| Introductions by Denise Morrison (Denise provided the Notes, below)
Music provided by Marvin Faulwell, Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra
Greg Foreman, and Bob Keckeisen
The event is free and open to the public. The KSFF is underwritten by donations
Friday, Feb. 22, 2008
Begins: 7:00 p.m.
Short: A Harem Knight (1926) Ben Turpin (20 min.)
—
A Mack Sennett comedy starring that cross-eyed charmer Ben Turpin as Rodney St. Clair, a character he returned to for several films. Rodney is an international playboy of the jet set, who manages to get himself into all kinds of trouble.
—Organ music by Greg Foreman
Short: Only Me (1929) Lupino Lane (15 min.)
—
A well-dressed but inebriated man decides to attend the theater. Mayhem ensues as only Lupino Lane could manage it. A veteran of the English music hall, Lane's comedies are not as well remembered today and those that are available borrow heavily from more famous comedians: this film has gags from both Chaplin and Keaton. Still, Lane adds enough of his own touches to make it special…and funny!
—Organ music by Marvin Faulwell
--Brief Break
Feature: The Kid Brother (1927) Harold Lloyd, Jobyna Ralston (80 min.)
—Some believe this to be Harold Lloyd's crowning achievement: the story of a young man awash in self-doubt as he grows up among the overwhelming personalities (and giant physical stature) of his father and brothers. The film has plenty of comedy and pathos, and a rousing finish as Harold proves himself to all those he loves, including the lovely Jobyna Ralston.
—Music by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra
Return to Top of Page
Saturday - Feb. 23, 2008
Morning - starts at 10 a.m.
Short: Jack the Kisser (1907) An Edwin S. Porter film (10 min.)
—A pioneer in the development of motion pictures, Porter directs this slight piece of comedy. The story, such as it is, involves an energetic man who steals kisses from passing ladies, until bystanders give chase. The oldest film in our festival, this one is a rare treat and an early example of the chase comedy.
—Organ music by Marvin Faulwell
Short: Bad Boy (1925) Charley Chase, Martha Sleeper (20 min.)
—Charley is a dancing fool. In this two-reel comedy, he plays Jimmy Jump who just can't seem to please the people in his life--his father wants him to act more manly, but his mother appreciates his sensitive side. His girl gets a glimpse of him frolicking with nymphs, so Jimmy goes to a tough dance-hall to prove he's man enough for her.
—Organ music by Marvin Faulwell
Feature: Clash of the Wolves (1925) Rin Tin Tin, Charles Farrell (74 min.)
—One of the most famous animal stars in film history, "Rinty" is Lobo, the leader of a wolf pack who is thought to be terrorizing a western town. But he is befriended by a young prospector and together they take care of business--and the bad guys. This rare film features some amazing animal stunts.
—Organ music by Marvin Faulwell
Return to Top of Page
--Lunch Break
Afternoon - starts at 1:00 p.m.
Short: Coney Island (1917) Roscoe Arbuckle, Buster Keaton, Al St. John (20 min.)
—Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle is credited with writing and directing this two-reel comedy about a day at the famous amusement park, where he flirts with some bathing beauties while fighting with his rivals (Buster and Al) for their attention.
—Music by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra
Feature: Leap Year (1921) Roscoe Arbuckle (55 min.)
—A victim of the scandal that ruined Arbuckle's career, this film was not released for three years and then only in Europe. It was never commercially shown in the U.S. Arbuckle plays nephew to a grouchy old millionaire uncle. He gets himself involved in all kinds of romantic difficulties—with three different fiancés!
—Music by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra
--Brief Break
Short: The Mothering Heart (1913) Lillian Gish, Walter Miller (20 min.)
—This D. W. Griffith two-reeler shows off the tremendous acting abilities of Gish, who plays her character with so much heart and sincerity. Add to that Griffith's visual style as an accomplished filmmaker and you have a film that packs an emotional wallop.
—Organ music by Greg Foreman
Feature: Dancing Mothers (1926) Alice Joyce, Clara Bow, Conway Tearle (66 min.)
—A jazz-age story about a neglected wife who sits at home while her husband and daughter are out living the high life. But when her daughter rebels with an older man, she uses a little jazz age vamping of her own to straighten her out. The film was a great boost to the already rising career of Clara Bow, one of the era's great movie "flappers."
—Organ music by Greg Foreman
Return to Top of Page
--Dinner Break
Evening - starts at 7:00 p.m.
