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Post by Deleted on Oct 5, 2008 19:08:15 GMT -5
Besides, being a phonograph collector. I am also a fan of silent movies. I was introduced to them as a young kid, in the late 1970's. My hometown of Frederck Maryland, has a theater from the 1920's called the Tivoli, now the Wineberg Center for the arts. It is also the only theater in Maryland to still have an organ in it's orginal location. This was how I got to experience silent movies, they way they were intended to be seen. Wathcing a silent movie, while listening to the Mighty Wurlitzer.
I still enjoying going to see silent movies today. My father and I saw "The Mark of Zorro" staring Douglas Fairbanks. The theater tends to draw a crowd. Sometimes the house is even packed, and sometimes not.
Nowadays, with the so many silent movies on DVD, you just can beat sitting in a dark theater, wacting a silent movie with the theater organ.
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Post by larryh on Oct 5, 2008 21:46:22 GMT -5
You may have heard then that our Stan Khan had passed away that played so many years at the Fox theater in St. Louis. I heard him as a teen ager when he played between the movies. It was hard to believe that they were still doing that then.. But later after the Strausses had the theater restored to its glory he was brought back and played untill last week at 84. I heard him do a number of movies.. Phantom of the Opera, Zorro, Burning Sands, I think it was and some others I can't recall. It was always a thrill to feel the bass pipes vibrate the seats in that enormous building..
I have a number of vhs silent movies and always try to buy those that have sound as in organ or vita-phone accompaniment. I like them but sometimes I find it hard to stay awake. But then I find it hard to stay awake to regular movies too. Having this darn computer has about stolen the time I used to use for movies..
How about old time Radio? Do you have any interest in that medium. I have always found it fascinating. I guess it is because I grew up with the tail end of it and we didn't get a TV till later.
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Post by matty on Oct 5, 2008 23:14:59 GMT -5
I think the biggest downfall of silent movies transfered to DVD is the soundtracks. They always over-do the soundtracks, with full orchestra accompaniments, and on occassion use electronic music. Although big city theatres may have had full orchestra's, the majority of theatres would have had a wirlitzer organ as the only source of music. I always think a more simplistic soundtrack adds to the enjoyment of a silent movie, and always wish these DVDs would include a simple organ track as a choice.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2008 4:07:59 GMT -5
Oh sure larry, I enjoy old time radio as well.
Actually, I never heard of Stan Khan, before?
I'll agree with you on that matty, I would prefer an organ soundtrack too.
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Post by larryh on Oct 6, 2008 7:08:24 GMT -5
Don't you all care for the Vita Phone recordings that were made by the movie company to go along with its score? That surely is original. I think one of the ones I recall I have with that is Don Juan, its a great accompaniment. I wouldn't like a just tacked on musical interludes that can ruin the effects.. The Vita Phone records have some sound effects that coincide with the scenes on the screen like streetcar bells, ect.
I haven't tried it but you might Google Stan Kann and see what you get. I spelled the name wrong the first time.. You might try the You Tube site, I see on the net he has some short pieces there as well. I will give it a try too. They didn't come much better than him when it came to playing a theater organ..
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2008 7:27:52 GMT -5
I will do just that.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2008 13:50:06 GMT -5
I found some video's on You Tube on Stan. It was cool to see that he collected Vaccum Cleaners, as a hobby.
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Post by steve432 on Oct 15, 2008 5:46:05 GMT -5
I would add the following films to my list of all-time favourite movies:
Nosferatu (1922) Metropolis (1927) Battleship Potemkin (1925)
Whilst arguably each of them had socio-political concerns within them and were representative of the "national" struggles of their day, I think they all achieve the twin goals of being firstly timeless and secondly human enough to appreciate, wherever you live in the world.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2008 8:08:41 GMT -5
I have seen Nosferatu and Metropolis, both are good movies. I watched Nosferatu, after I saw the movie "Shadow of the Vampire" a film about the makeing of Nosferatu.
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Post by steve432 on Oct 15, 2008 11:23:53 GMT -5
Ah yes, Shadow Of The Vampire - I'd completely forgotten about that documentary. Thanks for reminding me!
I'll have to look it up as it's been years since I last saw that. I wonder if it's on YouTube?
Steve
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Post by steve432 on Oct 15, 2008 11:26:27 GMT -5
Another amazing film is "The Passion Of Joan Of Arc" by Carl Theodore Dreyer. Very moving and great acting.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 15, 2008 17:59:25 GMT -5
Wouldn't surprise me?
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wolfe
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Post by wolfe on Oct 17, 2008 23:33:08 GMT -5
I like silent movies. The DVD age has made many previously inaccessible titles available to the average viewer, but it's true that seeing them on the big screen is how they are best appreciated. I try to grab the opportunities when I can to see them on the big screen.
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Post by neophone on Oct 19, 2008 11:02:57 GMT -5
Gents, A few years ago Paramount put out a number of their great silents with superb sound tracks provided by Gaylord Carter. Last night I dug out The Last Command with Emil Jannings, Evelyn Brent and William Powell. I also had, but loaned out and lost , The Covered Wagon. Some of my favorites are, The General, Keaton; The Eagle, Valentino; Griffith's Intolerance & Birth of a Nation, DeMille's first The Ten Commandments; Ben Hur, Navarro; Metropolis, but I have yet to hear a decent accompaniment for that one. There are many more. I only mentioned a few features, but one two reeler needs mention: A Pair of Tights with Edgar Kennedy, Stuart Erwin, Anita Garvin & Marion Byron. It's one of the most perfectly formed silent two reelers ever made. No title cards are needed. This version has some random music rather than a proper accompaniment, but it works for the most part passably well. I do like some of the accompaniments provided by Carl Davis and the London Philharmonic Orchestra for Thames Television. I have Ben Hur with one of those accompaniments also I had Able Gance's Napoléon which I only watched once before I loaned it out and it disappeared as usual. I dislike modern accompaniments for the most part. I have a great restoration VHS of Valentino's The Sheik, but it's nearly unwatchable due to the spacey modern music. Regards, J.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2008 18:01:07 GMT -5
That, was a good one J. Thanks for shareing.
Paul
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