First a weird anecdote:
This summer, before my silent movie addiction had fully kicked in, I ran into the gas station mini-mart to grab a bottle of water. As I’m standing in line, I notice that the man in front of me has Nosferatu tattooed on his shoulder. Now I hadn’t seen the movie, but the image is iconic enough that a classic movie junkie such as myself would be remise not to recognize it. It’s a good thing he was busy paying, because I am sure I was staring at his shoulder with the most perplexed look on my face; it boggled my mind! Why would someone want that macabre version of a vampire permanently affixed to their body? So ever since then, I’ve been a little more intrigued by the original movie and this whole blog thing has given me an excuse to watch it, so I did.
Now, Nosferatu (1922) is known for being terrifying in its time, the prototype for the vampire horror film. Yet vampires and horror films have evolved so much since the silent era that the film’s Count Orlok is almost unrecognizable as a vampire to the modern movie goer. Vampires now are overly romanticized and brooding heroes. Trust me I work in a children’s library; every tween and teen girl is in love with Edward Cullen (Twilight) and I have to be honest True Blood’s Bill Compton is pretty dreamy. The pre-Bela Lugosi vampire of Nosteratu, however, harkens the imagination back to the original “monster,” feared for it’s very unromantic thirst for blood. I must admit that, even with the lights out, it was not the most terrifying thing I’ve ever seen – not by a long stretch. But then again, I wasn’t really expecting to be terrified; I recognized how desensitized we have become in this age of special effects, gore and Hitchcock inspired camera angles. However, I was hoping for at least some “creepiness,” and on that point Nosferatu certainly didn’t disappoint. Several of the scenes were startlingly creepy and though the film didn’t conjure nightmares, I definitely wouldn’t want to meet Count Orlok in a dark alley. He’s no Bill Compton! One also has to acknowledge that though in 2009 the film may not be overly terrifying, in 1922 it must have scared the day lights out of people. The elongated claw-like hands, the grotesque face and mouthful of fangs, and the bizarre posture of the vampire were enough to raise the hair on the back of my neck, and I’ve seen 30 Days of Night. I’m sure audiences accustomed to Chaplin, Keaton and Douglas Fairbanks got much more than they bargained for with this vampire…or should I say vampyre!
It’s different, it’s creepy, but if you like silent films and you can appreciate the artistry behind them, check out Nosferatu. I dare Wes Craven to try and scare us without words; I think we would find that F.W. Murnau, did about as fantastic a job as can be done.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Addendum to first posting...
Addendum: After doing some research on Valentino, it seems as though that whole, "he never could have done talkies because of his voice" myth is completely wrong. In fact he recorded two songs before his death, and though he didn't exactly have the best singing voice, one could extrapolate from the recordings that his voice would have been quite pleasant to listen to as far as speaking is concerned....
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Beyond the Rocks (1922)
Alright so now to talk about the film that prompted this whole blog! Last night before I started this blog, I was watching “Beyond the Rocks,” and half-way through I wanted more than anything to write about it. I hadn’t felt inspired to write anything in a really long time, so I paused it, ran to my laptop and started what would become the backbone of this posting. My excitement over the film was probably heightened by the fact that Martin Scorsese does a really great job introducing it at the beginning. He discusses its value as a piece of silent film history; it made me feel that same “ahhh” feeling I had the first time I saw “The Searchers” in a movie theater…but that’s for another time…
“Beyond the Rocks” is the only film that Rudolph Valentino and Gloria Swanson co-star in, which was a big deal at the time, because studios usually only cast one big star in a film – something about too much star power on the screen – I don’t know; it’s crazy talk! The next crazy thing is that until 2006 the film was thought to be lost; how do you loose a movie that changed the way director’s cast their films? But then, the Netherland Film Museum found some lost footage and was able to restore almost the entire film. Bits of it are still very grainy, but it’s worth powering through and that’s really just two maybe three brief clips. The final crazy thing is that the movie basically bombed in its day (probably why it was lost); it was considered “a little unreal and hectic” (Photoplay Magazine). Unreal maybe, but how many Hollywood love stories are “real.” Yeah, lots of hookers end up with billionaires! And for that matter, I don’t think very many hookers on Sunset Blvd. probably look like Julia Roberts. And as for hectic? I didn’t think so. A friend just asked me whether or not these movies are “really good” or “esoterically good.” This one maybe could have that esoteric goodness about it, but hey this is a silent film blog, so it’s ok to be esoteric!
