Posted on 12/26/2014 7:21:02 PM PST by lowbridge
Hollywood (also known as, Hollywood: A Celebration of the American Silent Film) is a 1980 documentary series produced by Thames Television which explored the establishment and development of the Hollywood studios and its impact on 1920s culture.
The series consists of thirteen fifty-minute episodes, with each episode dealing with a specific aspect of Hollywood history. The actor James Mason, an enthusiast of the period, supplied the narration; a lilting score was contributed by Carl Davis.
Technical quality was an important aspect of the production. Silent films had often been screened on television from poor-quality copies running at an inaccurate speed, usually accompanied by honky tonk piano music. Hollywood used silent film clips sourced from the best available material, shown at their original running speed and with an orchestral score, giving viewers a chance to see what they originally looked and sounded like.
The producers filmed the recollections of many of the period's surviving participants, and illustrated their interviews with scenes from their various films, as well as production still photographs, and historical photographs of the Los Angeles environs. Some of these interviews are notable for being among the only filmed interviews given by their subjects.
This documentary was released to VHS, but due to legal and copyright issues, it was pulled and remaining copies are prohibitively expensive.
There were more recent plans to release them to dvd, but that plan was shelved. This youtube user has posted all episodes, with the exception of number 12. Instead of waiting around for a dvd release (which will probably be never), see them for free on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9F51GCI-MFGbcwxYRy79Fg
Here is episode 12
http://archive.org/details/SilentFilmsDocumentary
Opening theme
Thanks for that link.
I hope you’ve all seen the silent movie made 3 years ago.
It was terrific.
http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/the-artist-2011
.
Is Theda Bara in it? She was one of the first Sex Symbols on film. I think Hedy Lamar did a few Silent Films skipping nude around a leafy jungle scene. This, long before she helped to create the Spread Spectrum Technology, a primitive prelude to the internet.
Excellent series. Kevin Brownlow is the best.
Look for...
BUSTER KEATON: A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW
THE UNKNOWN CHAPLIN
HAROLD LLOYD: THE THIRD GENIUS
Theda bara is not one of those interviewed.
I saw that at Radio City Music Hall in New York, and it was stunning. I have heard that Gance's J'Accuse is even better, but I have never seen it.
About 5 years ago I was seeing a girl down in Frederick, MD. The Weinberg Theater had a showing of The Flesh and The Devil that I attended... The original theater organ is still there and they had a theater organist play along with the action... It was grand. Teens showed up in flapper costumes... it was a mostly full house that I recall.
It was stunning. Having grown up watching silent films on TV in the ‘50s and early ‘60s with the honky tonk piano music, I was really blown away by the film with a live orchestra. The hand tinting in the film was extraordinary. Wish I could find a DVD copy of it.
Lets find a copy!
Later Disc or complete VHS tapes,
about 350 bucks .
Thanks!
Why find a copy when I’ve provided links to where one can see them for free?
Or for free using the links I provided above
Gance’s Napoleon:
J’accuse can be found here:
http://www.amazon.com/JAccuse-Marise-Dauvray/dp/B0018BYNY4
These Lyrics are from the Andrew Lloyd Webber Musical “Sunset Boulevard” and is a tribute to Silent Films:
NORMA
With one look I can break your heart
With one look I play every part
I can make your sad heart sing
With one look you’ll know all you need to know
With one smile I’m the girl next door
Or the love that you’ve hungered for
When I speak it’s with my soul
I can play any role
No words can tell the stories my eyes tell
Watch me when I frown, you can’t write that down
You know I’m right, it’s there in black and white
When I look your way, you’ll hear what I say
Yes, with one look I put words to shame
Just one look sets the screen aflame
Silent music starts to play
One tear in my eye makes the whole world cry
With one look they’ll forgive the past
They’ll rejoice I’ve returned at last
To my people in the dark
Still out there in the dark...
Silent music starts to play
With one look you’ll know all you need to know
With one look I’ll ignite a blaze
I’ll return to my glory days
They’ll say, “Norma’s back at last!”
This time I am staying, I’m staying for good
I’ll be back to where I was born to be
With one look I’ll be me!
Freelinks,,,
Thank You!
Ping
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