of moving trains for the majority of the film is enough, let alone that he is being funny while also being bold. This guy really did it all, including being credited as director and writer for this movie. That really puts in perspective actors of today who get full of themselves just for reciting lines that they didn't even write.

[The organ - aka the star of the show. ]

I always find it hard to imagine that a silent movie can possibly be laugh out loud funny. The pressure to find this flick uproarious was increased when the organist spoke before the movie began. He kept on cracking himself up while just explaining that The General was a hoot.

But they're not even telling jokes! You just have to watch - it  has a lot to do with timing. Marvelous sequences with misfired canons, train chases, and misunderstandings produces comedy from the ridiculous situations these characters are finding themselves in.

Keaton really was the beginning of slapstick. When he first walked on to the screen, my first thought was of Gilligan. You know, the guy who was marooned on an island with a bunch of folks, including Lovey and Mr. Howell. The two actors resemble each other in looks and it is now obvious to me that much of Gilligan's bits/Bob Denver's acting was inspired by Keaton.

Besides all the comedy, the logistics of making this movie is really what is still astounding. There are many moments that seem, even by today's standards of using CGI, very difficult to achieve. One outstanding scene in particular, finds Keaton riding on the front of the train attempting to clear a bunch of large wooden posts off of the track.

The train continues to progress forward and he has one post in his hand. As the train approaches another beam on the track, Keaton throws his piece of wood and "bam!", it hits the other beam in the exact spot that makes it flip over and off the tracks. How many takes do you think that took? Accomplishing that single moment is quite an incredible feat, considering all the moving parts and danger involved.

Big stunts combined with the overall large scope of the movie led to The General becoming one of the most expensive silent movies ever made. With a whopping $750,000 budget  in 1926, it's no surprise it got that distinction. One of the scenes that increased the cost of filming was the single most expensive shot done in the silent movie era. During a part of the movie, an actual train begins crossing a bridge that collapses, causing the train to crash into the river below. That stunt was worth every penny.

Even if you haven't seen The General, it is a guarantee that many of the scenes would be recognizable to everyone. They have become so infamous that they are burned into our subconscious and are often replicated in other movies. Anyone recognize this guy sitting on the front of a train? Or how about a guy sitting on the train wheel rods? As the train starts to move forward, he goes up and down and up again, never cracking a smirk.

What remains after almost 90 years is a movie that feels completely authentic. It still leaves an audience gasping and laughing with delight. I have not watched a movie with such a fired up crowd since seeing Bridesmaids in the theater. And this is coming from a wild bunch of five hundred people that were 75% of age for a senior discount.

Sitting in a vintage crushed velvet seat, looking up at a gorgeous chandelier as the lights dimmed, the reels started to turn, and an organist began tinkering away on the keys, was an experience that all very much felt like venturing back in time. All that was missing was people donning a bunch of large gorgeous hats.

Today we are spoiled with the modern movie experience - the comfort of high backed chairs, stadium seating allowing for a non-obscured view of the screen, and professional sound. I could give that all up, because nothing else compares to watching a movie in the glamor of a historic theater. Our ancestors really knew how to go out to the movies and have an entirely classy night.

Even though "the talkies" did change the world of movies, those silent treasures have not become totally irrelevant like old Hollywood had predicted. Advancements are made, and things change, but we can still take some time to enjoy and honor our past.



Until next time!

Movie Small Talk: Forget Sylvester, It's All About Frank

Who needs a clear plot line, well written dialogue, or interesting characters when there is a movie starring the likes of John - Pre-Battlefield Earth - Travolta full on committing to the performance of silly choreography.

Wait. All of that sounds terrible!

Au contraire my friends. Written and directed by Sylvester Stallone (your ears just perked up a little more), Staying Alive, the sequel to the 1977 hit Saturday Night Fever, is the epitome of the "so bad it's good" category of cinema. Equally adored and crucified. 

