In collaboration with the Catalina Island Museum and in celebration of its own beginnings as a silent movie house, the Sierra Madre Playhouse is proud to present a screening of the recently rediscovered Houdini silent film, The Grim Game!
Everyone is invited to step back into 1919 — one hundred years ago — and see this lost classic as it was meant to be seen, with live accompaniment by the doyen of silent film musicians, Michael Mortilla, and violinist Nicole Garcia. This exciting event will be introduced by Houdini expert John Cox (www.wildabouthoudini.com). Michael will talk about the importance of music in the silent era.
The Grim Game is a silent drama that showcases Houdini’s astonishing, world-famous talents as an escapologist, stunt performer and aviator. The film presents a series of Houdini’s trademark stunts and escapes and builds to an airplane pursuit climaxed by a mid-air collision.
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The film was considered lost for decades until it was rediscovered, restored and shown in 2015. It’s a fascinating cinematic record, revealing the reason that Houdini was one of the biggest stars of the early 20th century.
Now, for one night only, travel in time with us back in the Playhouse’s history and see this recently rediscovered classic at Sierra Madre Playhouse!
Famous Players Orchestra will present An Evening of Classic Silent Film Comedies, featuring the silent comedies of Laurel and Hardy, Monty Banks and Ben Turpin.
Hand-cranked by Joe Rinaudo and accompanied by Scott Lasky on piano. Program introduced by film historian, Stan Taffel. All films screened in 35mm.
March 16th, 2019 Doors open at 6:45 p.m.
Showtime is 7:00 p.m.
Christ Lutheran Church 2400 West Burbank Blvd. Burbank, CA 91506
Program includes a 30 minute intermission. Concessions for sale.
The Academy Awards listened to its audience and decided after all to give credit where credit is due: to those who make cinema the exciting and stunning medium that it is.
On February 12 the Academy announced it would not show four award categories to home viewers (to be presented during commercials at the event) in order to trim the show to a shorter length of time:
Cinematography
Editing
Live Action Short
Makeup & Hair
There was quite an uproar—read these tweets, some of which are quite funny—which lead to the Academy to reverse its decision and include all the awards in the telecast.
CLICK HERE for a COMPLETE LIST of the 2019 OSCAR NOMINEES
As Alfonso Cuarón, who is nominated for producing, directing, writing & cinematography for his film Roma, said on Twitter:
In the history of CINEMA, masterpieces have existed without sound, without color, without a story, without actors & without music. No one single film has ever existed without CINEMAtography & without editing.
That pretty much describes Silent Cinema, doesn’t it? No sound, no color, sometimes no plot…but always cinema.
Here’s a poster paying tribute to Cinematography & Editing…and the ampersand, stylized here in the tradition of classic movie title lettering. You can view a full-size version to download and print, at AmperArt.com.
To see full size, and download for printing and framing, visit AmperArt.com
Did you see Joe Rinaudo cranking his 1909 Powers Cameragraph at last year’s Oscars? Here are some scenes:
Next is Gary Oldman cranking Joe’s vintage Powers Moving Picture Machine:
CLICK HERE for a COMPLETE LIST of the 2019 OSCAR NOMINEES