Capitolfest 2009 review
Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2009 11:17 am
Just got back from Capitolfest 2009 last night and thought I'd add my 2 cents and give a mini-review of the films shown there. I only missed bits of 2 films so I will try to add a brief review to each. Rated on a 5 star system with one star = poor to 5 stars = excellent.
"pre-glow" at Elks Club:
The Speed Spook - **** I only caught the last 30-35 minutes of this feature but it sure moved. Why isn't there more outrage that there isn't any Johnny Hines films on DVD?? All of the films I have seen with him have been excellent and this one was great!
The Nickel-Hopper - ***1/2 Lots of laughs and fun with this Mabel Normand short. Selected star of the weekend Boris Karloff in a brief role here.
Parisian Nights - ** Not much to review here as this is about a 2 minute fragment but it seems like the whole thing may be just overacted.
The King of the Kongo - ** This is Chapter 1 of a Mascot serial that was a part-talkie. The sound discs were not available (but we were told they exist in a private collection). Another Karloff appearance as the villain. I'm not a huge fan of serials so maybe someone else would rate it higher, but I found it WAY to long and boring.
Let's Get Married - **** Excellent Richard Dix comedy that the star just shines in.
Capitol Theatre screenings (all in 35mm):
The Miracle Man - ***1/2 A remake of the 1919 film that I found a bit over-preachy but with excellent performances all around. Karloff has a bit part at the beginning as a creepy character and Ned Sparks gets the girl!!!
Movie Milestones No. 1 - *** Interesting in that it contains the only known footage from the 1919 version of "The Miracle Man" which was supposedly Lon Chaney's breakthrough performance.
The Charge of the Light Brigade - **** These early (1912) Edison's usually mean snoozeville for Louie, but I seriously enjoyed this short. Wonderfully photographed (for the time) and the performances weren't too over the top. One of the highlights of the weekend. SILENT accompaniment by Avery Tunningley
The Ballad of Fisher's Boarding House - **** An excellent short directed by Frank Capra. EXCELLENT photography and a fine story. Hard to believe this production was as independent and cheaply made as history tells us. SILENT accompaniment by Avery Tunningley
The Barker - ***** One of the best from the weekend. Great part-talkie with outstanding performances from Milton Sills and Dorothy Mackaill. An early role for Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. who was pretty decent, but it was Sills as the hard-boiled carnival barker that wins the award here.
Helen Morgan in “The Gigolo Racket” - Nice Vitaphone short with some good singing. Nothing earth shattering here but nice to see.
Viennese Nights - ***1/2 Here's another of those operetta films that I expected to be grabbing a nap during but I was pleasantly surprised. Nice 2-strip Technicolor print and the sound was good also. Louise Fazenda has a meaty and fun co-star role. Bela Lugosi in a very brief cameo in two scenes didn't add to anything but just nice to see Bela in color!
Afraid to Talk - **** An early Universal pre-code that packs a lot into 70 minutes. So many great performances in this one by Edward Arnold, Louis Calhern, and Matt Mchugh. Also a very brief appearance by Arthur Houseman. This have everything corruption, beatings, wild parties, murder, you name it!
The Eagle's Nest - *** A one rell short from Germany's UFA studios. A mountain film with very beautiful photography. SILENT accompaniment by Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra.
The Wonderful Lies of Nina Petrovna - **** I got sick after eating a bad meal so I missed a big chunk of the middle of this UFA produced Brigette Helm vehicle. The film looked great and so did Brigette but the highlight was not what I saw but what I heard. The Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra was TREMENDOUS. This is the first time I have ever heard them and they are a delight. Too bad I was ill and missed most of it.
The Awful Goof - ***1/2 One of the 4 shorts that comedian Charley Chase made for Columbia that is not in "collector" circulation today. Half a remake of Chase's "Limosine Love", the short is a typical Columbia but many laughs coming from the audience. Great to see from a historical standpoint and I hope the DVD's of these Chase Columbia's are coming soon.
The Secret of the Blue Room - *** A fairly common Universal but nice to see in 35mm. Atmospheric but the actors performances are not that great.
Ann Butler & Jay Brennan in "You Don't Know the Half of It" - **1/2 Another interesting Vitaphone short with the 2 performers doing their stage act for about 10 minutes. I had a hard time hearing some of the punch lines to the jokes though which brought down the rating for me.
