More of the 1915 San Francisco World Fair

More of the San Francisco Panama-Pacific Exhibition 1915...

Latest Edna Purviance Family Bio on Edna's home site

Starting today, I will be keeping a regular update on the progress of Edna Purviance's family bio on ednapurviance.org main home page. Check there under the Latest Edna News!

Part Four of the 1915 San Francisco World's Fair

Continuing with the San Francisco International Exhibition from 1915...
(Many of Edna's close family members visited this fair, as did Edna.)

Part Two of the San Francisco 1915 World Fair

San Francisco International Exhibition 1915 (World Fair) - Part Two

1915 San Francisco Panama-Pacific Exposition

Edna Purviance and her sister, Myrtle, were living in San Francisco, when the San Francisco World Fair opened  in 1915. Originally proposal in 1904, but delayed by the 1906 earthquake, it became a major world event, as it celebrated the rebirth of San Francisco and the opening of the Panama Canal.

Many of Edna's family members attended, as did Edna's new employer, Charles Chaplin. Edna started working for Chaplin just a few weeks before the official fair opening.

The following silent films post are a peek at that fair, beginning with the opening:

Working on Edna Purviance's family biography

Sorry for the lack of new post, again, as I am busy in my free time working on Edna's family biography. So far, I have 145 pages written for the first draft. Also, doing new research as I go along. Takes a lot of time, but getting along with it. So, if quiet here, it's just because I like to get this book completed.

Thanks for visiting, and continue to stop by!

L. W.

Happy Birthday, Charlie Chaplin!

Happy Birthday to Charlie Chaplin!

Born in London - April 16, 1889
(died, Christmas Day, 1977)

Charlie Chaplin celebrated until 7PM today, on TCM!

Jonathan Winters

Remembering the great Jonathan Winters... One of my favorites. Here he is on the Jack Paar show, doing a few of his best...







Here's one where Winters does his bit on fishing.

'Charlie Chaplin' in 1920 Benjamin Rabier animation

French comic book artist and film animator, Benjamin Rabier, created a 'tip of the hat' to Charlie Chaplin, in this 1920 silent animated film. Rabier is said to have inspired others, like George Remi (Hergé - the creator of Tintin) to get into the field as a comic book illustrator.

 Here's a 9.5MM version of the Pathé film:

Harold Lloyd, Safety Last, re-released

Harold Lloyd's Safety Last has been restored and will be release on Blu-ray and DVD this June. The collection will have David Gill and Kevin Brownlow's excellent documentary called The Third Genius.

To celebrate the new release, digital and 35MM copies of the film will be shown in theaters across the county starting in April. Check this list to see if at a theatre near you.

Here is the new trailer by Janus Films for the theater release.

2013 Charlie Chaplin Comedy Film Festival

August 22 - 25th, 2013

Charlie Chaplin Comedy Film Festival 2013

Everyman Palace Theatre
Cork, Ireland

More at Chaplin Film Festival home website

CINETECA DI BOLOGNA 2013

Allan Dawn, the Noble Primitive

Photo: Allan Dwan on the set of Stage Struck (1925)

After von Sternberg, Capra, Ford, Hawks and Walsh, this year’s tribute will be dedicated to Allan Dwan. His career spans from 1911 – the days of Griffith and Ince – to 1961 – when the new waves set in – and produced 400 films (some claim 1400), covering every genre and technical novelty: from his early films (finally restored) to the more mature ones, a fine star vehicle for Douglas Fairbanks (Robin Hood, The Iron Mask) and Gloria Swanson alike (Manhandled). In the 30s and 40s Dwan is able to combine a spectacular with a more intimate cinema, to make one of the best anti-McCarthyist works ever made (Silver Lode) and even shoot a number of films in Cinemascope, a format which greatly inspired this ‘poet of the filmic space’. Finally, Most Dangerous Man Alive: an extraordinary end of career.

