Get Lost in the 1920s at the Toronto Silent Film Festival

Louise Brooks had long had a connection to Toronto, Canada. She first visited the city in April, 1924 as a member of the Denishawn Dance Company, performing for two nights at the historic Massey Music Hall. And of course, her various films played in various theatres in Toronto throughout the 1920s and 1930s. 

After Brooks moved to Rochester, New York in the late 1950s, she spent many an evening listening to radio broadcast out of Toronto, notably the CBC. She also gained friends and followers among Canada's film historians, and herself became a patron of the Toronto Film Society. Brooks even penned some film notes for screenings put on by the group. (An entire chapter devoted to Canada will be included in volume one of my forthcoming, two volume work, Around the World with Louise Brooks.)

I mention all this as a prelude to mentioning that the Toronto Silent Film Festival, Canada’s only silent film festival, is set to take place November 11-13, 2022 at the Revue Cinema (400 Roncesvalles Ave.). If you live in Toronto and have never been, why not check it out. More information may be found HERE or at www.torontosilentfilmfestival.com

Though this year's festival is not showing any Louise Brooks films (maybe next year? maybe The Street of Forgotten Men ?), but they are showing films by and featuring individuals with whom Brooks worked, namely Herbert Brenon, Wallace Beery, Adolphe Menjou and Thomas Meighan. They are also showing films starring Brooks contemporaries, namely Gloria Swanson, Pola Negri, and Lya de Putti.  I wish I could be there! This year's five film program includes a gripping real life adventure, a bunch of wild comedy shorts, screen divas, and a noirish thrillers  -- each film paired with talented accompanists to make each film screening a one-of-a-kind experience.

SOUTH 1919 UK
NEW 2K REMASTER B/W WITH TINTING AND TONING, 88 MIN
DIRECTOR: FRANK HURLEY
ACCOMPANIST: MORGAN-PAIGE MELBOURNE

1000 LAFFS: MACK & MAYHEM
120 MIN WITH INTRODUCTION
ACCOMPANIST: JORDAN KLAPMAN

THE SPANISH DANCER 1923 USA
96 MIN RESTORED B/W  WITH TINTING
DIRECTOR: HERBERT BRENON
CAST: POLA NEGRI, ANTONIO MORENO, ADOLPHE MENJOU, WALLACE BERRY
ACCOMPANIST: MARILYN LERNER

WHY CHANGE YOUR WIFE? 1920 USA
90 MIN
DIRECTOR: CECIL B. DEMILLE
CAST: GLORIA SWANSON, THOMAS MEIGHAN, BEBE DANIELS
ACCOMPANIST: TANIA GILL

THE INFORMER 1929 UK
99 MIN
B/W, TINTED
DIRECTOR: ARTHUR ROBISON
CAST: LARS HANSON, LYA DE PUTTI, WARWICK WARD, CARL HARBORD
ACCOMPANIST: BILL O'MEARA

The Louise Brooks Society blog is authored by Thomas Gladysz, Director of the Louise Brooks Society. (www.pandorasbox.com). Original contents copyright © 2022. Further unauthorized use prohibited.