Coming -- The Funniest Farce-Comedy Ever Screened -- February 28, 2025

Photoplay, February, 1925

For the second month in a row, I am turning the Chaplin spotlight on his brother, Sydney. Charley's Aunt was a good part for him, because he knew all the traditions about appearing in drag.

Photoplay, February, 1925

Gene Hackman, RIP -- February 27, 2025

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Great actor Gene Hackman has died. People are questioning how his wife and dog also died, but I'm sure details will come out.

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Happy International Polar Bear Day, 2025 -- February 27, 2025

Carmichael wishes everyone a happy International Polar Bear Day. Carmichael's grandfather was a movie star in the Old Country.

Please do what you can to slow the loss of sea ice.

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The Negro "Lon Chaney" -- February 26, 2025

Saint Louis Argus, 13-February-1925

Smiling Hate, with an "ALL-STAR COLORED CAST," is a movie I have never heard of. I have never heard of actor HOWARD AUGUSTA, "The Famous Colored Artist." I can't find an entry for the movie in the IMDB. 

Saint Louis Argus, 20-February-1925

I was interested to see Howard Augusta called '"The Negro 'Lon Chaney'."

Baltimore Afro-American, 14-February-1925

Oscar Micheaux was a pioneer in producing what were known as race films. Body and Soul was the first Micheaux movie that I saw, and for a long time the only one. Paul Robeson made an impressive debut, playing two brothers. Micheaux called the film "the biggest picture he has ever produced."

Baltimore Afro-American, 07-February-1925

This item says African Americans were internalizing messages of inferiority from mainstream movies. It commends Micheaux "who has expended money and contributed his wonderful talents with no recompense" and asks people to support him.

The Lost World -- February 25, 2025

Moving Picture World, 14-February-1925

This subject of this huge trade ad was the movie based on Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World, which included object animation created by Willis O'Brien, was a big hit. I starred Bessie Love. 

Joe E Brown -- The Musical Mirthquake -- February 24, 2025

New York Daily News, 02-February-1925

Joe E Brown became a major star in talking comedies. He is best remembered for delivering the punchline in Some Like It Hot. He loved baseball. I read his memoir Laughter Is a Wonderful Thing when I was very young.

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Both Elmer the Great and Alibi Ike were based on stories by Ring Lardner.

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Harry Langdon -- Here He Is! Our Own Council Bluffs Boy!! -- February 23, 2025

Council Bluffs Daily Nonpariel, 01-February-1925

Comedian Harry Langdon was born in Council Bluffs, Idaho. That city's Daily NonPareil made sure to mention it. Douglas MacLean was a popular light comedian. This ad calls him "Harold Lloyd's Only Rival!" 

Council Bluffs Daily Nonpariel, 01-February-1925

A detail from the above ad shows an newspaper advertising cut for "The Sea Squawk."

Marion Leader-Tribune, 01-February-1925

Ramon Novarro. who was born in Mexico, became a popular actor in Hollywood silent films.

Marion Leader-Tribune, 01-February-1925

Another advertising cut: "An Unlimited Train of Laughter!"

Boise Idaho Statesman, 01-February-1925

This item says that "Harry Langdon will soon abandon making two-reel comedies, and will follow in Harold Lloyd's footsteps by trying feature-length films for Pathe."

The Crossing -- February 22, 2025

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Today is George Washington's birthday. In 2000, Jeff Daniels played General Washington in a television movie called The Crossing. The movie told the story of Washington crossing the Delaware and the Battle of Trenton.

Luis Buñuel 125 -- February 22, 2025

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Surrealist director Luis Buñuel was born 125 years ago today, on 22-February-1900. He led a remarkable life. I read about him in books before I saw any of his movies. I first saw Buñuel and Salvador Dali's "Un Chien Andalou" in film class at San Francisco State. We also saw "Las Hurdes". Later I saw many of his movies in theaters and on television.

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Sam Peckinpah 100 -- February 21, 2025

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Director Sam Peckinpah was born 100 years ago today, on 21-February-1925. His movies were famous for depicting violence, but he made some movies that were not that way. I never saw Straw Dogs.

During World War II, he served in China as a Marine.

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Robert Altman 100 -- February 20, 2025

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Director Robert Altman was born 100 years ago today, on 20-February-1925. A large group of actors liked working with him because he allowed them to improvise. He enjoyed making satirical films.

During World War II, he served in the PTO as a B-24 pilot. 

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The Angry Dane -- February 19, 2025

London Daily Telegraph, 19-February-1925

In 1922, John Barrymore played Hamlet 101 times on Broadway and then toured the US until early 1924. In 1925, he took the play to London. 

At the San Francisco Film Festival, I saw a test he did in 1934 or 1935 for a movie adaption of Hamlet, but he was having memory problems. In 1937, as part of a series called Streamlined Shakespeare, he played the part on the radio.

London Daily Mirror, 20-February-1925

THE ANGRY DANE

Mr. Barrymore's Novel Hamlet -- Miss Fay

Compton as Ophelia

By Our Dramatic Critic

Great interest was taken in the Barrymore "Hamlet," produced last night at the Haymarket Theater before a distinguished audience, which included the Earl of Oxford and Asquith.

Mr. John Barrymore's Hamlet is regarded in the States as a great histrionic achievement. This verdict would seem to have been endorsed by last night's audience, for enthusiasm was terrific.

It may be said at once that Mr. Barrymore is not the greatest Hamlet one has seen, he is a most interesting, accomplished and novel one, not reaching perhaps the ultimate profundities of the character, yet illuminating it always, and throwing into relief the natural and human qualities of the man.

Mr. Barrymore is not so much, the melancholy as the angry Dane; the supreme instance of the man with a just grievance which preys on his mind until he has purged his conscience in revenge.

The novelty of the impersonation lies in the modern or colloquial note that Mr. Barrymore strikes.

The whole company is excellent. Fay Compton as Ophelia plays the part with a power of suggestion in her acting that has surely never been surpassed. She not only distils the essential pathos of the character but makes Ophelia a more real woman than one has seen her made before.

George Kennedy 100, Cybill Shepherd and John Hughes 75 -- February 18, 2025

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Actor George Kennedy was born 100 years ago today, on 18-February-1925. He was very good in movies like Cool Hand Luke and Charade.

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Actress Cybil Shepherd was born 75 years ago today, on 18-February-1950. I was staggered by her performance in The Last Picture Show.

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Director John Hughes was also born 75 years ago today, on 18-February-1950. I was not a fan of Home Alone, but I always enjoy watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. I enjoyed his Brat Pack movies.