Movietone Follies of 1930 - **** Yes, I have to say, I'm probably biased with this one. Another of those rare early 30's Fox films that are always nice to see. The story is a bit weak but the songs are great and yes, I thought El Brendel was terrific! Great co-stars in Noel Francis and the ALWAYS wonderful Marjorie White. Let me go on record by also saying that I may be the only person who also loves Frank Richardson!!
The Sultan's Wife - ***1/2 Another of those early shorts (this time a 1917 Keystone) that usually put me to sleep but this Bobby Vernon comedy was quick paced and had a lot of laughs. Gloria Swanson appearing here as well as an appearance by the famous Sennett bathing beauties.
Footloose Widows - **** I really enjoyed this one. Jason Robards in an early role with Louise Fazenda turning in another great performance as Jacqueline Logan's friend who seems to always have the wrong advice. SILENT accompaniment by Bernie Anderson.
Pat O'Brien in “Crimes Square” -** I guess the only reason to see this is an early performance by Pat O'Brien. Pat is a bad guy who goes good. That's about it.
Graft - *** Boris Karloff has a GREAT role in this one as he plays the main strong-arm bad guy in the film, but I really could have done without Regis Toomey as the dumb reporter, but the films 54 minute screen time meant that it moved pretty quick. Nice to see Sue Carol in her role. The film, by the way, looked spectacular.
Jack Theakston's Short Subject Follies - ***1/2 Always one of my favorite sections of Capitolfest. Many trailers and a showing of the Little Rascals "Follies of 1938" in 35mm. The visions of the hot dog and beans combo will leave me with nightmares for a while!
A Kick for Cinderella - ** A 1924Mutt & Jeff cartoon that may have some historical significance for animation fans but I found it boring. SILENT accompaniment by Dr. Philip C. Carli
Red Lights- ** This one only gets the second star because the print was excellent, but I was excited to see this for Raymond Griffith was in it but I found it EXTREMELY difficult to follow and the story terrible. Griffith had a couple of funny moments but nothing like I had seen from him before. The only disappointment in the whole weekend, although Phil Carli's accompaniment was SUPERB as usual. SILENT
I wanted to say a HUGE THANK YOU to Art and Kylie Pierce and all of the staff and helpers at the Captiol and Elks Club that make this festival a must go-to every year. Always nice to see some old friends and make some new ones, can't wait for next years festival already!!
"pre-glow" at Elks Club:
The Speed Spook - **** I only caught the last 30-35 minutes of this feature but it sure moved. Why isn't there more outrage that there isn't any Johnny Hines films on DVD?? All of the films I have seen with him have been excellent and this one was great!
The Nickel-Hopper - ***1/2 Lots of laughs and fun with this Mabel Normand short. Selected star of the weekend Boris Karloff in a brief role here.
Parisian Nights - ** Not much to review here as this is about a 2 minute fragment but it seems like the whole thing may be just overacted.
The King of the Kongo - ** This is Chapter 1 of a Mascot serial that was a part-talkie. The sound discs were not available (but we were told they exist in a private collection). Another Karloff appearance as the villain. I'm not a huge fan of serials so maybe someone else would rate it higher, but I found it WAY to long and boring.
Let's Get Married - **** Excellent Richard Dix comedy that the star just shines in.
Capitol Theatre screenings (all in 35mm):
The Miracle Man - ***1/2 A remake of the 1919 film that I found a bit over-preachy but with excellent performances all around. Karloff has a bit part at the beginning as a creepy character and Ned Sparks gets the girl!!!
Movie Milestones No. 1 - *** Interesting in that it contains the only known footage from the 1919 version of "The Miracle Man" which was supposedly Lon Chaney's breakthrough performance.
The Charge of the Light Brigade - **** These early (1912) Edison's usually mean snoozeville for Louie, but I seriously enjoyed this short. Wonderfully photographed (for the time) and the performances weren't too over the top. One of the highlights of the weekend. SILENT accompaniment by Avery Tunningley
The Ballad of Fisher's Boarding House - **** An excellent short directed by Frank Capra. EXCELLENT photography and a fine story. Hard to believe this production was as independent and cheaply made as history tells us. SILENT accompaniment by Avery Tunningley
The Barker - ***** One of the best from the weekend. Great part-talkie with outstanding performances from Milton Sills and Dorothy Mackaill. An early role for Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. who was pretty decent, but it was Sills as the hard-boiled carnival barker that wins the award here.
