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Metropolis Fritz Lang’s sci-fi masterpiece "Metropolis" is one of the most celebrated movies in cinema history which to this day is the touchstone for futuristic and fantasy films. The film dramatizes the conflict between wealthy über-capitalists and rebellious subterranean laborers—orchestrated by a diabolical scientist capable of destroying them both. The print that we will screen will incorporate more than 25 minutes of newly discovered footage. This 2010 restoration is the definitive edition of the film’s dazzling visual design and special effects. The integration of scenes and subplots long considered lost endows Metropolis with greater tension and emotional resonance. Total running time: 148 min. |
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The Navigator Buster Keaton stars as Rollo Treadway, an inexperienced lad of extraordinary wealth -- and surprisingly little common sense -- who finds himself adrift on "The Navigator" with no one else on board except an equally naïve girl. After discovering each other's presence in an ingenious ballet of unintentional hide-and-seek, the couple resourcefully fashion a home for themselves aboard the derelict boat. They embark on a series of misadventures such as Rollo in a diving suit battling the attacks of an aggressive swordfish. Upon the high seas the couple becomes surrounded by a fleet of menacing cannibals. With the aid of a crate of flares the film reaches its explosively funny climax. This film brilliantly exemplifies Buster Keaton's ability to mine rich humor from the inanimate. The Navigator is a classic of the Golden Age of Comedy, centered on and about a single extraordinary prop: an immense five hundred-foot yacht. Plus: "The Love Nest" (1923): Buster trades a sailboat for a U-boat to plumb new depths of hilarity. Total running time: 110min. |
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Blackmail This is Alfred Hitchcock's forgotten silent version of his classic "Blackmail." Most people have seen the sound version but the silent version is in many ways superior. Both films star Anny Ondra whose voice was overdubbed in the talkie. As a silent actress she was radiant being free in movement and expression as she did not have to mouth the words spoken off camera by another actress. Blackmail is about the daughter of a London shopkeeper whose boyfriend, a Scotland Yard detective, seems more interested in police work than in her. The woman secretly arranged to meet another man and agrees to go to see his studio, where the stranger tries to rape her. The woman defends herself and kills the attacker with a bread knife. Her boyfriend is assigned to investigate and soon determines that his girlfriend is the killer. The silent murder scene as well as the tension filled finale demonstrates Hitchcock’s early brilliance for suspense, tension, symbolism, and use of B&W shading. The film began as a silent film but to cash in on the new popularity of talkies, the film's producer asked Hitchcock to film a portion of the movie in sound. Hitchcock thought the idea absurd. But he redid his silent film into a talkie. In 1929 the silent film was much more popular as many English theatres did not have the ability to reproduce the sound and used live accompaniment as we too will do this evening. Hitchcock used several elements that would become Hitchcock "trademarks" including a beautiful blonde in peril, a famous landmark in the finale and a cameo appearance. 80 min. Plus: “The Uneasy Three” starring Charley Chase, 22min
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The Eagle Rudolph Valentino, the romantic sex star of his era, plays a lieutenant in the Russian army who catches the eye of Czarina Catherine II. He spurns her advances and flees. She responds by putting out a warrant for his arrest, dead or alive. As a fugitive he dons a black mask becoming an outlaw known as "The Black Eagle." Learning that his father's lands have been taken, he takes on an additional role as a French instructor of the Land grabber’s daughter Mascha. He is after vengeance, but instead falls in love with his student. Valentino needs to rethink and choose between "eye for an eye” and his love for Mascha. The film is filled with steamy intrigue, swashbuckling, and high adventure. We will screen a pristine 16mm print that surpasses any DVD made to this date. 75 min Plus: Harold Lloyd’s 1920 short film "His Royal Slyness." Harold is a salesman who switches places with the Prince of Razzamatazz (Lloyd’s brother). Harold then must fight to keep his place in the palace after the Prince returns. 25min. Total running time: 100 min.