This film is only the second Gloria Swanson film I’ve seen. To be entirely honest, though I enjoyed “Don’t Change Your Husband,” that movie left me thinking, “I don’t quite get why she’s such a big deal.” However, “Beyond the Rocks” shows why she was a star. The initial “overacting ingénue” feeling of her character (Theodora) is quickly replaced, as the character grows-up, with a languid yet still demure character who can seemingly and without effort drape herself across the set and convey a range of very sincere and deep emotions. It’s that, every man wants her and every woman wants to know “how the heck does she pull that off” quality that makes a star luminescent on the screen. And she does it with such ease and an innocent coyness, I can’t even think of a modern star that could compare. I mean I could do without the nasty, has to be black not red, lipstick, but that’s silent movie make-up and she, well she’s a silent movie goddess. The pairing of Swanson and Valentino was inspired; and though the movie was not appreciated in it’s time, I for one am glad the Dutch saved it!
Aside from the obvious star appeal and fantastic acting on the parts of both the stars, it is also a great love story. Feels a little long in the middle; I wouldn’t recommend it as your first silent film, but it is good. The story line calls to one’s mind films like Dr. Zhivago or The Thorn birds; a love that is made in the heavens yet impossible because Fate has decided to play the role of a Greek god, reeking mischief on the lives and loves of us mere mortals. The most memorable moment of the film is about half-way through, when Hector (Valentino) enters the party at Beachleigh (somebody’s fancy 1920s mansion – oh yeah, the one thing all the critics could agree on was the “lavish” nature of the sets). Theodora turns and seeing him, their eyes lock. In that moment, Swanson’s expression captures the essence of why every girl dreams of a moment like this. The drama, of a love thought gone, and the overwhelming joy of it returning; all else falls away, the fellow revelers forgotten. It’s also a moment where the power of silent film acting shines so clearly. So much is said by their eyes, you don’t need words and as silent actors (superb ones at that) they convey a thousand emotions with one glance. It’s beautiful; it’s also the moment I ran and grabbed my laptop.
I don’t want to give away too much, but I shall end with this: in the end, love, as always, is the one thing that could defeat the mischief of the gods. Selflessness defies Fate, but will Psyche have her Eros? You’ll have to rent it and find out!
Next up: Nosferatu…enough love stories; I’m ready to be terrified!
“Beyond the Rocks” is the only film that Rudolph Valentino and Gloria Swanson co-star in, which was a big deal at the time, because studios usually only cast one big star in a film – something about too much star power on the screen – I don’t know; it’s crazy talk! The next crazy thing is that until 2006 the film was thought to be lost; how do you loose a movie that changed the way director’s cast their films? But then, the Netherland Film Museum found some lost footage and was able to restore almost the entire film. Bits of it are still very grainy, but it’s worth powering through and that’s really just two maybe three brief clips. The final crazy thing is that the movie basically bombed in its day (probably why it was lost); it was considered “a little unreal and hectic” (Photoplay Magazine). Unreal maybe, but how many Hollywood love stories are “real.” Yeah, lots of hookers end up with billionaires! And for that matter, I don’t think very many hookers on Sunset Blvd. probably look like Julia Roberts. And as for hectic? I didn’t think so. A friend just asked me whether or not these movies are “really good” or “esoterically good.” This one maybe could have that esoteric goodness about it, but hey this is a silent film blog, so it’s ok to be esoteric!
This film is only the second Gloria Swanson film I’ve seen. To be entirely honest, though I enjoyed “Don’t Change Your Husband,” that movie left me thinking, “I don’t quite get why she’s such a big deal.” However, “Beyond the Rocks” shows why she was a star. The initial “overacting ingénue” feeling of her character (Theodora) is quickly replaced, as the character grows-up, with a languid yet still demure character who can seemingly and without effort drape herself across the set and convey a range of very sincere and deep emotions. It’s that, every man wants her and every woman wants to know “how the heck does she pull that off” quality that makes a star luminescent on the screen. And she does it with such ease and an innocent coyness, I can’t even think of a modern star that could compare. I mean I could do without the nasty, has to be black not red, lipstick, but that’s silent movie make-up and she, well she’s a silent movie goddess. The pairing of Swanson and Valentino was inspired; and though the movie was not appreciated in it’s time, I for one am glad the Dutch saved it!
Aside from the obvious star appeal and fantastic acting on the parts of both the stars, it is also a great love story. Feels a little long in the middle; I wouldn’t recommend it as your first silent film, but it is good. The story line calls to one’s mind films like Dr. Zhivago or The Thorn birds; a love that is made in the heavens yet impossible because Fate has decided to play the role of a Greek god, reeking mischief on the lives and loves of us mere mortals. The most memorable moment of the film is about half-way through, when Hector (Valentino) enters the party at Beachleigh (somebody’s fancy 1920s mansion – oh yeah, the one thing all the critics could agree on was the “lavish” nature of the sets). Theodora turns and seeing him, their eyes lock. In that moment, Swanson’s expression captures the essence of why every girl dreams of a moment like this. The drama, of a love thought gone, and the overwhelming joy of it returning; all else falls away, the fellow revelers forgotten. It’s also a moment where the power of silent film acting shines so clearly. So much is said by their eyes, you don’t need words and as silent actors (superb ones at that) they convey a thousand emotions with one glance. It’s beautiful; it’s also the moment I ran and grabbed my laptop.