Helen Morgan in “The Gigolo Racket” - Nice Vitaphone short with some good singing. Nothing earth shattering here but nice to see.
Viennese Nights - ***1/2 Here's another of those operetta films that I expected to be grabbing a nap during but I was pleasantly surprised. Nice 2-strip Technicolor print and the sound was good also. Louise Fazenda has a meaty and fun co-star role. Bela Lugosi in a very brief cameo in two scenes didn't add to anything but just nice to see Bela in color!
Afraid to Talk - **** An early Universal pre-code that packs a lot into 70 minutes. So many great performances in this one by Edward Arnold, Louis Calhern, and Matt Mchugh. Also a very brief appearance by Arthur Houseman. This have everything corruption, beatings, wild parties, murder, you name it!
The Eagle's Nest - *** A one rell short from Germany's UFA studios. A mountain film with very beautiful photography. SILENT accompaniment by Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra.
The Wonderful Lies of Nina Petrovna - **** I got sick after eating a bad meal so I missed a big chunk of the middle of this UFA produced Brigette Helm vehicle. The film looked great and so did Brigette but the highlight was not what I saw but what I heard. The Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra was TREMENDOUS. This is the first time I have ever heard them and they are a delight. Too bad I was ill and missed most of it.
The Awful Goof - ***1/2 One of the 4 shorts that comedian Charley Chase made for Columbia that is not in "collector" circulation today. Half a remake of Chase's "Limosine Love", the short is a typical Columbia but many laughs coming from the audience. Great to see from a historical standpoint and I hope the DVD's of these Chase Columbia's are coming soon.
The Secret of the Blue Room - *** A fairly common Universal but nice to see in 35mm. Atmospheric but the actors performances are not that great.
Ann Butler & Jay Brennan in "You Don't Know the Half of It" - **1/2 Another interesting Vitaphone short with the 2 performers doing their stage act for about 10 minutes. I had a hard time hearing some of the punch lines to the jokes though which brought down the rating for me.
Movietone Follies of 1930 - **** Yes, I have to say, I'm probably biased with this one. Another of those rare early 30's Fox films that are always nice to see. The story is a bit weak but the songs are great and yes, I thought El Brendel was terrific! Great co-stars in Noel Francis and the ALWAYS wonderful Marjorie White. Let me go on record by also saying that I may be the only person who also loves Frank Richardson!!
The Sultan's Wife - ***1/2 Another of those early shorts (this time a 1917 Keystone) that usually put me to sleep but this Bobby Vernon comedy was quick paced and had a lot of laughs. Gloria Swanson appearing here as well as an appearance by the famous Sennett bathing beauties.
Footloose Widows - **** I really enjoyed this one. Jason Robards in an early role with Louise Fazenda turning in another great performance as Jacqueline Logan's friend who seems to always have the wrong advice. SILENT accompaniment by Bernie Anderson.
Pat O'Brien in “Crimes Square” -** I guess the only reason to see this is an early performance by Pat O'Brien. Pat is a bad guy who goes good. That's about it.
Graft - *** Boris Karloff has a GREAT role in this one as he plays the main strong-arm bad guy in the film, but I really could have done without Regis Toomey as the dumb reporter, but the films 54 minute screen time meant that it moved pretty quick. Nice to see Sue Carol in her role. The film, by the way, looked spectacular.
Jack Theakston's Short Subject Follies - ***1/2 Always one of my favorite sections of Capitolfest. Many trailers and a showing of the Little Rascals "Follies of 1938" in 35mm. The visions of the hot dog and beans combo will leave me with nightmares for a while!
A Kick for Cinderella - ** A 1924Mutt & Jeff cartoon that may have some historical significance for animation fans but I found it boring. SILENT accompaniment by Dr. Philip C. Carli
Red Lights- ** This one only gets the second star because the print was excellent, but I was excited to see this for Raymond Griffith was in it but I found it EXTREMELY difficult to follow and the story terrible. Griffith had a couple of funny moments but nothing like I had seen from him before. The only disappointment in the whole weekend, although Phil Carli's accompaniment was SUPERB as usual. SILENT
I wanted to say a HUGE THANK YOU to Art and Kylie Pierce and all of the staff and helpers at the Captiol and Elks Club that make this festival a must go-to every year. Always nice to see some old friends and make some new ones, can't wait for next years festival already!!
