Bristol Slapstick Festival - The Gems / Highlights
Posted: Mon Jan 31, 2011 2:24 pm
Hi chaps.
Been a while but I'm back in the silent groove again....
Just returned from Bristol and the Slapstick event.
Thought you'd like to get the lowdown.
I went to most of the events but as you know, it's a different beast to Slapsticon.
The use of 'celebs' to draw in the crowds has always been a bit of a negative for me, especially as most of the celebs are just casual fans and don't offer any real insite into the films or the stars within them.
I won't highlight each show (details are on the Slapstick website if you're interested).
I'll just mention the real gems that were lurking.....
Kevin Brownlow is always a delight to listen to and his 'Unknown Chaplin' presentation, whilst not containing much new stuff, was just great.
Kevin also later introduced Clara Bow's 'Mantrap' (although "Slapstick"??... hmmm) and this was the BFI print which is from a pretty good nitrate.
The big comedy gala with an audience of a thousand plus people was the usual hit, helped by the attendance of 'Jazz Train' a 15 piece jazz unit who'd flown in from Germany for the event! (paid for by their German sponsors too!). The four shorts shown were Lloyd's GET OUT AND GET UNDER; Chaplin's ONE AM; Laurel & Hardy's WE FAW DOWN; and Keaton's NEIGHBORS.
During the rest of the weekend, the big laugh makers for me were Chaplin's THE CIRCUS, which always works well with an audience, and Lloyd's FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE.
The most interesting programme though was 'Rediscoveries and Revelations' presented by David Wyatt. This included the surviving footage of LOVE 'EM AND WEEP and Laurel's WHEN KNIGHTS WERE COLD (from Rob Stone); the "reconstruction" of Billy Bevan's ON PATROL (from yours truly) and the majority of a recently discovered nitrate of Charley Chase's THE PERFECT LADY (co-starring Kalla Pasha! - yes really!!) A truly bizarre little film.
So, a shame you couldn't all make it.
In the meantime, I'm saving up for Washington.....
Dave
Been a while but I'm back in the silent groove again....
Just returned from Bristol and the Slapstick event.
Thought you'd like to get the lowdown.
I went to most of the events but as you know, it's a different beast to Slapsticon.
The use of 'celebs' to draw in the crowds has always been a bit of a negative for me, especially as most of the celebs are just casual fans and don't offer any real insite into the films or the stars within them.
I won't highlight each show (details are on the Slapstick website if you're interested).
I'll just mention the real gems that were lurking.....
Kevin Brownlow is always a delight to listen to and his 'Unknown Chaplin' presentation, whilst not containing much new stuff, was just great.
Kevin also later introduced Clara Bow's 'Mantrap' (although "Slapstick"??... hmmm) and this was the BFI print which is from a pretty good nitrate.
The big comedy gala with an audience of a thousand plus people was the usual hit, helped by the attendance of 'Jazz Train' a 15 piece jazz unit who'd flown in from Germany for the event! (paid for by their German sponsors too!). The four shorts shown were Lloyd's GET OUT AND GET UNDER; Chaplin's ONE AM; Laurel & Hardy's WE FAW DOWN; and Keaton's NEIGHBORS.
During the rest of the weekend, the big laugh makers for me were Chaplin's THE CIRCUS, which always works well with an audience, and Lloyd's FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE.
The most interesting programme though was 'Rediscoveries and Revelations' presented by David Wyatt. This included the surviving footage of LOVE 'EM AND WEEP and Laurel's WHEN KNIGHTS WERE COLD (from Rob Stone); the "reconstruction" of Billy Bevan's ON PATROL (from yours truly) and the majority of a recently discovered nitrate of Charley Chase's THE PERFECT LADY (co-starring Kalla Pasha! - yes really!!) A truly bizarre little film.
So, a shame you couldn't all make it.
In the meantime, I'm saving up for Washington.....
Dave
