Adventure Films 'Hidden Fortress'

Garen and Murray are back with number four of their talks about Garen's favorite Adventure Films. This time, they take us to Japan with the work of Akira Kurosawa 'Hidden Fortress' from 1958. This film is known as the one that inspired George Lucas for his Star War series.

If you haven't seen it, you should add to your must see list. Surprisingly funny and masterfully directed. This is a detailed talk, so filled with spoilers, but delightful chat about the film that inspired Garen to do this podcast series. LINK

Hidden Fortress Trailer

July summer fun at Niles Silent Film Museum!

 

 Friday July 1, 2011
8:00 PM - Suggested donation $5
Fremont Occasional Theatre Presents
Celebrating the American Movie Musical
Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942, Warner Bros)

 Saturday July 2
7:30 PM - Suggested donation $5
Frederick Hodges (piano)
The Wrecker (1929, Gainsborough Pictures)

Preceded by shorts:
Ask Father (1919, Rolin) Harold Lloyd, Bebe Daniels, Margaret Joslin
The Ropin’ Fool (1921, Pathe) Will Rogers in the complete 2–reel version – more rope tricks!

 Saturday July 9
7:30 PM - Suggested donation $5
Frederick Hodges (piano)
Raffles, the Amateur Cracksman (1917, L. Lawrence Webber Photo Drama, tinted)

Preceded by shorts:
Fox Trot Finesse (1915, Vitagraph) Mr. & Mrs. Sidney Drew
The Silent Trailer (1926, Van Pelt Productions

Sunday July 10
4:00 PM - Suggested donation $5
LAUREL & HARDY TALKIE MATINEE
Washee Ironee (1934) Our Gang
Be Big (1930) Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy
Canned Fishing (1938) Our Gang
Chickens Come Home (1931) Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy

July 16 and 17, 2011
Film Fundraiser to Protect Niles Canyon
Join the Alameda Creek Alliance and Save Canyon
Includes showing of 'River of Renewal'

Friday July 22
8:00 PM - Suggested donation $5
Fremont Occasional Theatre Presents
Celebrating the American Movie Musical
On the Town (1949, MGM)

Saturday July 23
7:30 PM - Suggested donation $5
Greg Pane (piano)
COMEDY SHORT SUBJECT NIGHT
Triple Trouble (1918, Essanay) Charlie Chaplin, Edna Purviance
No Father to Guide Him (1925, Hal Roach) Charley Chase
The Balloonatic (1923, Buster Keaton) Buster Keaton
The Finishing Touch (1928, Roach) Laurel and Hardy

Saturday July 30
7:30 PM - Suggested donation $5
Bruce Loeb (piano)
The Night Bird (1928, Universal, tinted)
 

Preceded by shorts:
Why Pick on Me? (1918, Rolin) Harold Lloyd, Bebe Daniels
Movieland (1926, Lupino Lane Comedy Corp.) Lupino Lane

Sunday July 31
4:00 PM - Members $6, non-members $8
Back by Popular Demand
Tom Wyrsch’s Remembering Playland at the Beach(2010), a full length documentary about San Francisco’s famous 10-acre seaside amusement park located next to Ocean Beach.

Here is a preview:

Contact the Niles Silent Film Museum in Fremont, California for more details.
Don't forget to stop by it heading for San Francisco Silent Film Festival in July!

2011 San Francisco Silent Film Festival

 July 14-17, 2011
Castro Theatre - San Francisco
with special guest, Kevin Brownlow

With live music by...

Alloy Orchestra (USA)
Stephen Horne (UK) on piano, accordion, flute
Dennis James (USA) on the Castro’s world-famous Mighty Wurlitzer
Matti Bye Ensemble (Sweden)
Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra (USA)
Donald Sosin (USA) on piano, also conducting a small ensemble on opening night
Giovanni Spinelli (USA) on electric guitar
Visit the official site for more details

Herb Alpert's tribute to Charlie Chaplin

In 1966, I didn't know about Charlie Chaplin, but I did know Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Band. My father would pump quarters into the cafe table side juke box and play 'Whipped Cream' many times on a Friday night dinner out. Being a Charlie Chaplin fan now, wonderful to see this charming tribute by Herb Alpert and the band, on the Charlie Chaplin Studio lot. (Thanks to the Kansas Silent Film Festival for the link.) Enjoy!

"City Lights' on TCM Essentials

July 2, 2011- Turner Classic Movies will celebrate the 4th of July weekend with a viewing of Charlie Chaplin's 'City Lights' on this week's The Essentials with Alec Baldwin and Robert Osborne. Also mark your calender for a full day of Paulette Goddard, August 2, as part of 2011 'Summer Under the Stars' on TCM.

