Not Edna Purviance, but another Essanay Gal

Today, I found another 'Not Edna Purviance' in the ebay listings. The seller didn't know the film, but only that the actor was Rodney Hildebrand.

By searching the film listings for Hildebrand, I found a listing of Essanay films he did with an actress name Ruth Saville.

By searching for images of Ruth, I located a portrait of her from a photo archive. The portrait and the ebay seller's image appear to be the same person.

The film looks to be one called 'Her Lesson' (an Essanay film from 1916) but not for sure.

Edna Purviance only worked in Chaplin's films at Essanay in 1915.


But, I was able to do this, by researching the actor's name, and following leads to actresses he worked with. The seller, in this case, just assumed, it was Edna, but it is not.

Happy 100th Charlie Chaplin!

Greeting in Charlie Chaplin's 100th year, since being in his first film, with the presentation of the London 2014 Firework show. Set at The London Eye, on the banks of The Thames, by Royal Festival Hall and close to where Chaplin grew-up, what better way to kick off this year! Thanks, BBC One!

Garen Ewing's 'Napoléon' adventure

On November 30th, 2013, I had the great pleasure of seeing Kevin Brownlow's restored film of Abel Gance's NAPOLEON in London, at the Royal Festival Hall. And, equally so, I got to see it with comic creator, and silent film fan, Garen Ewing. Garen had wanted to see the film, since reading Kevin Brownlow's acclaimed book "The Parade's Gone By."

Here is Garen's excellent report about the film history and recent showing in London. It also includes Kevin Brownlow lecture on the film, held at BFI on December 10th. LINK

Clara Bow "It Girl" by comic artist Jessica Martin

Ever since I was introduced to Garen Ewing's The Rainbow Orchid, I have kept an eye out on other graphic novels/comic books, with a story based in the 1920's and in the silent film era.

Here is a brand new one created by Jessica Martin called "It Girl." It's based on the biography of Clara Bow's life. It's Martin's first comic and is available worldwide from her online shop. Certainly worth looking into for those who love silent films and looking to add some original new items to your collection. I certainly plan too!

'The retro period feel of the piece is gorgeously observed and beautifully referenced, and Martin's visual interpretation of Clara has an almost haunting authenticity…'

                                                                      Broken Frontier

Always enjoy seeing a new generation of people captured by the silent film era. Thanks, Jessica, for making Clara your first! (Thanks to Garen for leading me to this.)

Link to Martin's shop.

London's The Cinema Museum uniform collection

Ten years ago, I traveled to Great Britain in November 2003 to see a three day Charlie Chaplin film event. So, this year, I made another trip back to Britain to see NAPOLEON at the Royal Festival Hall. It was a wonderful trip, and I have some reports to follow. But for now, an online tour of one the places visited, called The Cinema Museum in London.

This video was made a few years ago by David Trigg, detailing the vast collection of uniforms once used during the golden age of cinema. Featured is the museum founder, Ronald Grant.



In coming weeks, I will have about our visit to the museum, on ednapurviance.org.

Garen Ewing wins the 'Young People's Comic Award' in Leeds!

As a longtime fan of Garen's Ewing's 'The Rainbow Orchid,' very excited to see Garen win the British Comic 'Young People Comic Award' in Leeds, at Thought Bubble Friday, for his book, The Complete Rainbow Orchid. The winner was voted on by the children of Britain, which makes it extra special. Hearty Congratulations to Garen! Very Happy for you, in winning is award.

Here's some more about it from Forbidden Planet.

The Rainbow Orchid on iPad

It's finally here! Garen Ewing's The Rainbow Orchid is now available on iPad through Sequential. And to introduce you to it, is Garen showing us all the great features this new format provides. Read more about it here, at Garen's official Rainbow Orchid site.

A Gance's at Napoleon

For those who maybe going to Kevin Brownlow's showing of Napoleon at the Royal Festival Hall on November 30th, be thankful you got your seats, as my last look shows all the regular seats as being sold out for this special event.

But, going or not, here is a short clip of Abel Gance's film, titled Napoleon's vision of the siege of Toulon. A glimpse into director's Gance's filmmaking vision.

