Cupid, where are you?

ymotion · Post by **ymotion** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 3:38 am

Hi,
I'm looking for silent/talkies films where Cupid is seen. Not metaphorically (Oh they fall in love), not as the shape of lips

, but full body mythological Cupid with bow and arrows. I did some research before posting here. I think that casting mythological figures was more common at the first two decades of the silent era, then abandoned for some reasons.

The only thing I could find is "Cupid Pranks" Dawley 1908 (but it's mostly long shots). There's also "Cupid and Psyche" Edison 1897, but it's just a silly dance.
Other films that (probably) have images of Cupid, but could not find a copy:
(1) Cupid’s Realm; or, A game of Hearts (James Stuart Blackton, 1908, USA)
(2) L’amour et psyché (Louis Feuillade FR 1908)
(3) Amor et Psyché (Pathé FR 1912)
(4) The Triumph of Venus (Edwin Bower Hesser, 1918 USA)

Anyone knows of others movies that are accessible? Or maybe how to get my hands on the ones I mentioned above...

Thanks
Sending you all some arrows!

Wm. Charles Morrow · Post by **Wm. Charles Morrow** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 4:11 am

There's a strange Pre-Code musical called My Weakness (1933) narrated by Dan Cupid (Harry Langdon), who causes humans to fall in love by shooting them with arrows, in traditional fashion. He's depicted living in a Heaven with fleecy clouds, and he wears 18th century finery: white wig, breeches, and tailcoat. The story he tells concerns his "toughest case," a tangled affair involving several characters who each seem determined to pursue the wrong person.

ymotion · Post by **ymotion** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 4:35 am

Hi Charlie,
Funny to have cupid in 18th century finery. Not sure this is what I'm looking for in terms of the visual but I'll check it out. Thanks a lot Charlie

Wm. Charles Morrow · Post by **Wm. Charles Morrow** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 7:18 am

ymotion wrote:Hi Charlie,
Funny to have cupid in 18th century finery. Not sure this is what I'm looking for in terms of the visual but I'll check it out. Thanks a lot Charlie

You're quite welcome! As for the costume choice, well, in most of the classical depictions of Cupid he's nude, while in modernized renditions he often wears a diaper. Considering that they were dealing with Harry Langdon in this instance I think the folks who made My Weakness did the right thing.

BenModel · Post by **BenModel** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 7:41 am

Chaplin's The Bond.

greta de groat · Post by **greta de groat** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 8:09 am

Wm. Charles Morrow wrote:
ymotion wrote:Hi Charlie,
Funny to have cupid in 18th century finery. Not sure this is what I'm looking for in terms of the visual but I'll check it out. Thanks a lot Charlie
You're quite welcome! As for the costume choice, well, in most of the classical depictions of Cupid he's nude, while in modernized renditions he often wears a diaper. Considering that they were dealing with Harry Langdon in this instance I think the folks who made My Weakness did the right thing.

Ooh, this movie sounds like fun. And Langdon sounds like inspired casting.

Greta

Tommie Hicks · Post by **Tommie Hicks** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 8:47 am

Fatty and Mabel Adrift (1915)

Eric Cohen · Post by **Eric Cohen** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 9:05 am

From Lloyd Hamilton: Poor Boy of Silent Cinema by Anthony Balducci filmography:
Cupid Backs the Winners (December 15, 1914) Kalem Company. Written, directed and produced by Marshall Neilan. Ruth Roland, Fay Brierly, Marshall Neilan, Tom Hayes, The Kalem Baby (Cupid), Lloyd V. Hamilton (the primitive man), Jaunita Sponsler (the primitive woman). 1 reel. Cupid fails with his arrows to join a young physician and his kid brother with a pair of sisters. Determined, the cherub conveniently plants a book recounting the courting habits of primitive man.

I wonder who wrote The Book of Love?

Cupid on the Job 1913 Majestic
http://lantern.mediahist.org/catalog/ci ... 2cine_0489" target="_blank"

Murnau · Post by **Murnau** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 11:11 am

I hope I remember correctly: La Rose Bleue (1911) by Léonce Perret .

ymotion · Post by **ymotion** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 2:40 pm

Hi BenModel, Tommie, Eric, Murnau
Thanks a lot. Will try now to find my way to these films - might need your advice how to get them. Meanwhile, have a beautiful day/evening.

fredhedges · Post by **fredhedges** » Mon Jul 27, 2015 4:26 pm

I have a VHS of a German film from 1913 called Die Insel der Seligen (The Island of Bliss). It was directed by the great theatre director Max Reinhart. The playful and fully-dressed godlette Amor has an important role in the story. This film, despite the renown of the director and the presence of some stars, was apparently a flop.

ymotion · Post by **ymotion** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 2:33 am

Hi Fred,
Thanks a lot. I'm going to see this flop very soon

I found this film (as VHS) in the library... And I read a review of the film IMDB. The reviewer wrote that he felt strange writing a review that will probably wouldn't be read by anyone, since the film is hardly watched. He said the same about the film being a flop - maybe it was you

ymotion · Post by **ymotion** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 4:11 am

So far I managed to watch The Bond (1918) and Fatty and Mabel Adrift (1915)
Does anyone know how I can actually watch these films (suggested by Murnau and Eric)
La Rose Bleue (1911), dir: Perret.
Cupid on the Job (1912), Majestic Motion Picture Company
Cupid Backs the Winners (1914), dir: Neilan.
I have no experience in this kind of search. I'd be grateful for any tips.
Thanks a lot. And an arrow

Eric Cohen · Post by **Eric Cohen** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 8:23 am

Sorry. The two Cupids I mentioned are probably lost.