Short: The Bond (1918) Charlie Chaplin, Syd Chaplin, Edna Purviance (10 min.)
—A little film that Chaplin made for the war effort, encouraging audiences to buy war bonds. Chaplin is credited with writing and directing this promotional short film: members of his own company and his brother Syd are featured.
—Organ music by Greg Foreman
Short: Sinking of the Lusitania (1918) Winsor McCay (10 min.)
—One of the defining moments of World War I: a German submarine sunk a British liner full of passengers in 1915, claiming the British were using the ship to transport munitions for the war. The event shocked the world and is today considered an important factor in turning the United States away from neutrality. Animator Winsor McKay made this propaganda short to remind his fellow Americans just what they were fighting for.
—Music by the Mont Alto Motion Picture Orchestra
--Brief Break
Feature: The Big Parade (1925) John Gilbert, Renee Adoree (136 min.)
—Superb filmmaking, a talented cast and a realistic story by ex-Marine Laurence Stallings made this the most successful silent film in the history of its producer, MGM. Its story of WWI as seen through the eyes of a young soldier spoke to the generation who had lived through it, from the horrors of the battlefield to the poignant love story. An excellent film!
— Music by Marvin Faulwell, organ, & Bob Keckeison, percussion
Return to Top of Page
About Denise Morrison:
 Denise
Morrison is a film historian from Kansas City, Missouri, with
a special focus on silent film. She works as an archivist with Union
Station in Kansas City, Missouri, and has been involved with the Kansas
Silent Film Festival since the beginning. She was quite active with
the Granada Theatre in Kansas City, Kansas, when they were showing a
full schedule of silent movies. Denise will give an overview of the
silent film era and also provide introductions to each film.
Return to Top of Page
About Marvin Faulwell:
 Dr.
Marvin Faulwell is a retired dentist from Kansas City
who is a very accomplished theatre organist. He has played
for all of the previous five Silent Film Festivals and our "sister
project," Silents
in the Cathedral, held every Halloween at Grace Cathedral
in Topeka. He has a large theatre organ in his home and also restores
the instruments. He has appeared in concert and accompanied silent
film programs in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, and Minnesota and also accompanied
many silent films shown at the Granada Theatre in Kansas City, Kansas.—read
2004 newspaper feature, with link to audio discussion
Return to Top of Page
About the Mont
Alto Motion Picture Orchestra:
 The
Mont
Alto Motion Picture Orchestra comes from Boulder, Colorado
and have appeared at this festival since the third events, held in 1999.
The orchestra consists of a piano, violin, cello, clarinet, and trumpet.
They are quite active in their hometown have appeared several times
in California, at the Buster Keaton Celebration in
Iola, Kansas (since 1998) and at the Telluride Film Festival in Colorado.
They have made three CDs of salon music and silent film music. They
have provided the music scores for numerous silent films on video and
DVD including Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde (1920), Blood and
Sand (1922), and The Thief of Bagdad (1924) for
Kino Video.
Return to Top of Page
About Greg Foreman:
 Greg Foreman holds a Certificate of Piano Performance, a Bachelor of Music Education, and a Master of Arts in Teaching. He is an author and clinician for Alfred Music Publishing, Inc. and serves as a music teacher for the Lee's Summit, Missouri School District. Mr. Foreman has performed as soloist with the Kansas City Symphony, the UMKC Conservatory Orchestra, and on National Public Radio. The Kansas City Star has said, "his playing...was strong, impulsive, stylish, and touched with poetry."
Return to Top of Page
About Bob Keckeisen:
 Bob Keckeisen has been principal percussionist for the Topeka Symphony Orchestra since 1989. Bob has been delighting audiences recently at the Kansas Silent Film Festival by adding remarkable percussive music and sound effects to several films. Bob grew up in Wichita and studied percussion under J.C. Combs at Wichita State University. He obtained both his undergraduate and graduate degrees in history from WSU and moved to Topeka in 1982.
Bob is the director of the Kansas Museum of History in Topeka and frequently volunteers for KTWU Channel 11.
Return to Top of Page
Kansas Silent Film Festival, Inc. is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization. This event is funded by generous donations, and welcomes your support. Your tax deductible gift will be gratefully acknowledged.
Kansas Silent Film Festival, Inc.
P.O. Box 2032
Topeka, Kansas 66601-2032
E-mail contact - bill.shaffer@washburn.edu Or bshaffer2@cox.net
All donations are appreciated.
|