Move over Gigli, this one reaches a whole other level in the spectator sport of bad movie appreciation.

Travolta is reprising his role as Tony Manero and apparently his "fever is still burning". That fire  has propelled him in to having a dream of performing on Broadway. Which, I think, happens about half way through the movie. I'm unsure since they never really say, and, hey, since when do musicals not have any singing? Just a thought for anyone hoping to do a real life revival of "Satan's Alley."

Normally in a dance centric movie, all the other details (acting, story, costumes) can be a mess, but at least the choreography will be top notch and exciting. In the case of Staying Alive, while it may be highly amusing to watch, this one could  win a Worst Choreography Of All Time award. Everything down to the karate chopping/wing flapping frolic around the stage is laughably insane.

Some people could argue that none of this flick is worth your time. However, what will never be up for debate is the lively soundtrack performed by none other than Frank Stallone. Yes indeed, brother to Sylvester.

"Far From Over" should be auto-programmed into all electronic devices for use as an alarm. Cue to me dancing out of my bed, every day at 6 am for the next century. This is happening. It's really not a good morning without Frank Stallone - a sentence I would never have thought was possible until this week.

You guys! The first 15-seconds of that video is how the movie opens! I get chills just watching Travolta's intense hair bobbing, shoulder thrusting action.

Looking for a reason to host a laugh-a-minute movie night that can quickly escalate into a dance party? Search for a copy of  Staying Alive as soon as possible or look up when it is playing next on Movieplex. Be sure to set a reminder a couple days in advance, like I did, so you won't be able to forget such a momentous occasion. Don't worry if you haven't seen the first movie in the, "Travolta just wants to dance" double feature. I haven't either and as far as I can tell, Staying Alive is a stand alone masterpiece.

One generous tip of a hat goes to How Did This Get Made for re-invigorating the attention for Travolta and the Stallone brothers. They needed it and so did we. (It's been said before - That podcast is required listening as a follow-up to this highly entertaining wreck of cinema.)

Until next time. 

Can We Talk? - Jane Fonda Edition

[Jane Fonda finding out that dancing isn't always footloose and fancy free.]

To my generation Jane Fonda was spoken of as the gal who made workout videos and starred in movies with Lohan and Lopez.  Some of us had heard that she was a huge star and an Academy Award winning actress, but we hadn't seen any of the flicks that proved it. After all, who would believe it after being exposed to Monster In Law and Georgia Rule, even if she does shine through the madness.

As I grew older and was pushed into watching more iconic flicks, Jane Fonda's face often popped up - my dad insisted we watch Julia and Nine To Five, and in high school I fell in love with her and Robert Redford bashing about NYC in Barefoot In The Park. Slowly but surely I was definitely getting this whole Jane Fonda "thing".

Adding to the appreciation is her recent role as the owner of Atlantic Cable News on The Newsroom. It doesn't happen as often as it should, but it is a highlight of any episode when she bursts on to screen with a dramatic Sorkin penned monologue.

Recently I was motivated to watch even more Fonda starring productions.

As one does sometimes after an exhausting 6 day work week, it was Saturday night and I was laying, tummy down, nearly face planting on the couch, caught between some sort of delirium and sleep.  I found myself wanting to mix it up after a couple marathon-ed episodes of Orange Is The New Black and turned on the regular old cable TV.

And what did I happen to stumble across? Something most would think was a snooze, but movie fans would appreciate - an AFI award ceremony. This one was specifically honoring Ms. Fonda.

I love anything involving actor career retrospectives. They are always enlightening for movie fans obsessed with the mediums history.  Fonda's filmography and personal life story does not disappoint.

During the show, one of Fonda's acting clips was for a 1969 film I had been dying to see since it was featured on my "Movie A Day" calendar over ten years ago. At the time I had no idea Jane Fonda was in it, all I thought after reading the plot was, "Dance Marathon! What a fun movie!" People who have seen this cinematic spectacle know just how comical that thought was.