Silent Hitch

Photo: Alfred Hitchcock in Blackmail (1929)

The restoration of Alfred Hitchcock's nine surviving silent films is definitely one of the most complex and important restoration project undertaken by the BFI National Archive to date. It is now an immense pleasure for us to be the first festival to screen them all, for the first time, in 35mm (despite being also available on DCP) the original format in which they were created by Hitchcock. The collection starts with the sensational The Pleasure Garden, a newly born film which was believed to be lost for many years, and ends with the evergreen Blackmail. Between the two The Lodger, The Ring, Easy Virtue, The Manxman and more, nine works which go well beyond the ‘crime scene’ to reveal Hitchcock’s remarkable inspiration and creative power which made him, while still in his 20s, the leading British director of his times.

Bigger than Life:
a journey through European CinemaScope

Photo: The Round-Up by Miklós Jancsó (1966)

Over the last decade or so, the magnificent screen at the Arlecchino theatre has allowed us to celebrate the marvels of CinemaScope, particularly American CinemaScope at its best, before the format somewhat lost its inspiration and motives. We will now look at the magic of the ‘European Scope’ – so defined to take into account all of the variations the widescreen systems adopted in our continent. This section will include the best achivements from both Eastern and Western Europe, such as Marlen Khutsiyev’s works (July Rain, one of the greatest Russian films from the New Wave); Vasiliy Shukshin (perhaps his greatest, Happy Go Lucky); Miklós Jancsó (with The Round-Up a legendary study on the machinery of terror); Jean-Pierre Melville (with a too little known gem by Simenon, L'Ainé des Ferchaux), Mario Monicelli (La grande guerra) as well as Alexander MacKendrick’s journey through a child’s soul with Sammy Going South.

War is near: 1938-1939

Photo: Erich von Stroheim in Menaces by Edmond Gréville (1940)

If, following our planet’s destruction, an alien was to visit a film archive and watch the films that were made in 1938-39, he would get a clear glimpse of the madness to come. Nonetheless, we have decided not to program the most obvious anticipations, but rather earlier films which captivate fear and frail hopes, random shadows, inconclusive dialogues, everything that the greatest films around that period, such as Renoir's La Règle du jeu, did so miraculously. Our round trip to these troubled times will include Menaces (Edmond T. Gréville), Paradis perdu (Abel Gance), White Illness (Hugo Haas), Sans lendemain (Max Ophuls), Engineer Kochin’s Error (Alexandr Macheret), Three Comrades (Frank Borzage), Pour la mérite (Karl Ritter).

Letters from Chris Marker

Photo: Chris Marker

Chris Marker was a unique soul. His essay film came to light after a gestation period which happened to be a very special one, the golden age of the French short film in the 1950s. André Bazin defined Lettre de Sibérie, the most legendary of Marker's early films: "I would say, an essay documented by film. The important word is 'essay', understood in the same sense that it has in literature – an essay at once historical and political, written by a poet as well”. Our tribute to Marker will focus on his early works, some of which have been very hard to see lately: Un Dimanche à Pekin, Description d'un combat (which has disappeared from the face of the earth for almost 50 years), La Jetée, Le Joli mai, La Sixième face du pentagone, together with ...A Valparaiso by Joris Ivens with a commentary &nd ash; nobody surpassed him in commentaries – by Chris Marker.

Japan Speaks Out, Part 2!
Song and Social Realism

Photo: Enoken Seishun Suikoden (Enoken’s Youthful Water Margin) by Kajiro Yamamoto (1934) (From National Film Centre of Tokyo)

By the mid-1930s, sound technology had become more widely disseminated in Japan as both studios and theatres invested in the new medium. By 1933, the Tokyo-based P.C.L. (Photo Chemical Laboratory) and the Kyoto-based Studio J.O. had begun production with the remit of producing sound films exclusively. But the transition was still a slow one, and it was not until 1936 that the majority of films produced in Japan were made with sound. The period thus marks an almost unique instance in which sound films were made alongside silents, and in which the aesthetic potential of new sound technologies were gradually assimilated and developed.

This second part of an ongoing retrospective of Japanese sound films from this transitional period focuses on three studios active in this key period. The work of P.C.L., with its stress on musicality, urban life and its at times trenchant so cial commentary, highlights the troubled modernity of 1930s Japan. Studio J.O., with which P.C.L. would ultimately merge into Toho, shared these concerns, but its base in Kyoto allowed it in addition to produce numerous jidai-geki (period films), most sadly lost. The jidai-geki was also the speciality of Nikkatsu, a studio that stretched back to 1912 but which now sought to fuse traditional narratives with the new sound technology, creating a distinctive style of realist period drama. Programme curated by Alexander Jacoby e Johan Nordström, in collaboration with Tokyo National Film Center.

