Author Archives: John Grant

The Viking

Posted on October 19, 2012 by John Grant

In the transition from silent pictures to sound, Hollywood studios released mostly silent pictures with synchronized soundtracks and various sound effects.  I recently saw an MGM film from 1929 that employed this hybrid approach, and it also added the glory of “two-strip” … Continue reading →

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The Weavers

Posted on October 16, 2012 by John Grant

Under the program title, “The Canon Revisited,” the Pordenone Silent Film Festival presented “Die Weber (The Weavers),” a 1927 German film directed by Frederik Zelnik.  The story concerns a revolt by the mistreated weavers at a factory in a small … Continue reading →

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Oliver Twist

Posted on October 13, 2012 by John Grant

I saw three versions of “Oliver Twist” on the big screen at the Pordenone Silent Film Festival, but I liked the one with Jackie Coogan the best.  Several countries produced filmed versions of the Charles Dickens’ novel, including an English … Continue reading →

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My Son

Posted on October 10, 2012 by John Grant

A short Anna Sten film from 1928 called “Moi Syn (My Son)” surfaced recently at the Museo del Cine Pablo Ducrós Hicken, and the curators at the museum made a quick DVD copy to present at the 2012 Pordenone Silent … Continue reading →

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In Pordenone

Posted on October 8, 2012 by John Grant

Pordenone, Italy — I am on the ground in Pordenone for the 31st Pordenone Silent Film Festival.  The wonderful program this year concentrates on Charles Dickens stories, Anna Sten, and the films of the Selig Polyscope Company.  I have already … Continue reading →

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Robinson Crusoe

Posted on October 6, 2012 by John Grant

Pordenone, Italy — A special event at this year’s 31st Pordenone Silent Film Festival (Le Giornate Del Cinema Muto) featured, on October 6, a wonderful restoration (by the Cinémathèque Française and Laboratoires Éclaire) of a George Méliès 1902 film called … Continue reading →

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The Patsy

Posted on October 6, 2012 by John Grant

Pordenone, Italy — The silent film festival festival here screened the comedy “The Patsy,” which stars Marion Davies and Marie Dressler.  The King Vidor directed comedy features Davies as a woman (Patricia) who falls in love with her sister’s boyfriend … Continue reading →

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Wooden Clogs

Posted on October 5, 2012 by John Grant

Watch “The Tree of Wooden Clogs,” an Italian movie from 1978, and you can learn a lot of things just by observing.  For instance, it’s very bad when a cow won’t eat and can’t get up, and chicken manure might … Continue reading →

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Our Modern Maidens

Posted on October 2, 2012 by John Grant

MGM pays tribute to the revved-up late 1920s in “Our Modern Maidens,” a 1929 film starring Joan Crawford, Anita Page and Douglas Fairbanks, Junior.  MGM added sound effects, but the mostly silent picture follows the story of Billie, the most … Continue reading →

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Carnival in Flanders

Posted on September 29, 2012 by John Grant

Everybody should see the 1935 film called “La Kermesse Héroïque (Carnival in Flanders),” which stars the wonderful and gifted Françoise Rosay as the wife of the Burgomaster in a Flemish village.  When Spanish invaders take over the town, the men flee but … Continue reading →

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