Silent Topics: essays on undocumented areas of silent film by Anthony Slide, 2005
Book is generally historical. Critical analysis takes back seat to lists and dates.
Page 2. "...film historian Terry Ramsaye, who wrote on December 27, 1929 to E.B.Derr of Pathe, "May I, at this time, observe that I consider all British pictures makers lousy -- and, that the art of photography is practically unknown in Great Britain, so far as the motion picture is concerned"
Page 8-9, "British producers and distributors knew their films were inferior to American product, but rather than improve them, they felt it more important to stress the bond of friendship between the two nations and to emphasize that Americans should want to see British films in order to become better acquainted with their wartime allies".
Book is generally historical. Critical analysis takes back seat to lists and dates.
Page 2. "...film historian Terry Ramsaye, who wrote on December 27, 1929 to E.B.Derr of Pathe, "May I, at this time, observe that I consider all British pictures makers lousy -- and, that the art of photography is practically unknown in Great Britain, so far as the motion picture is concerned"
Page 8-9, "British producers and distributors knew their films were inferior to American product, but rather than improve them, they felt it more important to stress the bond of friendship between the two nations and to emphasize that Americans should want to see British films in order to become better acquainted with their wartime allies".
Page 27, break down of each dollar spent of a film
Page 32, Lord's Prayer as a Hollywood satire:
Our father who art in Hollywood
hallowed be DeMille
Thy kingdom come but fun is fun on earth as it is in Hollywood
Give us this day our daily break
And forgive us our wise cracks
As we forgive those who wisecrack against us,
Lead us not into von Stroheim
And deliver us from Jim Tully,
For Thine is the income,
What Price Glory,
For ever and ever,
yes, yes!
Page 44-45, Muybridge wrestlers gay? Plates 345-346 (according to Francis Bacon)
Page 55-57, Green carnation and red neckties were gay codes. See Betty Boop "Any Rags" from 1932.
Page 59, Margerie Benner, a minor silent actress and sister of Priscilla who married to alcoholic author Malcolm Lowry (Under the Volcano).
Chapter 7, interview with early film composer David Mendoza (COPY)
Page 78, Roy Pomeroy, early SFX engineer, did first Ten Commandments; made Red Sea out of gelatin. Also a major sound designer.
Page 99-100, worst silent actress was Beulah Poynter, especially in the worst silent film ever made: "Lena Rivers".
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