I don’t want to give away too much, but I shall end with this: in the end, love, as always, is the one thing that could defeat the mischief of the gods. Selflessness defies Fate, but will Psyche have her Eros? You’ll have to rent it and find out!
Next up: Nosferatu…enough love stories; I’m ready to be terrified!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Falling in love with Silent Cinema
My addiction to silent films started last spring. I was home sick and nothing, as is usually the case, was on TV. So, I get this crazy idea that I should watch “The Sheik” with Rudolph Valentino on Netflix (if you have Netflix know that they have a ton of silent movies available for online playing). I’d always wondered, what’s the big deal with this guy? I knew he was supposed to be the original movie heartthrob and that his career was ruined by the advent of talkies, but I’d never actually watched him. (Side-note: you may remember a commercial for a pizza store – don’t remember which – in the early ‘90s making fun of his high pitched voice. I’m pretty sure I was the only middle school student who understood why it was funny, you can credit THAT to my addiction to AMC, which was still actual Classic movies in the early ‘90s. Come to think of it, my knowledge of Valentino was probably from some AMC show like Mysteries and Scandals or Legends of the Silver Screen.) And so on a rainy day in February, I’m assuming it was rainy because every day in February is rainy in Portland, I watched my first Rudolph Valentino film…
Well, let’s just say I now “get what the big deal is.” Brad Pitt has nothing on that man! He was beautiful and intense; that odd combination of a man who is rugged and brooding yet underneath is hidden a deep and abiding gentleness…he was, for lack of a better word, dreamy! But aside from the dreaminess of the leading character, “The Sheik” was also just a really great film. Half-way through, I’m sick in bed, clutching my pillow in desperation to find out how it will end, and I think to myself “how can I be this stressed out by a movie that doesn’t even have sound!” But it was fantastic. It was suspenseful; it was a classic love-story; it was epic. Ok, so sure, it has a hint of early 20th century “white-man’s burden” in it, but remember, it was made in the 1920s AND she does overcome her horror of his being a barbarian and falls in love. It just goes to prove that all you need to overcome racism is a dreamy man!
What is so great about silent films, is that they’re more than a film. Without the “talking” everything is heightened. The emotions are deeper because the actors had to act on a level beyond sound. And, there are elements of all the performing arts wrapped up into this beautiful piece of celluloid; it’s magical. And so I’ve been getting a little addicted to silent movies; I’ve also been missing blogging so sort of as a joke I said I would start a blog on silent movies and people said they’d read it. And by people, I mean three of my friends! But hey, I always wanted to be a film critic, so here’s my amateur chance.
I’m going to continue watching silent movies (and maybe some talkies, but only classics…and real classics, not the stuff they show on AMC nowadays!) and I’m going to tell all of you, even if it’s only three of you, my utterly profound, and probably not so profound thoughts on them. I just watched “Beyond the Rocks” tonight, so that shall be my next blog…
Well, let’s just say I now “get what the big deal is.” Brad Pitt has nothing on that man! He was beautiful and intense; that odd combination of a man who is rugged and brooding yet underneath is hidden a deep and abiding gentleness…he was, for lack of a better word, dreamy! But aside from the dreaminess of the leading character, “The Sheik” was also just a really great film. Half-way through, I’m sick in bed, clutching my pillow in desperation to find out how it will end, and I think to myself “how can I be this stressed out by a movie that doesn’t even have sound!” But it was fantastic. It was suspenseful; it was a classic love-story; it was epic. Ok, so sure, it has a hint of early 20th century “white-man’s burden” in it, but remember, it was made in the 1920s AND she does overcome her horror of his being a barbarian and falls in love. It just goes to prove that all you need to overcome racism is a dreamy man!
What is so great about silent films, is that they’re more than a film. Without the “talking” everything is heightened. The emotions are deeper because the actors had to act on a level beyond sound. And, there are elements of all the performing arts wrapped up into this beautiful piece of celluloid; it’s magical. And so I’ve been getting a little addicted to silent movies; I’ve also been missing blogging so sort of as a joke I said I would start a blog on silent movies and people said they’d read it. And by people, I mean three of my friends! But hey, I always wanted to be a film critic, so here’s my amateur chance.
I’m going to continue watching silent movies (and maybe some talkies, but only classics…and real classics, not the stuff they show on AMC nowadays!) and I’m going to tell all of you, even if it’s only three of you, my utterly profound, and probably not so profound thoughts on them. I just watched “Beyond the Rocks” tonight, so that shall be my next blog…
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