Film Friday | Weekly Roundup

So seriously, I made a little online tour of the rep cinema’s last night to see what’s on offer this weekend, and felt very disappointed that I can’t go out to a silent film screening this week. The Toronto Silent Film Festival spoiled me! It might just be me and the dvds this weekend, folks. Despite my many silent film screenings this week, I still made time to scour the interwebs for you, dear readers. First, I want to say that over the week I collected a ton of links from The Cinementals and then I thought I should just tell you to follow The Cinementals. They’re doing an awesome job! Now, let’s get down to it. Here’s the best and the brightest the interwebs had to offer this week. Happy reading and happy viewing!

Film Friday | Weekly Roundup

Wowee – is my feets sore from doing the Charleston with Joan Crawford in Our Dancing Daughters! Last night was the opening night of the Toronto Silent Film Festival and fabulous it was. But despite sipping bathtub gin til the wee hours of the morn, this jazz baby is hard at work this morning to bring you the best of the interwebs. That’s dedication my friends! Stay tuned for my review of Our Dancing Daughters and in the meantime you can amuse yourself with these links. And of course, leave some time to get yourself tickets to tonight’s screening of F.W. Murnau’s Tabu! Happy reading and happy viewing!

Film Friday | Weekly Roundup

Whoa, yet another week down. Tick tick tick. The confusing Toronto weather (Hello there Spring!) doesn’t help matters at all. Did I just not leave the house for four months? No, no – it’s just global warming. And still I dream of a 7 foot snow which apparently isn’t going to fall. Oh well. Despite the sunny skies and the balmy temperatures, I remain shackled to my laptop, with digital inkstained fingers, scouring the interwebs for the best silent & classic movie bits and bobs. Why? So you don’t have to. Happy reading and happy viewing!

Film Friday | Weekly Roundup

Pretty Clever Film Gal has had a fabulous week, ya’ll. Really, the universe has been all smiles at me. And the cap of my great week is the most awesome time of year – Halloween! I love the tricks and treats, the thrills and chills, and, oh yeah, it happens to be my birthday. To celebrate the spooktastic goodness, this week’s roundup is a collection of horror movie reviews and posts from the around the webs. So many bloggers got into the Halloween spirit and this list in not all-inclusive.  Take a read and decide exactly which movies you’re going to scare yourself with this weekend. And if you find another great horror post, leave it in the comments! Here’s to wishing you spooky reading and chilling viewing!

Edison Studio’s Frankenstein (1910)

The 1910 Edison Studios production of Frankenstein is the first film adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel. Believed to be lost for many years, the film later turned up in the hands of a private collector who proved unwilling to share. By the time BearManor Media released the restored public domain print in 2010, the film was badly deteriorated (yet still watchable). Silent film fans are in for a thrill with Frankenstein, because of some rather dazzling special effects and an innovative visual narrative technique. While Frankenstein displays much of the visual grammar common to circa 1910 films (static camera, medium distance shots with nary a close-up to be found), the film does deliver some sophisticated techniques.