Beggars of Life, with Louise Brooks, screens in the UK

Beggars of Life, starring Louise Brooks, will be shown at the Kennington Bioscope / Cinema Museum (2 Dugard Way, off Renfrew Road) in London, England later today. The film will be shown with live musical accompaniment by acclaimed performer Neil Brand. More about this event can be found HERE.

According to the Cinema Museum website: "We start our new season with Beggars of Life (1928), directed by William A. Wellman, from the autobiography by Jim Tully and play by Maxwell Anderson, with cinematography by Henry W. Gerrard.

The film features Wallace Beery and Richard Arlen as hobos, and Louise Brooks as a young woman who dresses as a young man and flees the law. The film is notable for its portrayal of societal outcasts and the struggles of the homeless. It’s a blend of drama and adventure, offering insights into the desperation and challenges faced by those living on the fringes of society.

The screening will feature the film’s theme song entitled Beggars of Life which was composed by J. Keirn Brennan and Karl Hajos.

The first part of the programme will also feature: 

• A Mountaineering Memory (USA 1918). A 4K digital restoration from 35mm nitrate, with beautiful tints – and lots of snow! Filmed by Clarence Lyon Chester for his series: Outing-Chester in collaboration with the sporting magazine Outing. A scenic record of a climb to the remote Mount Assiniboine, the “Matterhorn of the Rockies.”
•  
• The Mercenary aka Le reître (France 1912). Pathe stencil colour, a 4K digital restoration from 35mm nitrate. A Séries d’Art Pathe production with Louis Ravet. Skullduggery in the reign of King Francis II. 

Live piano accompaniment for Beggars of Life will be by Neil Brand. Supporting programme accompanied by John Sweeney. Event introduced by Michelle Facey.

Silent film with intertitles which may be suitable for the deaf and hard of hearing."

I have been to the historic Cinema Museum, and can state without reservation that it is a great venue to see a film. More about Beggars of Life can be found on the newly revamped Louise Brooks Society website on the Beggars of Life (filmography page).

Want to learn more about this historic film? Be sure and check out Beggars of Life: A Companion to the 1928 Film by Thomas Gladysz. This 2017 Louise Brooks Society publication looks at the film Oscar-winning director William Wellman thought his finest silent movie. the book comes with more than 50 little seen images, and a foreword by William Wellman, Jr. It's a must read for every fan, and the perfect companion to the Kino Lorber DVD. And what's more, the book is available on amazon in the United States and in the United Kingdom.

“This highly readable book will deepen your enjoyment and understanding of a silent Hollywood classic.” — Pamela Hutchinson, author of Pandora’s Box (BFI Film Classics)

"I cannot help but give this an enthusiastic two thumbs up. It really is the perfect companion, before or after you have seen the film. The volume might be slim, but, it is packed with information and rare photographs. It has been impeccably researched and beautifully executed.... This is a thorough examination of the film from start to finish and written in a breezy style that is not only informative, it is a very entertaining read." -- Donna Hill, Strictly Vintage Hollywood
 

THE LEGAL STUFF: The Louise Brooks Society™ blog is authored by Thomas Gladysz, Director of the Louise Brooks Society  (www.pandorasbox.com). Original contents copyright © 2025. Further unauthorized use prohibited. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.