And also… Recovered & Restored Charlie Chaplin at Mutual One Hundred Years Ago: Glorious 1913 Preobrazhenskaya and Pravov Théâtre Morieux, le Cinématographe Ritrovato Tenderly Ironic: Vittorio De Sica, actor and director Homage to Xie Jin Autour du Monde Emulsion matters: Orwo and Nova Vlna (1963-1968) Italia Taglia, 100 Years of italian censorship Film Restoration Roundtables Cinema masterclasses Il Cinema Ritrovato DVD Awards (10th edition) As in previous years, the Renzo Renzi Library will host the Film Publishing Fair (Books, DVD, antique and vintage goods) and the Schermi e Lavagne Project with many educational activities for young cinéphiles. MORE TO COME ABOUT CINETECA DI BOLOGNA HERE

Bologna Welcome – the official tourism website of Bologna – offers a useful, updated and easy information service to all Il Cinema Ritrovato participants or to all people in town for business or tourism purposes. Participants are advised to book their accommodation in advance in order to take advantage of the dedicated rates. Discover the Bologna Welcome offers here!

HULU - CHAPLIN's CLASSICS, FREE for three days!

Spend this weekend watching
CHAPLIN and PURVIANCE
on HULU (USA)!

LAST FEW HOURS! 
ONLY THREE DAYS LEFT!
To see the Criterion Collection of Chaplin's films
that includes the full films of all his First National,
United Artist and two British productions

Which includes Edna Purviance's starring role in A Woman of Paris!

There is also a sampling of the documentaries made for the collection

1) Chaplin's never made Napoléon film
2) John Bengston essay on film location for Modern Times
3) Documentary on the special effects for Modern Times
4) Behind the scenes of the making of Modern Times with Jeffrey Vance

ALSO, a link to VIKI.COM, where you will find 55 Chaplin films available to see
from the Mutual, Essanay and Keystone era!

Again, only three days left! To see the Criterion Chaplin films on HULU!
All for FREE!

Tribute to Edna Purviance & Charlie Chaplin

A fan's Edna and Charlie tribute...

Latest Editions to The Chaplin Library

Latest Books to Dominique's
The Chaplin Library

February 5, 2013 - Dominique has sent in more covers for The Chaplin library. This month's highlights include:


1) 1917 book called 'The Chronicles of Charlie Chaplin 'The Official "Chaplin" book based on the Essanay-Chaplin Photoplays.

2) 1920 Spanish book called Charlie Chaplin "Charlot"

3) 2006 edition of Charlie Chaplin Stories in the language of Kannada.


See the latest updates at this link and the full listing here.


ALSO, check out Edna's book guide for books available to add to your collection. LINK 

Edna's Book Guide for Chaplin books 

We're always adding more updates, so come back for the latest! 

Completed Rainbow Orchid, interview with Garen Ewing

Interview with author and comic book creator
GAREN EWING

A conversation about the completing of Garen's adventure book
'The Rainbow Orchid' and his continued Adventures of Julius Chancer

With Table Chat host, Linda Wada

I'm very excited to share with you my second interview with Garen Ewing, the creator of Julius Chancer and his Rainbow Orchid comic book.

In our first interview in April 2009 (Imagination to Print), we talked about the creation and history of The Rainbow Orchid, just before Garen saw his first printed book from Egmont UK.

In this January 2013 interview, we pick-up where we left off. We talk about finishing the book, the promoting, foreign editions, special research projects, comic workshops and the future of Julius Chancer.

This interview is 1 hour and 9 minutes. So grab your favorite beverage, and have a listen. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have, as we continued the Adventures of Julius Chancer!

A heartily thanks to Garen, for sharing his valuable time with us today, as he shares his 'adventures' in the comic book creating.  LINK TO AUDIO INTERVIEW

Chaplin Pathéscope 'Behind the Screen'

Here's another wonderful Pathéscope 9.5 mm print version of Chaplin's 'Behind the Screen.'

