READY for rarities?
STEADY for slapstick?
GO for Silent Laughter!!!
Yes, we’re back, with a jam-packed day of special presentations, some rediscoveries and restorations and a few old favourites too.
From the situation comedy of W.C. Fields and Charley Chase to the wild sight gags of Snub Pollard; from the glamorous comic diva Colleen Moore to the slapstick finesse of Laurel and Hardy, we’ll be sampling the glorious breadth and depth of the silent era’s comedy riches. We’re also shining the spotlight on Keystone studios and some of the brilliant – but often overlooked – female comedians of the era. Add to that some exclusive premieres of new discoveries and restorations, and you’ve got a programme absolutely packed with laughs and surprises. All screenings will feature introductions from silent film historians, and live accompaniment from wonderful musicians. Below is the run-down of what we’ll be showing; please note that all films are subject to availability.
10.00 It’s the Old Army Game (1926)
Though posterity remembers him as a talking comedian, the great W.C. Fields – enemy of small dogs and children everywhere – made some wonderful silent comedies. This 1926 feature follows the trials and tribulations of small-town druggist Elmer Prettywillie (Fields) and boasts some terrific comic set pieces, from his encounters with difficult customers to a nightmare picnic. It later provided the blueprint for his 1934 classic It’s A Gift, and also features an unlikely co-star: silent icon Louise Brooks! Piano accompaniment by Colin Sell.
11.30 Rediscoveries & Restorations
Almost a century after the silent era ended, some brilliant lost films keep resurfacing, while restoration efforts help others to live anew. Regular attendees will know that we always pull out some real goodies from the bag for this segment of Silent Laughter, and this year is no different. We’re still digging through the treasures on offer, and exact titles are TBC, but expect new restorations of long-lost (and hilarious) films starring Snub Pollard and Laurel & Hardy and we’ll also be showing the world premiere of a newly discovered and restored Pimple film (Fred Evans) – Pimple’s Lady Godiva (1917) – to be introduced by the BFI’S Bryony Dixon. Piano accompaniment by Cyrus Gabrysch.
13.00 Lunch
14.00 Female Fun
Unfortunately, our view of silent comedy tends to be dominated by male performers. Although fewer studios provided opportunities for women to shine in comedy, there were still plenty of wonderful performers who managed to break through the slapstick patriarchy to achieve stardom in their own right. Here we shine a light on three of the best funny women: Wanda Wiley proves that women can do slapstick just as well as men in A Thrilling Romance, Marion Byron stars with Max Davidson in charming situation comedy The Boy Friend, and the wonderful Mabel Normand pokes fun at vanity in the rarely seen Anything Once. Piano accompaniment by Costas Fotopoulos.
15.45 Why Be Good? (1929)
One of the defining ‘flappers’ of the 1920s, Colleen Moore sparkled in a series of deliciously frothy light comedies. Why Be Good? is a classic jazz-age tale set in a metropolitan world of department stores and night clubs: a real time capsule. Life-of-the-party Pert Kelly (Moore) falls for the boss of the department store where she works – but will her free-spirited ways be tolerated by high society? Lost for many years, Why Be Good? was restored in 2014, complete with its original ‘Vitaphone’ music and effects soundtrack. We’ll be showing the film with this vintage accompaniment today.
17.30 Focus On… Keystone
In the early teens, Keystone Studios was a crucible for film comedy. From Charlie Chaplin to Roscoe Arbuckle, Mabel Normand and The Keystone Cops, many of the icons of silent comedy were forged here. Dave Glass and Glenn Mitchell take a deep dive into the studio’s modius operandi and its seismic influence on comedy, with classic and rare film clips galore! Piano accompaniment by Ashley Valentine.
19.00 Dinner
20.00 The Small Bachelor (1927)
Lost for a century, we’re proud to present this re-premiere of a rediscovered adaptation of a P. G. Wodehouse novel. Set in Greenwich Village, the plot focuses on aspiring artist Finch (George Beranger) and his romantic entanglements. The New York setting gave Wodehouse plenty of chance to gently lampoon American culture, especially through the Western-obsessed character Sigsbee Waddington. A cast of great comic character actors bring Wodehouse’s characters to life, including Lucien Littlefield, Tom Dugan, Gertrude Astor and George Davis. Directed by light comedy specialist William A Seiter, The Small Bachelor fizzes with gentle wit and farcical humour: a rediscovered treasure for fans of Wodehouse and silent comedy alike.
This screening is courtesy of Christopher Bird, who rediscovered the film. Continuing the spirit of the main feature, The Small Bachelor will also be supported by a short film starring Bioscope favourite – and farceur extraordinaire – Charley Chase. Limousine Love is one of Chase’s all-time funniest films, as he – innocently – acquires a naked woman in the back of his car en route to his wedding! Piano accompaniment by Neil Brand.
TICKETS & PRICING
All Day £21 / Afternoon and evening pass £16 / Evening show only £8. You can also book dinner (£14) at the Cafe Jamyang, next door to the Museum. Tickets and dinner bookable here.
