Capitolfest 8
Central New York's Silent and Early Talkie Classic Film Festival
returns August 13-15, 2010
at the Capitol Theatre, Rome, NY
Capitolfest 8 will feature numerous rare silent and early talkie films; this show will include a Salute to Jean Arthur.
WATCH FOR NEW ADDITIONS and UPDATES!
SCHEDULED FILMS:
Forbidden Adventure (a.k.a. Newly Rich)
(Paramount, 1931) with Mitzi Green, Edna May Oliver, Louise Fazenda, and Jackie Searl; directed by Norman Taurog.
When the mother (Louise Fazenda) of child star Tiny Tim Tiffany (Jackie Searl) returns to the old neighborhood to parade her famous off-spring in front of her former neighbors, Mrs. Tate (Edna May Oliver) decides her own child (Mitzi Green) is every bit as talented and promptly parades her off to Hollywood. Largely unseen since its original release, this parody of child stardom and the movie industry was regarded by many critics as one of the most entertaining releases of the year.
"The Hollywood stuff is a howl and take it from one who knows movie mamas, it is not entirely burlesque. You're admitted right into the inner workings of a movie lot and get the inside on how movies are made. Don't miss this entertaining movie. It's an evening well spent." --Photoplay
The Gang Buster
(Paramount, 1931) with Jack Oakie, Jean Arthur, William "Stage" Boyd, Wynne Gibson, and William Morris; directed by A. Edward Sutherland.
Jack Oakie is small-town insurance salesman "Cyclone" Smith, who sells a policy to a lawyer with gangland connections (William Morris) and finds himself in the midst of a gang war, eventually having to rescue the lawyer's daughter (Jean Arthur) from the clutches of unscrupulous chieftain Mike Slade (William "Stage" Boyd).
"In spite of the shooting, kidnapping and efficacious use of a humble monkey wrench, this film is such a cheery entertainment that it afforded plenty of merriment to an audience at an early showing yesterday." - Mordaunt Hall, NY Times.
"There is more fun in The Gang Buster than its plot would indicate. Oakie is good and so is William Boyd as Gangster Mike Slade." --Time
[NEW!] Modern Love
(Universal, 1929) with Jean Hersholt, Kathryn Crawford, Charley Chase; and Anita Garvin; directed by Arch Heath.
Newlyweds Charley Chase & Kathryn Crawford keep their marriage a secret (to the extent of maintaining separate living quarters) so that she can continue her career. The part-talking first feature for popular comedian Charley Chase was unseen in its complete form for many years, until recently restored by Universal.
"Very good program comedy... the folks in the neighborhood houses will enjoy this clean-cut fun.... Charlie Chase is excellent in feature lengths and Director Arch Heath kept his eye on details that rounded "Modern Love" into its rating." - "Waly", Variety
Paramount on Parade (Paramount, 1930)
(Paramount, 1931)with Richard Arlen, Jean Arthur, George Bancroft, Clara Bow, Evelyn Brent, Clive Brook, Nancy Carroll, Ruth Chatterton, Maurice Chevalier, Gary Cooper, Leon Errol, Kay Francis, Skeets Gallagher, Mitzi Green, Helen Kane, Jack Oakie, Warner Oland, Zelma O'Neal, William Powell, Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Lillian Roth, Fay Wray, and many others; directed by Dorothy Arzner, Otto Brower, Edmund Goulding, Victor Heerman, Edwin H. Knopf, Rowland V. Lee, Ernest Lubitsch, Lothar Mendes, Victor Schertzinger, Edward Sutherland, and Frank Tuttle.
A wonderful mish-mash of songs and sketches featuring virtually every star under to contract to Paramount at the time, Paramount on Parade, was for many years only available in an abridged 77-minute TV print. UCLA has restored portions of the film and re-created others by using stills, soundtrack recordings, and a silent work print (with some Technicolor sequences). The resulting print now clocks in at the original 102 minute running time. (The Vitaphone Project will provide the soundtrack for the opening number, which was discovered after the UCLA re-construction.)
"A bright and imaginative audible film, with more than twenty of Paramount-Famous-Lasky's stellar performers, is now holding forth at the Rialto. This thoroughly enjoyable work is called "Paramount on Parade," and it is aptly described as a "film frolic." Judging by the evident glee of the participants, the making of it must have been a merry task. Besides the players, scenic designers, music composers, writers and photographers, eleven directors contributed their bit to this production, which was supervised by Elsie Janis, who is to be congratulated on the high standard of this diversion." -- Mordaunt Hall, New York Times
Under a Texas Moon
(WB, 1930) with Frank Fay, Raquel Torres, Myrna Loy, Noah Beery, Armida, George E. Stone, and George Cooper; directed by Michael Curtiz.
Comedian Frank Fay stars as a happy-go-lucky Don Juan in old Mexico (circa 1880) who finds himself involved in a battle with cattle rustlers. Restored by UCLA to its original 2-strip Technicolor glory, Under a Texas Moon was described by John Seitz in the 1930 Cinematographic Annual as "part Western, part romantic operetta, with a smattering of a story."
"Not only can this film boast of the ingratiating presence of Frank Fay, who officiated so ably as the master of ceremonies for 'The Show of Shows,' but it possesses that rarity in screen offerings, a sense, of humor. It has some very effective color sequences and others that are a little hard on the eyes. Here and there music and song enhance the adventure.... Twenty persons are listed in the cast. There is the beguiling Raquel Torres, the attractive Myrna Loy, the flashing Armida and the vivacious Mona Maris. All contribute good performances. And among the male contingent there are such figures as Noah Beery, Fred Kohler, Tully Marshall, George Cooper, who likewise do their share to make this production a pleasing entertainment." - Mordaunt Hall, NY Times
"A swell job has been done on this glorified Western in Technicolor.... Dialogue is ideal, direction is imaginative, outdoor scenes are beautiful, color is among the best to date, and altogether it is an unusually delightful entertainment that should get the money anywhere." --"Gillette," Film Daily
Stay tuned for more details...!
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