Last weekend I watched the Academy Award nominated, They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, for the first time and it blew my mind. It is bonkers, but director Sydney Pollack created one intense and extraordinary film viewing experience that entirely changed how I look at the world. Don't you love when a movie unexpectedly has that effect?

Be prepared, we're getting serious.



Before knowing the complete terror this movie would tackle, my impression was rather la-di-da on the topic. In my mind, back in the day people happily participated in a dance marathon to support a charity. Everyone joyfully jitterbugged for a 24-hour stretch, went home a little sleepy, and definitely feeling the need to give those tired gams a rest.

While those happy sounding events did actually happen, there was also a dark side. During the 1930s and 40s, a marathon could last for 50 or even more days and took advantage of a dreary American culture during the depression. It was for sport and monetary gain - a side of America I was too naive to even dream up. It's the real life Hunger Games. How was this even possible?

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? is a vividly enthralling movie that follows the participants in one of these horrid (and completely fascinating) type of dance competitions.

In the first minute there is a total sense of dread as each of the characters grimly files in to sign up for the competition. They have the clothes on their back and maybe one other outfit, they are unemployed ( a lot of out of work actors), and were aimlessly wandering with really no better place to go. They had heard about the brutality involved, but with their sights on a $1,500 prize and hopes of casting agents spotting them in the crowd, the couples buckle down to do whatever it takes to win.

That mantra to be the last couple left on the dance floor takes many contestants (played by many known actors including Fonda, Bruce Dern, and the grandma from Parenthood (!), Bonnie Bedelia) to extreme desperation. Especially in the scenes that don't involve dancing, but instead, running. If standing up for most of the day without adequate sleep wasn't crazy enough, when the competition started to lag, they would be forced to compete in "the derby", which involved running around a track that was set up on the dance floor.

Crowds from the bleachers would go bananas, cheering their hearts out, totally choosing to ignore the utter pain the contestants are battling. With dark circles under their eyes and gaunt looking faces, they look more like they are stuck in an internment camp, but one that comes with a disco ball. Not all dancing is fun. The complete suffering exhibited in the actors faces during these long, high intensity scenes will fill you with terror. Truly unforgettable.

People who shake their finger at the "controversial" movies of today, need to take two minutes to watch any movie from the 1960s and 70s. That's the essence of edgy, and rather dark cinema. No one makes movies like this anymore. It's a shame - they were controversial to prove a point, get people talking, not to make a buck.

Nearly immediately after the endcredits began to roll, I got my research hat on, and couldn't believe that almost all the accounts found in the movie were true to life - dancers only had 10 minute breaks every hour, they often slept sitting up against their partner, and crowds bet on which couple they thought would win. Just like horses - get it? I thought so.

I had no idea a form of entertainment like this existed, even though it really doesn't delineate much from other parts of history. From gladiator battles, to public hangings, and now mocking people as they audition for reality shows - we as a humanity have always found entertainment in suffering and humiliation. Sad when you think of it that way, right? Okay, so maybe this will get me to stop hate watching I Wanna Marry Harry.

My entire life I had wanted to compete in a dance marathon.  I always had this dreamy, idyllic idea of swing dancing the night away, in some adorable polka dotted dress with red patent leather Mary Janes. I had sufficiently thought that through over the years, which was only intensified after the airing of a Girlmore Girls episode back in 2002.

Unbeknownst to me at the time, with a title like, "They Shoot Gilmore's, Don't They", the entire episode focused on Stars Hallow's annual dance marathon and was a giant tip of the hat to the classic flick. I quickly made this connection after finishing the movie and excitedly cheered on the genius. I mean, has any other TV show penned an elaborate episode based on a somewhat obscure vintage movie? Proving again that the creative writing from that gem will never get enough credit.

Even with The Gilmore's taking a comedic perspective on such a humanitarian nightmare, I now confess to finding less interest in participating in a dance marathon. I wonder why? On the other hand, my interest in researching the history of this topic has highly intensified. I already dug up a few 1930s articles from my local paper that detailed some of these types of events in town. I'm bewitched.

