Forget the Talkies!: 100 Years of Griffith: Pictures and Review!

First things first. We have a new logo which is thanks to Jennifer! It's even grammatically correct (something rare for this site LOL!) Also another note: due to my cable still not working I have been watching a lot of The Critic, and thus updated the "Silent Movies and Family Guy" post with the new Silent references I found (Chaplin and Ben Turpin were a few). It honestly is a great series if you shall ever happen upon it.

Now to Griffith Night! I was worried there wouldn't be much of a turn out but honestly if it didn't sell out it was near close! I haven't seen so much excitement since Sheik Night! Every chair was filled, and everyone seemed excited. Sadly the crowd did skewer much older than usual (though I did see a very enthusiastic couple who couldn't have been 30) but that's okay...appreciation is appreciation!

7 films were shown, 5 of which were Griffith's (one starred him, the other was a Méliès for comparison of the era) and 1 had a young Mary Pickford! However I must confess I felt a little of the enthusiasm wasn't there...it seemed there was more enthusiasm for fundraising and Wattles than for Griffith. I'm all for Hollywood Heritage continuing its work and for keeping the Wattles Mansion...but it shouldn't take up a 10 minute introduction with more pep than the rest of the night.

Once that bit was over we were shown a 1908 Méliès for comparison, showing how the camera never moved. We seen Griffith's actor appearance in "Rescued from an Eagle's Nest" (1/1908). Griffith was a fine actor if this is even worth going off, but when your older than Theda Bara (and not as pretty) as films are being BORN well...no wonder he went for the camera instead. The film itself was kinda funny...bad sets and effects. Apparently reviewers of the day agreed with that sentiment.

Making an interesting case for our "Race in Silent Film" series both red and yellowface came up in the night (but no blackface hmm...) The next film, one of Griffith's first as a director was "The Redman and the Child" which was actually a lot more tolerable than the films previously before it. The story was good and the redface wasn't stereotypical...in fact it was on par with "The Vanishing American". Griffith favored this theme because just months later "The Girl and the Outlaw" (which starred Florence Lawrence) featured Native Americans as both hero and villain. Sadly that was a paper print, and lacking the intertitles a little hard to follow. Florence was good though...and kinda hot. Early Mary Pickford definitely. And the hair down thing...I got it. How 1900s Britney Spears of her!

The film shown between them "The Fatal Hour" had a terrible example of yellowface. In "Broken Blossoms" (made about a decade later) the Asian is a little cartoon-y...but the good guy and his mannerisms (beyond a few opium hits, look for a yellowfaced Valentino in the background) aren't too bad. Yeah this would be the opposite. Basically some evil white guy wants to do away with his girl (Linda, Griffith's wife) cuz she found some secret of his. The intertitles are missing again, its hard to follow completely. White guy hires an Asian guy who looks like some yellowed Nosferatu. Asian guy just does as White guy says, and cleverly ties a gun to a clock that will shoot her at 'the fatal hour' (midnight?) Shes rescued in a nick of time by two policemen (Mack Sennett and Griffith ironically). One of the best films of the night by far.

The Sacrifice was a story we've all seen a million times over by now (poor couple cant afford gifts. Girl sells hair to buy a watch for husband, husband sells watch to buy hair combs for girl) but this was one of the first filmings and tellings of it (the story came from a New York paper). Also interesting note: they began filming this 100 years ago today. Now THAT is something! Right up there with the Fatal Hour, my favorite of the night! It was again Florence Lawrence (showing off that sexy hair) and she was fantastic.

The final film was the "The Lonely Villa" which was one of her first appearances. She was 17 at the time, interesting to see she basically looked the same from 17-40 something. The story was a little boring but it apparently was all the rage of the time (this was one of 3 film versions, and it was a popular play. Remember the telephone was like the Ipod of the time...fascinating.)

After this the presenter asked if anyone had actually MET Griffith. Considering half the room had to be over 60 it was possible, though Griffith died in 1948. Two people raised their hands and one got up to speak. His name was Miles Kreuger and he runs the Institute of the American Musical in Los Angeles. I'm hoping to get an interview with him but these stories were too delicious to NOT try and paraphrase poorly.

Miles grew up in New York where his mother took him to the brand new Museum of the Modern Arts when he was about 9 years old (during WW2...1942-1943 I believe). The woman who founded the film department, Iris Barry, noticed his frequent visits and asked him why he was there watching old movies instead of playing baseball. Miles said he hated baseball and loved old films and that's why he was there. From that day forward he was the Museums little mascot and allowed to meet all the visiting luminaries.

One day a man in a white suit (which he found crazy in New York City as it would get dirty fast) visited and Iris introduced him as "Mr. Griffith". He and the man became friends discussing the Broadway shows they had seen. One day Iris told Miles that the next day they were, "Showing a very special film made by your friend Mr. Griffith and you better get here early because there will be a crowd".

So he came and as he tells it there was a very long queue. He entered with Iris on one side, and Griffith on the other. He said thunderous applause broke out and he wondered "If someone famous was here?" He didn't understand who Griffith was and hadn't really drawn the conclusion that what he was going to see was made by Griffith. He sat between the two luminaries and watched "The Birth of a Nation". He said before every scene Griffith would lean over and tell him what was going to happen in the next, prompting people to SHUSH Griffith! He said he had a little crush on Mae Marsh who appeared to be his age in the film. When the rape scene was coming he said Griffith leaned over and said, "Miss Marsh is about to be in a bit of trouble..."

On another day Miles was up in Iris' office. During WW2 they had been told if a bombing occur ed to take the stairs, not the elevator. Iris received a call, shouted "Oh my God!" and ran down the stairs. Miles thought maybe a bombing or something had occurred and followed her expecting her to go to the basement. Instead she went to the projection room where as he told it, "Two big burly union like projectionist were WRESTLING Griffith on the ground of the projection room! Griffith had a print of Intolerance in one hand, and scissors in the other." Griffith was saying, "That scene is too long and I MUST cut it!" Iris had a fit and shouted, "Mr. Griffith if you wanted to cut that scene you could have done it in 1916!" She apparently cooled the situation by saying, "We wouldn't let Mr. Picasso come in and draw on one of his paintings, its part of the museum now."

Regardless Miles remembered back up in the office Griffith was sitting at a desk, his fists clench glowering, "Its my film and I should be able to cut it if I want to!" He added ironically that through the years bits of "Intolerance" have been found and spliced back into the print, not like DVDs were its an extra but right back in the actual print. He noted Griffith probably wouldn't have liked that as he was trying to tell a narrative, and cutting was necessary.

Overall a brilliant night! Rumor had it Kenneth Anger was there, and I indeed seen some bald guy with a Backstreet Boys tee on. But since I wasn't sure and he didn't do his usual attention whoring I didn't want to punch an innocent man who might have just LOOKED like him and had a love of boybands. I'm sure Griffith would want the same...Anger alleged the Gish sisters were lesbians in his first book.

I'd like to give thanks to Hollywood Heritage, Michael Mortilla (who did the accompaniment), Bob Birchard, and Randy Haberkamp (who presented). Also please dont forget to sign the Griffith petition and join the Griffith Facebook.

Below are some more pictures, my apologies on the quality...I didnt want to use the flash and be obnoxious (though some old crochety guy behind me still gave me hell over a little red light...)