Murnau · Post by **Murnau** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 8:52 am

La Rose Bleue (aka A Busy Cupid, 1911) was shown in Pordenone last year. Their catalog says that the print source is George Eastman House and the digital restoration was made by Haghefilm Digital, Amsterdam. That's all I know, unfortunately.

ymotion · Post by **ymotion** » Tue Jul 28, 2015 11:48 am

Thanks Murnau,
I'll make further investigation hopefully I'll find it

odinthor · Post by **odinthor** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 12:50 pm

Cupid also shows up much later in the final moments of Ingmar Bergman's 1954 En lektion i kärlek, which is to say A Lesson in Love (one of Bergman's best, in my humble opinion).

Rodney · Post by **Rodney** » Thu Aug 06, 2015 8:44 pm

There's a cute running cupid gag in Mary Pickford's Daddy Long Legs, where a bunch of cupids in some idealized heaven are tracking her love life. They're played by toddlers, and at one point I remember them being all in tears when things weren't going well. Very whimsical, but in keeping with a rather playful script. This one was released by Milestone on DVD some time ago and should be available to see.

And, of course, there's the one in Fatty and Mabel Adrift as noted above.

ymotion · Post by **ymotion** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 1:45 am

Hi Rodney and Ondithor,
Thanks a lot, will check those films.
@ Rodney: funny, I've just finished reading Daddy Long Legs few days ago and really liked it. I then checked if it was made into a movie and found the 1919 version with Pickford. I haven't watched it yet, but now there's more than one reason to do so

Thanks again!

Rodney · Post by **Rodney** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 7:18 am

ymotion wrote:Hi Rodney and Ondithor,
Thanks a lot, will check those films.
@ Rodney: funny, I've just finished reading Daddy Long Legs few days ago and really liked it. I then checked if it was made into a movie and found the 1919 version with Pickford. I haven't watched it yet, but now there's more than one reason to do so Thanks again!

I haven't read Daddy Long Legs, but I did read Amarilly of Clothesline Alley before we scored that Pickford adaptation. My recommendation? Don't expect it to follow the story except in broad strokes, but enjoy it as a separate piece of art. Pickford and her directors were usually much more interested in making an entertaining movie than respecting the incidents and tone of the source material. But Daddy Long Legs is one of my favorites. The score, by the often-controversial Maria Newman, is one of her best as well, and suits the film nicely.

ymotion · Post by **ymotion** » Mon Aug 10, 2015 8:32 am

Thanks Rodney, it's a pleasure to hear your voice here

Spiny Norman · Post by **Spiny Norman** » Tue Aug 11, 2015 4:07 am

It may or may not qualify...

ymotion · Post by **ymotion** » Tue Aug 11, 2015 3:06 pm

Spiny Norman wrote:It may or may not qualify...

Hi Spiny,
Thanks so much...It's a nice little gem. I wish the role of Cupid was a bit more dynamic

Spiny Norman · Post by **Spiny Norman** » Wed Aug 12, 2015 3:09 am

ymotion wrote:I think that casting mythological figures was more common at the first two decades of the silent era, then abandoned for some reasons.

That I think I can explain: Greek/Roman/other historical epics were very trendy in 1900-1920. Most likely that kind of highbrow, Shakespearian material helped legitimize the movie theatre - which was new and still had to find acceptance. I guess mythological stories fitted in with that plan.

There are a couple of titles with Venus where you can't tell how literal you should take that. Is The Triumph Of Venus actually about Venus (& cupid/amor)?

Venus does appear sometimes without cupid, but you may want to keep her at arm's length:

ymotion · Post by **ymotion** » Wed Aug 12, 2015 3:30 am

Hi Spiny,
Funny - indeed poor Venus!
The Triumph of venus (1918) - Hesser and Betty Lee - is it a lost film?

ymotion · Post by **ymotion** » Wed Aug 12, 2015 3:53 am

BTW, would love to watch films with Venus as well...If anyone knows of

Spiny Norman · Post by **Spiny Norman** » Wed Aug 12, 2015 3:58 am

ymotion wrote:The Triumph of venus (1918) - Hesser and Betty Lee - is it a lost film?

Sometimes that is hard to tell.
Using Lantern, I read now that it is literally Venus, and that Cupid also appears. Interesting.

Do you already know Night life of the Gods (1935)?

ymotion · Post by **ymotion** » Wed Aug 12, 2015 8:15 am

Spiny Norman wrote:
ymotion wrote:The Triumph of venus (1918) - Hesser and Betty Lee - is it a lost film?
Sometimes that is hard to tell.
Using Lantern, I read now that it is literally Venus, and that Cupid also appears. Interesting.

Do you already know Night life of the Gods (1935)?

No. And would like to watch it. How can I find it?

Spiny Norman · Post by **Spiny Norman** » Wed Aug 12, 2015 10:30 pm

ymotion wrote:
Spiny Norman wrote:
ymotion wrote:The Triumph of venus (1918) - Hesser and Betty Lee - is it a lost film?
Sometimes that is hard to tell.
Using Lantern, I read now that it is literally Venus, and that Cupid also appears. Interesting.

Do you already know Night life of the Gods (1935)?

No. And would like to watch it. How can I find it?

Just to make sure, it doesn't contain Cupid/Amor. It hasn't officially been released but it's "around" on websites that are a bit in the grey area if you know what I mean.

odinthor · Post by **odinthor** » Thu Nov 05, 2015 6:14 pm

Der blaue Engel (1930) has some fake cupids fluttering about in the background during one of the stage numbers...

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