Yearly Archives: 2012

Pordenone Silent Film Festival

Posted on January 30, 2012 by John Grant

The 31st Annual Pordenone Silent Film Festival — scheduled for October 6-13, 2012 — in Pordenone, Italy, announces its program.  This years festival includes silent films in the following categories: Charles Dickens, 1812-2012 Italian Rediscovery The Komiya Collection (From the … Continue reading →

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A Girl in Every Port

Posted on January 27, 2012 by John Grant

“A Girl in Every Port,” a good silent comedy film from 1928, features Louise Brooks as a French circus performer (Marie) who comes between two extremely close male friends.  The film begins as Spike (Victor McLaglen), a sailor, hits town, … Continue reading →

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I Love You Joe

Posted on January 24, 2012 by John Grant

I remember seeing Joe at Penn State a couple of decades ago.  As he walked down the Pattee Library steps, I and a group of my friends asked him if he had any words for us.  “Keep learning,” he said. … Continue reading →

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Fazil

Posted on January 21, 2012 by John Grant

A Howard Hawks’ silent film, “Fazil,” from 1928, concerns a relationship between an Arab sheik (Fazil) and a free-spirited Parisienne woman named Fabienne (Greta Nissen).  Business pursuits bring Fazil to Venice, where he falls in love with Fabienne at first sight.  But … Continue reading →

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Fig Leaves

Posted on January 15, 2012 by John Grant

Howard Hawks made his first big splash in 1926 with “Fig Leaves,” a silent film starring George O’Brien, Olive Borden and Phyllis Haver.  The film starts out in the Garden of Eden, where Eve (Borden) declares, “I have nothing to … Continue reading →

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The Love of Jeanne Ney

Posted on January 10, 2012 by John Grant

In “The Love of Jeanne Ney,” made in 1927, director Georg Wilhelm Pabst presents a combination spy thriller and romantic drama that involves the Russian civil war and the theft of a $500,000 diamond.  The film stars Édith Jéhanne as Jeanne Ney … Continue reading →

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Howard Hawks Festival

Posted on January 6, 2012 by John Grant

The UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive plans a series of films showcasing the directing of Howard Hawks.  Hawks’ career began in 1926 with “The Road to Glory,” with Carole Lombard in a bit part, and ended in … Continue reading →

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War Horse

Posted on January 1, 2012 by John Grant

I found “War Horse,” the new Steven Spielberg movie, well worth seeing.  It successfully puts all of Spielberg’s impressive skills together in one movie, including the family drama, war epic and pet story.  War Horse doesn’t really compare with the … Continue reading →

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