Large Association of Movie Blogs
Large Association of Movie Blogs

Saturday, April 29, 2023

Screenings and Day-O!


Wow, it's soon to be May 2023 - and at long last classic film screenings are back in full swing. The KFJC Psychotronix Film Festival returns to Foothill College two weeks from today.



A week from today, on Saturday, May 6th, the San Francisco Silent Film Festival presents the sex, murder and Weimar Republic ennui-packed Pandora's Box, directed by G>W. Pabst, starring 1920's punk rocker Louise Brooks and accompanied by The Clubfoot Orchestra, at Oakland's Paramount Theatre. Also on Saturday, May 6th, if your preference is laughs, at 7:30 pm, the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum presents COMEDY SHORTS NIGHT.

Back on the big screen where they belong: the following quartet of comedy classics, accompanied by pianist Greg Pane.

The Fireman (1916, Lone Star, 35mm) Charlie Chaplin
Bumping Into Broadway (1919, Rolin) Harold Lloyd
The Goat (1921, Comique, 35mm) Buster Keaton
The Second Hundred Years (1927, Hal Roach Studios)
Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy



Alas, plunging further into the 21st century means the losses of too many beloved figures from the 20th century. In 2022, standup comedians dropped like flies. In 2023 so far, it is incredible musicians - including pianist Ahmad Jamal, among of slew of all-time greats - the world is losing at an alarming rate.



The latest is the amazing vocalist-bandleader-activist-actor-director-producer-writer-humanitarian Harry Belafonte, who passed at 96.



Fortunately, Mr. Belafonte was nothing if not prolific and several excellent complete concerts of Harry's are up on YouTube. Tough to stay in a bad mood for long after listening to Belafonte's killer calypso!

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