Garen & Murray, The Treasure of the Sierra Madre

This week's Adventure Films with Garen and Murray Ewing, brings us to the west with Humphrey Bograt, Walter Huston and Tim Holt in 'The Treasure of Sierra Madre.' Lively chat about this true classic. Link to Adventure Films program.

http://adventurefilmspodcast.blogspot.com/2011/06/adventure-film-3-treasure-of-sierra.html

After enjoying the program, and like to learn more, here is a link to 'Movies on the Radio' with David Garland. Garland spends a couple of evenings with the music of Max Steiner. Program one includes scores from Gone with the Wind, Casablanca, Cimarron and more. Program two includes scores from King Kong, The Searchers, The Fountainhead and much more... Makes for an enjoyable evening of listening with the Ewings and Garland.


Official Trailer

Authors Lon and Debra Davis, A Hollywood Story

KMTR-TV - Eugene, Oregon - Authors, Lon and Debra Davis celebrate their 25 wedding anniversary through their love of the movies, and their book, 'King of the Movies' Francis X. Bushman.

2011 Youth Silent Film Festival Winners!

Portland, Oregon - Hollywood Theatre - June 11, 2011

Here are the winners for the second annual Youth Silent Film Festival.

First Place Winner - MEMORIES
Julia and Cory Crouser, Sam Barlow High School
Damascus & Troutdale, Oregon


12 Memories (Romance) from Ned Thanhouser on Vimeo.


Second Place Winner - THE LAST VOYAGE OF THE ALERT
Max Reisfer, Bend Senior High School
Bend, Oregon


49 The Last Voyage of the Alert (Horror) from Ned Thanhouser on Vimeo.



Third Place Winner - BROTHER
Isaac Chamberlain, Vancouver School of Arts
Vancouver, Washington


40 Brother (Horror) from Ned Thanhouser on Vimeo.



Audience Award - NEW FRIENDS
Zac York - Vancouver School of the Arts
Vancouver, Washington


New Friends from Ned Thanhouser on Vimeo.


For more about the festival: link to official site here. Congratulations to all the winners, and thanks to everyone who created a silent film for 2011 event. It has come along way from last year and certainly looking forward to more years to come.

Denver Silent Film Festival

September 23-25, 2011, the Denver Silent Film Festival will be held at the King Center, Auraria Campus, at University of Colorado in Denver. This is their first festival. The program will open with Charlie Chaplin and Edna Purviance in 'The Kid' and 'The Immigrant'. More details to come.

Awards weekend for Youth Silent Film Festival

June 11, 2011 - Portland, Oregon - Youth Silent Film Festival
The finalists films will be awarded this weekend. Special report from KGW. Last year, the results were available for viewing, after the event.

'The Man Who Would Be King' with Garen & Murray Ewing

Time for a nice cup of tea and listen to Garen's second adventure film episode, with his brother Murray Ewing, this time covering 'The Man Who Would be King' (1975).

What makes this even more insightful, is Garen's longtime interest, and research, into the 1879-1880 Afghan war. He added some fascinating bits from his own carefully done research into today's program. (Learn more from Garen's The Second Anglo-Afghan War website.)

While I have not seen this film in a while, they peaked my interest in seeing again. It does appear on TCM, but not often enough, so planning to get my own copy. Just click in the image and enjoy! Today's program 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Update: During today's program the film 'A Touch of Zen' was mentioned. It's on my must find and see list, as this clip shows... (Thanks for the mention!)

Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum Needs your VOTE!

Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum in Fremont, California, is looking for your vote to help them win a $25,000 grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation 'THIS PLACE MATTER.' If your not a member, you can vote by registering with the trust. You don't have to be a paid member to help. Just takes a few minutes to help! Thanks... LINK

Garen & Murray Ewing's 'The Adventure Films Podcast'

Yesterday, I had great fun listening to "The Adventure Films Podcast." Created by Garen and his brother Murray Ewing, it is a casual conversation about their love for films. As Garen clearly points out, it's not about historical facts, but about why they love these selected films.




With original music by Murray Ewing, the podcast begins with the 1933 'King Kong' as Garen and Murray share their thoughts about the story, characters, and even some thoughts on the re-make. For me, it was like listening to them in my living room, chatting about the film. A very rare treat.

The brothers will be talking about ten of Garen's favorite adventure films, with a new one planned for each week. These will included: Lawrence of Arabia, Lost Horizon, Hidden Fortress, The Treasure of Sierra Madre, She and more...

I'm certainly looking forward to each program, and I hope you will head over and take a listen too. Big thanks for doing this! LINK

UPDATE EDIT: Here is a BFI interview with Ray Harryhausen, as he remembers his experience of  ''King Kong' for the first time. LINK