SFSFF 2011 - Thursday

(I found a John Ford film I actually like)

It's thrilling and a little bit daunting that the San Francisco Silent Film Festival has spread out over four days. The opening night had two screenings - Upstream and Sunrise.

As much as I love silent film and the experience of watching it with THOUSANDS of other people (over 18 000 attend, according to the program), I really have to pace myself. Attending Upstream (1927) was mandatory since I heard the announcement at the festival last year. I'm so glad I did. The pacing was quick, the ensemble cast was terrific and I especially liked the balance of story time each character was given. I'm very happy this film was rediscovered. Donald Sosin's ensemble was wonderful accompaniment.

Why Husbands Flirt (1919) Cute and vivacious short feature, starring actresses with the largest eyes to hit the screen. Photographed by the great Ross Fisher.

I skipped Sunrise because I had seen it in a previous festival. I was also wary of a solo guitar accompaniment - you know by now my discerning taste considering musical performances alongside silent film. Mostly, something had to give as Friday seems to be a very full day.

Napoleon is coming!

What an exciting Bastille Day announcement - Abel Gance's Napoleon will be screened for 4 days next spring at the gorgeous Paramount Theater in Oakland, with the Oakland East Bay Symphony conducted by Carl Davis. Kevin Brownlow himself announced it tonight at the premiere program of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival.

A collective gasp, then a cheer erupted in the theater as the first few images appeared during the trailer. It took me a few more seconds to figure it out.

Keep March 24th, 25th, 31st or April 1st open. And yes, the triptych will be shown.

descending horizons 2

Phenix City Story (1955)
directed by Phil Karlson
director of photography - Harry Neumann

descending horizons 1

Man of a Thousand Faces (1957)

directed by Joseph Pevney

cinematography by Russell Metty

best way to spend the summer

Book that vacation! The 16th annual San Francisco Silent Film Festival has been scheduled for July 14-17 2011.

I am especially excited about Upstream, which was announced at the last festival as having been discovered and in the process of being restored.

Also I Was Born, But... will be screened, which I missed earlier at the PFA.

photo courtesy of the San Francisco Silent Film Festival

The Great White Silence will be interesting to watch - a movie about snow screened in a stifling hot theater! I am anticipating delicious torture.

There doesn't seem to be a single film I would chance to miss, so I will likely see them all. I may pass on Sunrise and He Who Gets Slapped which I have already seen on the big screen because becoming exhausted really dilutes the experience of seeing these masterpieces. The main reason for staying put will be The Nail in the Boot, directed by Mikheil Kalatozov who is responsible for The Cranes are Flying.

A few (too few) appearances by Stephen Horne are the absolute icing on this heavenly cake.

a la Gropius' Werkbund Pavilion

A bleak look at Europe- refugees moving back and forth  -and always downward.
And this is only 1941.

So Ends Our Night (1941)

directed by John Cromwell

cinematography by William H. Daniels

art direction by William Cameron Menzies

and Jack Otterson

a little Gaudi in SF

Last week, when I was taking a look at the Ghiberti doors on Grace Cathedral, I noticed a vacancy sign at one of my favorite apartment buildings in San Francisco. Now, I can't find any listings and I'm not surprised.

It was designed by a self-taught architect, local James Francis Dunn, who clearly absorbed the influences of late-19th century Paris and not a little of Antonio Gaudi.

It's on the National Register of Historic Places, an official San Francisco Landmark and right across the street from Grace Cathedral, as you can see below:

Chambord Apartments (1921)

1298 Sacramento Street, San Francisco

architect James Francis Dunn

the view from the PFA

Many times I've sat outside the Pacific Film Archive, waiting for the doors to open for the film screening that evening. Each time I wait there on the grounds of the UC Berkeley campus, I contemplate this lovely urn with the slack-jawed lion staring back at me.

He and I will have many more face-offs, now that I will be attending the university in the fall.
I am going to be a film studies student at Berkeley!

I want to become a film archivist. I've been inspired by the preservationist presentations at the San Francisco Silent Film Festivals over the years, and more than inspired by all the great films I've watched. And now, after years of working my way through college, I'm finally on my way.

Whee!

deluge

Seven Sinners (1940)
directed by Tay Garnett
cinematography by Rudolph Mate

snow forecast - for real

Could these be the hills of San Francisco this weekend?

It's a good thing I had a leftover picture from Ski Party (1965). I never thought I would ever get to do a post like this but snowfall has been predicted for San Francisco this Friday. If so, it would be the first time snow has landed here since 1976.

Originally forecasted to hit Saturday, it's moving in much faster now. It has already left its mark in Oregon. Fingers crossed it will grant my wish for snow too!

post-heist

Le Douxieme Souffle (1966)
directed by Jean-Pierre Melville
cinematography Marcel Combes

those insurmountable stairs

It's a sad love story for St. Valentine's Day, but a love story all the same.







Letyat zhuravli (1957)
aka Cranes Are Flying
directed by Mikhail Kalatozov
cinematography by Sergei Urusevsky