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Girl Shy Rated as one of his best, Lloyd plays Harold Meadows a shy, stuttering bachelor working in a tailor shop, who is writing a guide book for other bashful young men. The chapters from his book "The Secret of Love," are portrayed in a series of fantasy sequences. These imaginary scenes using the book’s "techniques" on both a Vampire and a Flapper are extremely funny. Yet in his real life Harold is a man so shy around women that he stutters in every encounter with women. Fate has him meet a rich girl, and they fall in love. But she is about to wed, so our hero embarks upon a hair-raising daredevil ride to prevent the wedding. Some of the earliest Our Gang / Little Rascal kids are in this movie. 87 min Plus: George Melies’ classic 1902 short “A Trip to the Moon”. 15 min Total running time: 102 min. |
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Faust This spectacular mammoth German production won F. W. Murnau a Hollywood contract. This world-wide blockbuster is about God and Satan’s war over earth. To settle things, they wager on the soul of Faust, a learned and prayerful alchemist. During a plague, Faust despairs and burns his books to stop death. His despair gains Satan’s attention who sends Mephisto to tempt Faust, first with insight into treating the plague and then with a day's return to youth. Mephisto is clever though ending Faust’s youthful day as he embraces a beautiful Duchess. Faust in turn trades his soul for youth and promptly falls in love. Who wins the wager is the overriding theme of this extraordinary piece of artistry and craftsmanship which integrates dazzling special effects so seamlessly that they're indistinguishable from the film's narrative, poetry, and, above all, metaphysics. The scenario for Faust touches lightly upon the previous retellings by Goethe and Marlowe, but is more heavily reliant on the paintings of Pietr Breughel. Total running time: 116 min
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Sparrows Mr. Grimes and his wife operate a dismal "baby farm" near an alligator-infested swamp. Molly, played by Mary Pickford who at age 34, still is youthful and gives one of her best performances in her final juvenile role. Molly is the ingenious caregiver to a band of orphans held captive on the bayou farm. The plot turns around a kidnapped baby girl brought to the farm for concealment until kidnappers receive a ransom. They do not tell Grimes but he reads about it in the newspaper and decides it is safer to chuck the whole group in the alligator-infested bayou. When Molly learns of Grimes' plan, she plots a daring escape with her band. Yet the story goes on as Molly and her charges flee the police, the kidnapers and Mr. Grimes. The children crossing a rotting tree limb which has fallen over the swamp full of hungry alligators is perhaps one of the greatest tension-mounting moments of cinema history. It is "seat-gripping". Thrills, spills, chills and a little romance! Of all Pickford's films, this one may weather the test of time better than any other. Scott Eyman in Mary Pickford - America's Sweetheart (Donald I. Fine, Inc., 1990), said, "'Sparrows' dates hardly at all and has perennial appeal . . ." Produced by Pickford. Total running time: 84 min. |
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Peter Pan Capturing the mysteries, adventures and delight of childhood, this is the first film and perhaps the best adaptation of James M. Barrie's timeless story. It became one of the most popular films of the twenties. Betty Bronson stars as Peter Pan, the boy who never grew up, who charms Wendy and her brothers to fly with him to Never-Never Land. On this distant island of dreams and magic, they struggle to rescue the Lost Boys from Captain Hook and his band of pirates, encountering along the way the delightful fairy Tinkerbell, a man-eating crocodile, and a band of valiant Indians. Nearly all of the intertitles (the words on the cards that we read to ourselves) are taken directly from J. M. Barrie's original play. This Peter Pan, opened Christmas week, 1924 then, like one of the Lost Boys, it vanished into a Never Land. Virtually unseen for decades the film has been fully restored from original nitrate materials, with authentic color tint highlighting remarkable special effects and fine photography. As for the lead role of Peter Pan, it was the author James Barrie who selected Betty Bronson, then an unknown to play Peter after he turned down silent superstars Mary Pickford, Gloria Swanson & Lillian Gish. Total running time: 105 min
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REEL Rock 8 The REEL ROCK Film Tour is in it's 8th year, bringing the best in adventure films to local audiences at over 450 screenings worldwide. We are kicking it off with a World Premiere in Boulder, CO on September 19th and 20th. REEL ROCK shows are festive community events, featuring thrilling action films, gear giveaways, sponsor booths and fundraising for non-profits. We are excited to be hosting our premiere at the Chautauqua Auditorium with appearances by filmmakers, local athletes Daniel Woods, Emily Harrington, a beer garden and more! Ride the Free HOP 2 Chautauqua shuttle to this show.
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REEL Rock 8 The REEL ROCK Film Tour is in it's 8th year, bringing the best in adventure films to local audiences at over 450 screenings worldwide. We are kicking it off with a World Premiere in Boulder, CO on September 19th and 20th. REEL ROCK shows are festive community events, featuring thrilling action films, gear giveaways, sponsor booths and fundraising for non-profits. We are excited to be hosting our premiere at the Chautauqua Auditorium with appearances by filmmakers, local athletes Daniel Woods, Emily Harrington, a beer garden and more! Ride the Free HOP 2 Chautauqua shuttle to this show.
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THANK YOU TO OUR 2013 SPONSORS:
