Saturday, December 31, 2016

German Avant-Garde Films in Japan, 1926

In the silent era, language was no barrier to films fro Europe or the United States being shown elsewhere around the world, including Japan. Then, as now, Japan had an active and curious film culture. And that curiosity extend to "avant-garde" films from abroad, including German movies made in the "New Objective" and Expressionist styles. Here are a few examples of German films shown in Japan in 1926. They are the G.W. Pabst directed film The Joyless Street (1925), starring      Greta Garbo, Asta Nielsen, and Werner Krauss; the horrific Robert Weine directed The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920), starring Werner Krauss, Conrad Veidt, and Lil Dagover; and lastly, the Hans Neuman directed A Midsummer Night's Dream, starring yet again once more Werner Krauss.






And yes, the expressionist tinged G.W. Pabst directed Louise Brooks film, Pandora's Box (1929) was also shown in Japan. Come back next year, tomorrow, for another special treat from Japan.

Friday, December 30, 2016

A Look Back at this year's Louise Brooks Society Blog

This year, the Louise Brooks Society posted nearly 200 times. Some were short form posts, and some were long form. As a blogger, I am especially proud of the long form pieces which broke new ground, or revealed some new information about Louise Brooks. Here are a few of my favorite posts: if you haven't already checked them out, please do so.

Louise Brooks, at the corner of Brooklyn Avenue and 16th Street

Beggars of Life recording sessions, the details

Louise Brooks, Modernism, the Surrealists, and the Paris of 1930


Louise Brooks at a drive-in and other firsts from the 1950s

 
Louise Brooks as "Lulu the Sinful"

When Louise Brooks almost signed with Pathe

Louise Brooks asks just how short is a short skirt...

Louise Brooks and The Invention of Morel, by Adolpo Bioy Casares

First known event advertisement to name Louise Brooks



Some of these posts proved popular, some less so. Nevertheless, all of them gained at least 100 hits or reads. The following posts stand out as they gained more than 500 hits or reads. A few approached 1000.


Stacks of Brooks

Since this blog was started (on LiveJournal), there have been nearly 2800 posts.  I hope you have enjoyed reading them. There are more to come. Next year, 2017, promises to be a great year for fans of the actress--with the expected release of a new book, at least one new DVD, multiple screenings around the world, and an unprecedented announcement that will rock LB fans everywhere!

Thursday, December 29, 2016

Now Online: Treasures From American Film Archives

The National Film Preservation Foundation (NFPF) has made freely available for online viewing 47 films from its first DVD set, Treasures from American Film Archives. Originally released in 2000 and hailed by Roger Ebert as “a treasure trove of old, obscure, forgotten, rediscovered, and fascinating footage from the first century of film,” Treasures marked the first time that America’s archives had joined forces to share their films with home video audiences and showcase the amazing range of American films. It received an award from the National Society of Film Critics and was called the “best set of the year” by The New York Times.  

Treasures eventually sold out, as did an Encore edition made possible through the support of the Cecil B. De Mille Foundation. We are committed to keeping the Treasures films accessible to the public and now present them on our website.

Mastered from the finest archival sources, the 47 films include the first feature-length Snow White (1916), Western star William S. Hart in Hell’s Hinges (1916), The Toll of the Sea (1922) in two-strip Technicolor, The Fall of the House of Usher (1928) by James Sibley Watson Jr. and Melville Webber, John Huston’s searing antiwar documentary The Battle of San Pietro (1945), and footage of Orson Welles's 1936 “Voodoo” Macbeth. Together they represent 10 stunning hours, including the first publicly exhibited movie, cutting-edge avant-garde works, silent-era features, pioneering special effects films, landmark independent productions, documentaries, newsreels, animation, political ads, and home movies made from coast to coast. One not to miss is Three American Beauties (1906).

All films are accompanied by program notes by the set’s curator Scott Simmon (University of California, Davis) and feature either their original soundtracks or commissioned scores supervised by music curator Martin Marks (MIT).

Since its release Treasures from American Film Archives has been valued by cinephiles and educators—this online release ensures that a wide audience can continue enjoying these films, either as entertainment, a teaching resource, or, best of all, both.

I have each of the NFPF box sets. You should too.


Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Louise Brooks: A Classic of the Silver Screen

Louise Brooks: A Classic of the Silver Screen . . . .


Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Louise Brooks in Our News Reel in Rhyme

A poem mentioning Brooks from Photoplay magazine. And Brooks' co-stars W.C. Fields, Adolphe Menjou too....


Monday, December 26, 2016

Silent film stars celebrating the Holidays #2

Here are a couple of images of silent film stars celebrating the Holidays.... First Louise Brooks' one-time co-star Esther Ralston, and second the It Girl, Clara Bow.

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