1920/2020 Forum Watch-Fest

[Kitty]

Not sure what's up with that thumbnail. Looks almost like The Phantom of the Opera's sister.....

[donnie]

Not sure what's up with that thumbnail. Looks almost like The Phantom of the Opera's sister.....

Yes, looks like someone may have monkeyed with that one.

[BettyLouSpence]

Here is the lobby card in a larger size and with greater detail:

[donnie]

That's really odd, isn't it?

Look at this theatre program. Wouldn't that have been great to attend? (Sorry for small image).

[donnie]

Just finished watching this one. First some random comments, then the plot things I’ll hide.

It’s interesting how many films of this era seem to be set in the slum districts of London. I wonder why that is.

Mary Pickford’s makeup was very unusual. She really did not look like herself at all to me (with the exception of the fantasy scene at the castle). They appeared to have used something like a heavy paste consistency makeup to change her facial features, for some reason—which explains the odd look of the lobby card, as well.

“Garn” shows up as a Cockney dialect word in two or three titles. Any idea what it means?

On the plot:

► Show Spoiler

The scene in the laundry between ‘Orace and Amanda near the end is very well done, and very poignant. I wish the score had been better at that point.

Okay, I’m thoroughly confused about the ending. The Wikipedia article on the film says this about the ending: “Horace leaves and Amanda is left behind with a broken heart. She is later hired as Lady Burke-Cavendish's personal maid and now lives in wealth. She finds out Horace is a worker at the country place and they fall in love with each other.”

Hmmm, did I miss something there? I thought the one she is with at the end was co-worker Benjamin Jones, the one with the flower who had been interested in her. Either way, there doesn’t seem to be anything to clearly explain how she and Horace/Benjamin end up with Lavendar in the country—other than just a vague title card about coasting down life’s hills.

Am I confused, or was there some footage missing, or was the Wikipedia article wrong? Or all three?

[BettyLouSpence]

Sorry I haven't been as active lately - been kinda out of it, lately

Thanks for sharing that theater program. What an evening that would've been! I wish time machines were a thing. Then we could watch our films - both extant and lost - in this kind of luxury! Well, provided we had currency that the box office person wouldn't think was counterfeit

Rialto World Visions sounds fascinating. Tangentially related to "glimpses of unusual places": last year MoMA uploaded a video to their YouTube channel that showcases some 68mm(!) Biograph prints the museum received in 1939. Some great restoration work here.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BBNwiPgknn8

[donnie]

Tangentially related to "glimpses of unusual places": last year MoMA uploaded a video to their YouTube channel that showcases some 68mm(!) Biograph prints the museum received in 1939. Some great restoration work here.

That is absolutely fascinating! I'm floored by the quality of those images. It makes you wish everything had been shot in 68mm at 30 fps. And it is so special that we still have those originals, not just a reproduction, but the actual piece of film that went through Griffith's camera at Biograph in 1912, or whenever.

It also strikes me, seeing some of the examples of nitrate decomposition, that the images from some of those damaged films almost have a kind of surreal, abstract quality that makes them art on their own.

Thank you for posting this!

[BettyLouSpence]

Finally watching Suds now.

[BettyLouSpence]

Just finished watching. You were right Kitty, this is such a cute film. I really wish this upload was in better quality and had better music, there were so many great moments that would've been even better with the best visual quality and a fitting score.

Anyway, spoiler related thoughts below:

► Show Spoiler

I see from the makeup, drab figure flattening clothes and severe bun that they were trying to make Mary as plain and homely as possible. I also wonder how they achieved that crying effect with Lavender?

Nothing seems to go right for Amanda... too relatable, lol. The same could be said for the French laundry owner, Mme. Didier. I laughed a little too hard at the guy whose wife left him, haha

Uh... I wonder how Horace feels about walking in on the laundrymaid having sketched his caricature on his shirt and looking at him flirtatiously... I think that may be why he never came back to fetch his shirt eight months and sixteen days later I kinda see why Horace is as cold as he is to her, he doesn't seem to know her at all. At least he softens up at the end, though. Besides—Benjamin's a much better fit for Amanda.

I must say, Lavender looks especially pretty with Pickford curls and tail-bow Although, he seems to exceed the weight limit of Amanda's apartment floor And, sheesh! Who knew horses could be so snobbish?

Btw, I believe "garn" is "go on"

[BettyLouSpence]

Movie number six! Something to Think About starring Gloria Swanson and Elliott Dexter.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=E680t3e7pyQ&

Time slot to watch ends next Monday night, June 1.