This heavily re-edited film was renamed 'Movie-Making' and shows different takes of the same scenes not seen in the official well-known released film.

Overall, many of the clips are sharper and have more detail, than the official releases. Grab a cup of tea and enjoy! (about 13 minutes - Thanks to Unknown Cinema)

Easy Street from Pathéscope print

Thanks to Unknown Cinema, here is a Pathéscope 9.5mm print version of EASY STREET with Edna Purviance, Eric Campbell and Charles Chaplin.

It is about six minutes shorter than the more well known versions on DVD. But if you watch the well known versions often, you will spot differences in watching this. Enjoy!

Napoléon is coming to LONDON in NOVEMBER 2013!

NOVEMBER 2013

Abel Gance's 

Napoléon 

Royal Festival Hall
November 30, 2013 - London, England

with Carl Davis and the Philharmonia Orchestra

RARE EVENT! Tickets on sale soon
NOW! and it appears to be nearly sold out for Nov. 30th Check this link for seats still available
(At this update, no word on an added date)

This is the trailer from last year's presentation in Oakland, California.

Check this link at Silent London and watch for more information when available.

Coming TCM silent film highlights

Get TCM USA? Here are some dates to mark on your TCM calendar for silent film and Chaplin  highlights:


TCM USA Viewers: Here are a few highlights to mark on your calendar:

January 19th

Hollywood My Hometown (1965)

Ken Murray - Documentary - Includes footage of many stars, including silent film stars like Charlie and Syd Chaplin.

February 8th

Sunrise (1927) - George O' Brien and Janet Gaynor.

Primetime showings

February 19th

The Racket (1928) - With Thomas Meighan and Marie Prevost.

Wings (1927) - With Clara Bow and Charles 'Buddy' Rogers.

March 1st

The Circus - with Merna Kennedy and Henry Bergman

And a couple 'talkie' Chaplin films:

March 1st

Monsieur Verdoux - with Martha Raye

March 5th

Limelight - with Clara Bloom and Sydney Chaplin, jr.

GREAT - Did the Nazis ever see Charlie Chaplin's The Great Dictator?

GREAT

Yugoslavia, 1942: based on a true and astonishing resistance story
about the Nazis and Charlie Chaplin's 'The Great Dictator' film

Dog Ear Films

"May 10th, 1942: a relatively minor event on the brink of world history, which, had it not really happened, would certainly be worth of being dreamt up. All of Yugoslavia is occupied by Nazi-Germany. Nikola, a young Serbian projectionist, has had more than enough.

Instead of emulating his violent Partisan friends, Nikola decides to teach the Germans a lesson all by himself. His weapon of choice: ,The Great Dictator‘ by Charlie Chaplin. His target: a cinema for German soldiers right in the heart of Serbia. What happens there, Nikola couldn't possibly have imagined in his wildest dreams.  GREAT, Facebook Fan page

GREAT (2013), the new film directed by Andreas Henn and from Dog Ear Films covers this story. It releases early this year. Here is the preview trailer. Hopefully, this will be available widely to see.

Update: According to the press kit, this is a short film (22 minutes). Hopefully, it will be available in some format for fans to see.

The Caravan's Trail, Charles Chaplin's Untold Story

The Caravan's Trail, Charles Chaplin's Untold Story
by Michael Chaplin and Stany Coppet

The documentary following the trail to Charlie Chaplin's possible gypsy roots. Here is a brief clip from the current production. More about the project here from NewArts Entertainment. LINK

Matthew Sweet - Chaplin and Music

December 29th, 2012
CHAPLIN AND MUSIC
with Matthew Sweet

BBC 3 Radio
Online for the next seven days
LINK

Special SMILE recording for Christmas

UK singer, Katherine Crowe, gets her dream chance to record SMILE at the Abbey Road Studios in London. Crowe, who is terminal ill with cancer, plans to use the proceeds from the record sales to help fund new cancer programs. Her recording will be in the running for the annual UK Christmas #1 countdown. You can read more at this BBC News link.