Setting out to discover more flicks starring that classy broad Jane Fonda lead me to unearthing the unknown history of our cultures obsession with entertainment. Something tells me that if I had chosen to watch On Golden Pond first, it wouldn't have had the same effect. I would probably be obsessed with living in a cabin and going fishing, or something.

Either way, I'm only more intrigued to check out the rest of Fonda's filmography. Well, maybe except Barbarella.

At First Sight

Lord Of The Rings meets campy soap opera is all that comes to mind when trying to describe HBO's massive hit TV show, which will begin a new season next month. Even with the comparisons, as an entire package there is nothing else on TV quite like Game Of Thrones.

I had yet to fit this little gem into my schedule, but after completing The West Wing and season two of House Of Cards it is officially time to settle into this pop culture phenom. Finally I can learn why everyone is always waiting for winter!

Just within a couple episodes I know why people are obsessed -  let's work this out:




Epic Intro

Nothing says grandiose event television like an expansive map laying out an entire new world all while a string section and drums play the triumphant score, which builds to the show title blazing in fire!

Between this and the one on True Detective, I hope it means that the trend to produce high quality intros are on the rise.

Marky Mark Damon!

I have a friend who confuses Matt Damon and Mark Wahlberg on a regular basis. This is something I struggled to understand, but that's coming from a celebrity know-it-all freakazoid who can name nearly every face in Tinseltown.

The facial resemblance of the two finally made sense within one second of watching this show - There is an actor that appears in the first episode that can only be described as what would happen if those two actors mated.

As the scene progressed various angles revealed different levels of recognition: it's Wahlberg's hair with Damon's profile or Damon's eyes on Wahlberg's head. This was blowing my mind so much I almost missed all the stuff with that scary girl in the woods. (Anyone else think so based on the photo above?)

What's more important? Plot development or being shocked by the fact that there is a British Matt Wahlberg...Mark Damon...Mart Damberg? Oh, I could keep going.

Uh...What?

So, I think we can all agree there is quite a lot of "What the F" in this show. I know, I know - I had been previously warned, but still was not prepared to be creeped out.

The domineering blondie Targaryen brother who's just straight up maniacal is one thing and then there's the Lanister siblings. I'm guessing there will be more story around this, but right now it's just out of control.

Between all the drama in the families, the impending "winter", and threats of murderous white walkers, there is already plenty of tension for interesting stories to unfold! I think some of that weird stuff is unnecessary to the plot, but whether I "get" it or not, all that incestuous business just amps this show into a true HBO soap.

In reality I just sound like a grandma who wants the Lifetime channel version.

Fur. Fur. Fur.

For the last couple months I've been bashing around town in this faux fur collar I got for Christmas and it had me channeling a gal from a black and white 1920s movie.

Now I've got the look of a Stark - up North they're all about the fur. That is definitely more bad-ass.

Dinklage!

Much like the rest of the country, after 2003's The Station Agent, Peter Dinklage became one of my favorite actors.

He's built up quite the resume since then, even making a hysterical guest appearance on an episode of 30 Rock.

Now he couldn't be better in his Golden Globe winning role on Game Of Thrones. If not for Dinklage I may have never had any interest in this show. I heard his character is still alive...but no one tell me!

Puppies!

Okay, so not real puppies, they're called Direwolves. From what I can tell so far, the people of the North have a connection with these animals. This is especially true for the six Stark children (well, one of them is the eye-candy, half sibling seen above), who each got their own pet Direwolf after a hoard of them are found in the first episode.

Don't even get me started about what happens to Lady - too sad!


I've only finished three episodes and it's unbelievable how much there is available to talk about already.

It doesn't look like I'll be caught up when Season Four kicks off next month, but for those who have, check out the new season on April 2nd.


Until next time.