Seattle street art

I just came across this image on Flickr. It depicts street art in Seattle, Washington (I believe), and is part of an image set depicting other works posted around town. I think it is pretty cool. 

Douglas Messerli article

Publisher and editor Douglas Messerli has posted an article on the nthposition.com website on two films by G.W. Pabst, Pandora's Box and The Threepenny Opera. His piece is a kind of meditation on the films. It is interesting, and provocative. It's a piece that is well worth reading. Check it out here.

Louise Brooks stars in Los Angeles series

My illustrated article on Louise Brooks and the upcoming film series devoted to her is now online. 

Los Angeles has long had a love affair with Louise Brooks. That relationship continues with a series of Wednesday night screenings at the Silent Movie Theatre on North Fairfax Avenue. Throughout May, the quirky cinema showcase will screen four films featuring the legendary silent film star.
 

Check it my article at http://www.examiner.com/x-7605-SF-Silent-Film-Examiner~y2009m5d3-Louise-Brooks-stars-in-Los-Angeles-series

Prix de beaute on TV

At this very moment, I am watching the closing scene of  Prix de Beaute on the ARTS channel. How thrilling it is to see Louise Brooks on television. Feelings of discovery, wonder, happiness. . . Are others watching?

[In the United States, the ARTS Channel shows musical clips from old movies intermixed with classical music video.]

Not forgotten

Silent Film Stars on the Stages of Seattle

I've just posted a review of Silent Film Stars on the Stages of Seattle, a new book by Eric Flom. I recommend it. My article can be found at examiner.com  This new book is film history seen through the lens of the local.



Louise Brooks never visited Seattle, but many of her contemporaries and co-stars did - everyone from Ted Shawn to Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton and Rudolph Valentino. Their stories are told in Silent Film Stars on the Stages of Seattle.

Dance inspired by Louise Brooks

The silent film star Louise Brooks, a one time member of Denishawn and an exhibition dancer later in life, is the inspiration behind a dance piece in Spain. The piece is called "Sono Silente," or "Silent Dream."

Dolores Mayan, artistic director and choreographer of the company, sent me an email about the performance. More information, including images, text and video can be found at the dance company's website at www.bstudiodanza.com/ Additional information can be found at www.bstudiodanza.com/pageID_6666168.html

According to her email, her choreography was "inspired by the actress Louise Brooks" and her still "potent image" - and in particular two of her movies, The Canary Murder Case and Pandora's Box. Bangs, black bobs, expressive physical behavior and cages which echo those seen in The Canary Murder Case can be seen in the video clip seen below.




From the Bstudiodanza website: "La compañía Bstudiodanza estrena su último espectáculo, Sono Silente de la directora Dolores Mayán que nos acerca una reflexión teórica sobre el sistema sexo-género. Y lo hace a través de dos filmes de Louise Brooks, la actriz norteamericana e icono del cine mudo de los años 30. La pieza evidencia el devenir preformativo de la feminidad y ‘la mascarada’ teorizada por Joan Riviere en un trabajo de gran carga simbólica y poética.

Tomando como referente dos de sus filmes más conocidos, ‘The Canary Murder Case’ y ‘Pandora’s Box’, Sono Silente trata de analizar los estereotipos que rodean a la feminidad en el discurso cinematográfico de la época, para describir y clasificar los roles asignados en función del género.

La relación entre el concepto y la coreografía conforma una plataforma a partir de la cual los cuerpos se apropian del movimiento de una forma reflexiva, recontextualizando los patrones establecidos y abriendo campos de búsqueda.

Con este espectáculo al igual que con los dos anteriores, ‘De Meu’ y ‘Corpos Reflexivos’, BStudiodanza pretende contar historias cercanas que despierten la curiosidad del público y la reflexión dentro de una plástica más sensorial que racional. La historia adquiere importancia, al igual que el guión y el trabajo de las bailarinas Emilia Pardo, Natalia Iglesias, Vanesa Otero y Celia Mayer."

Louise Brooks screenings in LA

Four Louise Brooks films will be shown in May at the Silent Movie Theatre in Los Angeles, California. If I lived in Southern California, I would not miss these screening. For more information, see http://silentmovietheatre.com/calendar/wednesday.html#may

5/6 @ 8pm / SERIES: Louise Brooks
Pandora's Box
Description coming soon...
Tickets - $10

5/13 @ 8pm / SERIES: Louise Brooks
Diary Of A Lost Girl
Tickets - $10

5/20 @ 8pm / SERIES: Louise Brooks
It's The Old Army Game
Tickets - $10

5/27 @ 8pm / SERIES: Louise Brooks 
Beggars Of Life 
Tickets - $10

Meredith from the UK

Yesterday, my wife and I had lunch with Meredith Lawrence, longtime member of the LBS from Nottingham, England who was here in San Francisco on a visit. Meredith brought me some Louise Brooks goodies from across the pond. Thank you Meredith. it was a pleasure to see you again!