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Movies Forum Index » Silent Movies Forum » Gance on TCM
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| Matt Barry |
 Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:57 am |
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What did everyone think of the Gance films shown on TCM last night? I'm
writing in-depth reviews of both "J'accuse" and "La Roue" which I will post
here soon.
I thought the "Charm of Dynamite" documentary was a fascinating glimpse into
how these great films were made. The behind the scenes footage of "Napoleon"
in particular was very revealing. Does this footage still exist in its
original format? It would make an interesting bonus material on a DVD.
--
Matt Barry
View my films at: www.youtube.com/comedyfilm
Read my blog at: http://filmreel.blogspot.com |
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| Guest |
| Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:57 am |
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On Apr 28, 7:57 am, "Matt Barry" <bar...@bellatlantic.net> wrote:
The behind the scenes footage of "Napoleon"
Quote: in particular was very revealing. Does this footage still exist in its
original format? It would make an interesting bonus material on a DVD.
--
Matt Barry
"Cinema Europe: The other Hollywood," the four hour long documentary
narrated by Kenneth Branagh was another project Kevin Brownlow did a
few years ago. It contained most all of the 'making of' footage that
was in last night documentary and a lot more that wasn't seen. It
also contains a lot of information on Hitchcock, including his own
description of making the first talking picture in England.
It was Gance's "Napoleon" that quickly inspired the development of
the very first wide screen lens, and information about what happened
when they attempted to use it in Europe is also included, plus a view
of some of the frames of film.
Cinerama (as the documentary stated), was exactly what Gance had
invented, but never given credit for.
The two disc "Cinema Europe" was once in Netflix's library.
Rich Wagner |
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| Guest |
| Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 6:57 am |
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I saw all of J'Accuse and half of La Roue. I enjoyed J'Accuse more (I
tend to agree with the pacifist philosophy anyway). The scene with the
war dead returning was made all the more poignant with the knowledge
that those extras were active soldiers who later returned to the war
but did not return home. Are we worthy or their sacrifice? I would
answer "no."
La Roue had beautiful cinematography, but the plot was a little creepy
for my taste. I did love the scene where the main character returned
to work the morning after his suicide attempt only to get that
"reprimand." The text of which was some fine dark humor. |
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| Bob Lipton |
| Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 7:10 am |
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Matt Barry wrote:
Quote: What did everyone think of the Gance films shown on TCM last night? I'm
writing in-depth reviews of both "J'accuse" and "La Roue" which I will
post here soon.
I thought the "Charm of Dynamite" documentary was a fascinating glimpse
into how these great films were made. The behind the scenes footage of
"Napoleon" in particular was very revealing. Does this footage still
exist in its original format? It would make an interesting bonus
material on a DVD.
I loved Gance's comments about enthusiasm. As for the movies, they're
great. Great great great. And I speak conservatively.
Bob |
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| mack |
| Posted: Mon Apr 28, 2008 3:37 pm |
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Finding out more about Abel Gance made me think of Billy Wilder's remark to
Erich von Stroheim...
"You were ten years ahead of your time"
and Erich's reply -
"Wrong! It was twenty years!"
Looks like Gance was ahead of both of them. I noted in the docu that both
Eisenstein and Pudovkin said they had studied Gance at film school and
idolized him.
Indeed, it shows in their films.. |
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| Jerry |
| Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 2:20 am |
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Behold the contrarian.....
I did enjoy Gance's comments.
However, watching all those clips at 24 frames - especially the
tightly edited zing-zing-zing-zing one after another clips - reminded
me of watching a strobe light and I actually got a headache. I was
surprised that they would show it because it hearkens back to a day
when all silents were shown herky-jerky and despite the disclaimer at
the front end, those who are non-film buffs were likely reinforced in
their thinking "why would anyone want to watch THAT?" - if they even
stayed with it long enough to form an opinion.
Sorry |
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| Eric Stott |
| Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:43 am |
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On Apr 29, 8:20 am, Jerry <jerf...@aol.com> wrote:
Quote: Behold the contrarian.....
I did enjoy Gance's comments.