How the San Francisco Silent Film Festival got Napoleon

With only three weeks to the showing of Napoleon in London at the Royal Festival Hall, thought we look back at the showing in Oakland in the spring of 2012.

In this video interview, San Francisco Silent Film artistic director, Antia Monga, and executive director, Stacey Wisnia, talk about silent films, and how they got Kevin Brownlow's Napoleon.



At this posting, counted 13 regular seats left for the November 30th showing.

Max Linder and Abel Gance's 'Au Secours!'

Anyone who is a longtime Charlie Chaplin fan, knows that Max Linder was one of Chaplin's idols before Chaplin got into films. But did you know Max Linder also worked with Abel Gance?

In honor of the Napoleon showing in London on November 30th, here is look at the film Max Linder and Abel Gance made together called 'Au Secours!' (French film). Released before Napoleon, it's a good look at the style of editing so favorited by Gance's work. Besides that, it's fun film to watch.

Note: This video appeared to be recorded at a live event, as the soundtrack suggests.

Napoleon showing Ovation in Oakland

For today's Napoleon post, here is the standing ovation received at the San Francisco Silent Film showing of the film, in the spring of 2012. There were four showings at the Oakland Paramount Theatre, over two separate weekends, so don't know for sure, when this was filmed.

Abel Gance's NAPOLEON on a 3.99:1 screen! from H.P. Mendoza on Vimeo.



Tracking all followers to this site.

Learning about Napoleon, before seeing the film

When Abel Gance's started his work on Napoleon, he envisioned doing an extended series of several films to cover his life. Due to the sheer time and cost, he did only one film. The London showing will show nearly five and half hours of the currently restored version by Kevin Brownlow.

The film doesn't cover all of Napoleon's life, only part of it. This PBS documentary on Napoleon is a great introduction to him. Part one roughly covers the years presented in Gance's film. (Personally, I found it best to watch the full documentary, as a refresher on his life.)



Just remember, Gance's film is his own version of Napoleon life, not a documentary. If you have watched other Gance's work, you already have a fairly good idea of his storytelling style. An excellent pre-film book to read is Kevin Brownlow's NAPOLEON. It goes into detail on how the film was made. It could increase your appreciation on the creating of the production, and a great edition to your silent film library, whether you are going to the film or not.

For more, here is a series of my post about NAPOLEON.

Also, for those who like reading reviews, before seeing a film, this thread on Nitrate has varies reviews about the US showing and others. I post the thread link, for those who maybe interested. As I mentioned on my blog before, if you are planning on seeing it, I think it's best to see a film through your own eyes and experiences.

Update at this posting: For the Napoleon showing at the Royal Festival Hall on November 30th, about 25 seats left.

Harry Langdon in Tramp, Tramp, Tramp

November 19, 2013

Tramp, Tramp, Tramp

starring Harry Langdon

Cinema Arts Centre

Huntington, New York

with accompanist by Ben Model

"In this hilarious comedy, beloved silent screen star Harry Langdon stars as a shoemaker’s son who enters a cross-country race in an attempt to save the family business - never noticing that the race is staged to publicize the huge footwear corporation that is crushing his father’s livelihood. Harry woos the corporate boss’s daughter, a young and fetching Joan Crawford." - Cinema Arts Centre

Kevin Brownlow interview

At this posting there is only about 35 seats left for the special NAPOLEON showing at the Royal Festival Hall in London on November 30th. So, still a chance to be part of this rare screening.

Meanwhile, if you missed this before, here is Kevin Brownlow in an interview at the Killruddery Silent Film Festival from 2009 in Ireland (festival Brownlow helped started). While not directly about Napoleon, this 19 minute talk starts with his introduction to silent film to today's trends in showing them. Thanks to DocumentAVI for the recording and posting.

Kevin Brownlow at Killruddery Silent Film Festival 2009 from DOCUMENTAVI on Vimeo.

Chaplin and Napoleon

For years, Charlie Chaplin had thoughts of creating a film about Napoleon. Edna Purviance was the first person he was going to have play Josephine, but as the years passed, his other leading ladies were told they would have the role.

Chaplin never made Napoleon, but his thoughts of making it are still in paper form as saved now at the Chaplin Archives in Italy. Here is a look at Chaplin Napoleon documents, as presented by narrator Dan Stewart.