Tweet New York, NY: THE NIGHT CLUB (1925), FLUTTERING HEARTS (1927

[silentfilm]

http://www.silentclowns.com/nowshowing.html

If you liked 'THE ARTIST'…
you'll love RAYMOND GRIFFITH!

While silent era stars Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. and John Gilbert were clearly inspirations for Jean Dujardin's Oscar-winning title performance in the much heralded, THE ARTIST – so equally was the charming and effervescent, yet nearly forgotten, Raymond Griffith, a star whom Walter Kerr described as "natty, lithe (and) un-mugging" and also gave "a handsome fifth place – after Chaplin, Keaton, Lloyd and Langdon – in the silent comedy pantheon...." This summer, we're excited and proud to cast a long deserved spotlight on this unjustly neglected artist of the silent screen - which we strongly suspect will easily win him a new legion of admirers!


"…Griffith leads all comedians in point of ingenuity, imaginativness and originality…" - Robert E. Sherwood

"…Griffith managed to combine the urbane sophistication of Menjou with the dry wit of Keaton and the comedy thrill-climaxes of Lloyd." - William K. Everson

"…one of the finest comic minds…Nonchalance is a key to Griffith's screen character…he is the personification of Cool…he never loses his poise." - Leonard Maltin

"Griffith was a brilliant actor…he moved with astonishing grace…he effortlessly stole every picture…" - Kevin Brownlow


(Each of the four programs will include an apropos short subject that also links to THE ARTIST.)

Special thanks this season to: Bruce Calvert (silentfilmstillsarchive.com), Rick DeCroix (Streamline Films), Eric Grayson and John Stone. All Raymond Griffith stills on this page are courtesy Bruce Calvert.


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Live piano accompaniment by Ben Model at all shows.
Series programmed by Bruce Lawton.
Film notes by Steve Massa.



Saturday, June 2 at 2:30pm
"The Night Club"

Following years of working in slapstick shorts, writing scripts, and appearing in supporting roles, THE NIGHT CLUB ('25) marked Raymond Griffith’s first starring feature for Paramount Pictures. Here he becomes an avowed bachelor after being jilted at the altar, but finds that he has to marry to inherit a million dollars. His debonair, man-about-town character is already well in place, and he has strong support from veterans such as Louise Fazenda, Wallace Beery, and Vera Reynolds. Rounding out the bill are the misadventures of Charley Chase and Martha Sleeper in the two-reel FLUTTERING HEARTS ('27).

I see there is a whole Raymond Griffith festival going on here. Looks great!

Saturday, June 2 at 2:30pm
"The Night Club"

Following years of working in slapstick shorts, writing scripts, and appearing in supporting roles, THE NIGHT CLUB ('25) marked Raymond Griffith’s first starring feature for Paramount Pictures. Here he becomes an avowed bachelor after being jilted at the altar, but finds that he has to marry to inherit a million dollars. His debonair, man-about-town character is already well in place, and he has strong support from veterans such as Louise Fazenda, Wallace Beery, and Vera Reynolds. Rounding out the bill are the misadventures of Charley Chase and Martha Sleeper in the two-reel FLUTTERING HEARTS ('27).

This event was my idea of a delightful Saturday afternoon at the movies. A packed house -- I noticed only a couple of empty seats-- a genuinely enthusiastic crowd, a good intro by Ben and Bruce, and two delightful comedies. An excellent Chase short, followed by a very enjoyable feature with Raymond Griffith. I've seen several of his other surviving films, but today marked my first encounter with The Night Club. Like a lot of people here, I suspect, I first heard of Griffith when I read Walter Kerr's chapter on him in his Silent Clowns book, and Kerr had a rather low opinion of this particular film compared to its successors. Okay, maybe it isn't quite up to the level of what followed, but I would say The Night Club is a treat in its own right nonetheless, and underrated. Today's crowd certainly seemed to enjoy it.

It helped, as always, to have Ben at the keyboard. And there was an interesting and informative Q&A sessions afterwards, when Ben and Bruce were joined by Steve. Thanks, guys! I look forward to the rest of the series.

Thanks, Charlie!