However, watching all those clips at 24 frames - especially the
tightly edited zing-zing-zing-zing one after another clips - reminded
me of watching a strobe light and I actually got a headache. I was
surprised that they would show it because it hearkens back to a day
when all silents were shown herky-jerky and despite the disclaimer at
the front end, those who are non-film buffs were likely reinforced in
their thinking "why would anyone want to watch THAT?" - if they even
stayed with it long enough to form an opinion.
Sorry
I haven't seen La Roue yet (just checked the opening to make certain
it taped properly) But I did watch J'accuse. I thought it was better
in parts than as a whole. Great camera work and editing that was
decades ahead of it's time, coupled with sequences that were silly
even for 1919, particularly the "Poetic" sequences with double
exposures over bad paintings and the painted exterior backdrops
visible through the doors and windows of interior sets. (The shaky mat
work in the scene where the dead rise from the battlefield mattered
less). I gather that the 1937 remake is a mixed bag as well- worse
in some parts, but better in others. Commentators on Imdb rave about
Victor Francen's acting.
With all due respect to Kevin Brownlow, The Charm Of Dynamite was more
valuable for contrast- showing the deplorable condition of the old
clips and how well they have been restored. It's amazing, but
technically someone with a cheap camcorder and a home computer could
put together a documentary which (in looks, not content) could knock
it flat. I've read Brownlow's writings on Gance and get the
impression of him as the French version of Von Stroheim- plenty of
vision but no sense of proportion. Actually it's more as if Von
Stroheim and Louise Brooks had a love child with the flaws of both.
Gance definitely had a major part in ruining his own career.
I'll sit down to La Roue tonight |
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| TomTraubertsBlues |
| Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 3:50 pm |
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"Eric Stott" <estott@localnet.com> wrote in message
news:bc4964ae-e860-4220-9000-f6afaa30d905@z72g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
Quote: On Apr 29, 8:20 am, Jerry <jerf...@aol.com> wrote:
Behold the contrarian.....
I did enjoy Gance's comments.
However, watching all those clips at 24 frames - especially the
tightly edited zing-zing-zing-zing one after another clips - reminded
me of watching a strobe light and I actually got a headache. I was
surprised that they would show it because it hearkens back to a day
when all silents were shown herky-jerky and despite the disclaimer at
the front end, those who are non-film buffs were likely reinforced in
their thinking "why would anyone want to watch THAT?" - if they even
stayed with it long enough to form an opinion.
Sorry
I haven't seen La Roue yet (just checked the opening to make certain
it taped properly) But I did watch J'accuse. I thought it was better
in parts than as a whole. Great camera work and editing that was
decades ahead of it's time, coupled with sequences that were silly
even for 1919, particularly the "Poetic" sequences with double
exposures over bad paintings and the painted exterior backdrops
visible through the doors and windows of interior sets. (The shaky mat
work in the scene where the dead rise from the battlefield mattered
less). I gather that the 1937 remake is a mixed bag as well- worse
in some parts, but better in others. Commentators on Imdb rave about
Victor Francen's acting.
With all due respect to Kevin Brownlow, The Charm Of Dynamite was more
valuable for contrast- showing the deplorable condition of the old
clips and how well they have been restored. It's amazing, but
technically someone with a cheap camcorder and a home computer could
put together a documentary which (in looks, not content) could knock
it flat.
Well it was done in 1968, so cut him some slack.
Mike |
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| Eric Stott |
| Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 12:04 am |
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On Apr 29, 4:50 pm, "TomTraubertsBlues" <msmit...@insightbb.com>
wrote:
Quote:
Well it was done in 1968, so cut him some slack.
Mike
Well, actually I intended to in my post, but I guess it was lost in my
flow. Gance is really due a new documentary- something that would
take in his whole career. Brownlow is still around to make it.
Eric |
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| TomTraubertsBlues |
| Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 9:00 am |
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"Eric Stott" <estott@localnet.com> wrote in message
news:9a752680-afd9-4225-ad42-4f04d8b5ed94@a1g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
Quote: On Apr 29, 4:50 pm, "TomTraubertsBlues" <msmit...@insightbb.com
wrote:
Well it was done in 1968, so cut him some slack.
Mike
Well, actually I intended to in my post, but I guess it was lost in my
flow. Gance is really due a new documentary- something that would
take in his whole career. Brownlow is still around to make it.
Eric
I was thinking the same thing. I wonder if he has thought about it.
Mike |
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