www.britishsilents.co.uk

KIPPS: THE STORY OF A SIMPLE SOUL 1.30pm Sun 22 April

British Silents, the BFI and Cambridge Arts Picturehouse present The 15th British Silent Film Festival 19-22 April 2012 The 15th British WELCOME Silent Film Festival British Silents, the BFI and Cambridge Arts Picturehouse welcome you to the 15th Annual British Silent Film Festival. The year that has seen The Artist sweep the board at the BAFTAs and Oscars is the perfect moment to celebrate silent film. In our most ambitious and packed programme to date, we are bringing you the best of the British silent films held in the BFI National Archive along with must-see titles from collections around the UK and abroad. Highlights include Jacques Feyder’s stunning Visages d’Enfants, a unique programme of unseen British short films held at the EYE Film institute, Amsterdam and the fabulous Dodge Brothers playing their unique brand of Americana to Soviet prison drama, The Ghost That Never Returns. To celebrate 15 years of the British Silent Film Festival we have selected some favourite films from past events including:A Couple of Down and Outs, a moving precursor to War Horse, Hepworth’s wonderfully pictorial Mist in the Valley and Henry Edwards’ charming Owd Bob. A touch of horror is supplied by Fred Paul’s Grand Guignol films and witty satire by Ivor Montagu and chums. There are also plenty of new discoveries with a literary twist, including the silent adaptations of P.G Wodehouse’s golfing tales and W.W. Jacobs’ lyrical portraits of coastal life. The Festival is programmed and organised by Laraine Porter, Bryony Dixon and Neil Brand in association with Sue Porter, Tony Fletcher, Paul Marygold and Pete Groschl and the Cinema and Television History (CATH) Research Centre, De Montfort University. Musical accompaniment will be provided by Neil Brand (UK), Gunter Buchwald (Germany), Stephen Horne (UK) and John Sweeney (UK), the Bronnt Industries, Rob Harbron and Miranda Rutter and The Dodge Brothers. Special thanks to: Michael Eaton, The Archive Film Agency, Steve Chibnall, Tony Jones, Toby Haggith and Matt Lee (Imperial War Museum), Elif Rongen, Eye Film Institute, Amsterdam. Will Fowler and Jo Botting (BFI), Lobster Films, Lucy Betts and Jen Evans (BBFC).

THE CLICKING OF CUTHBERT 1.30pm Fri 20 April

THE MAN WITHOUT DESIRE 5.30pm Fri 20 April

All images courtesy of BFI Stills, Posters and Design and the Steve Chibnall Archive THURSDAY 19 APRIL 10.30am The final major Dickens adaptation of the silent era, The Only Way is a lavish adaptation of the The Bachelor’s Baby popular stage adaptation of A Tale of Two Cities. Romantic comedy about a bachelor who Directed by Herbert Wilcox, it stars legendary discovers an abandoned baby on a motorcycle theatre actor-manager Sir John Martin Harvey tour of the Lake District. He hands the as Sydney Carton, the English advocate given foundling to a retired captain living next door the chance to redeem his wasted life by saving to his childhood sweetheart and her young the life of his near double: a French aristocrat niece. Meanwhile, assuming it stolen, the in exile from revolutionary France. child’s mother and an array of interfering busy- Dir: Herbert Wilcox. With: John Martin-Harvey, bodies set out to look for the child in a series Ben Webster, Madge Stuart, Jean Jay. GB 1926, of comic interludes, mistaken identities and 107mins baby swaps. Dir: Arthur Rooke. With: Malcolm Tod, Tom | Reynolds, Peggy Woodward, Constance Worth, 1.30pm BSFF at 15 Haidie Wright. GB 1922, 67mins Young Woodley Plus One of the most impressive and sensitively ORDEAL directed British films of the late silent era, BY GOLF Ordeal by Golf Young Woodley is based on John Van Druten’s 10.30am In the first of our P.G. Wodehouse golfing controversial stage play of 1925. It’s the tales, golf is clearly much more than just a story of a dreamy young college boy who falls game. Wen an elderly boss seeks to appoint for the Headmaster’s wife, the beautiful Laura a new company treasurer, he challenges Simmons. Originally shot in 1928 as a full- the two potential candidates to a golfing blooded silent, the film remained unreleased match as ‘the only way to judge a man’s true until 1930 when it was remade as an early character’. But is beating the boss really such sound feature. a good idea? Dir: Thomas Bentley. With: Marjorie Hume, Dir: Andrew P Wilson. With: Harry Beasley. GB Robin Irvine, Sam Livesey, John Cromer. GB | 1924, 26mins 1928, 94 mins fortune to his nephew Foxy on the proviso 7pm Gala Screening that he marries the first woman to ask him. Plus There are echoes of Buster Keaton’s Seven Visages d’Enfants | 1.15pm Dickens at 200 Young Woodley Sound Trailer Chances as an array of fortune-seeking (Faces of Children) widows, elderly spinsters and men The Only Way 1930, 3.5mins ‘If I could select in drag, vie with each other to pop only one film the question from the entire 3.30pm | BSFF at 15 Dir: Manning Haynes. With: Ernest French production The Grand Guignol Programme. Hendry, Johnny Butt, Cynthia Murtagh, of the 1920s, Charles Ashton. GB 1922, 45mins surely it is Faces Fred Paul’s Grand Guignol series, are tales of Children that I with a macabre twist The four surviving Plus would save’ (Jean episodes A Game for Two, The Jest, The Gentle The Boatswain’s Mate Mitry). Set in a Doctor and The Last Appeal are presented At the Beehive Inn, the widowed poor Swiss Alpine with an introduction written by Michael Eaton. landlady Mrs Waters has no community, this Dir: Fred Paul. GB 1921, approx 70mins shortage of gentlemen admirers tale, seen through willing to ‘marry a pub’. But she the eyes of a 5.30pm | Manning Haynes and Lydia Hayward wants to marry an ‘ero and pub regular young orphaned boy, is the perfect example of adaptations of W.W. Jacobs’ short stories George sets out to prove himself. French poetic realism Dir: Manning Haynes. With: Florence Turner, Dir: Jacques Feyder. With: Jean Forest, Victor A Will and a Way Victor Maclagen, Johnny Butt. GB 1924, Vina, Arlette Pevran, Henri Duval. France 1925, In the peaceful village of Claybury the 26mins 114mins recently deceased, Sportin’ Green, leaves his THURSDAY 19 APRIL FRIDAY 20 APRIL 3.30pm | Manning Haynes and Lydia Hayward 5.30pm adaptations of W.W. Jacobs short stories 9am | BSFF at 15 1.30pm | P G Wodehouse in silent films + The Man Without Desire Short film programme readings. The Head of the Family Adrian Brunel’s first feature film is a The Ones That Got away! Two classics from P.G. Wodehouse’s golfing Set in a Kentish seafaring community, Mrs fascinating gothic curio, filmed on location tales, presented with readings from the Green is bullied by her second husband in Venice, the story shifts between the 18th A tantalising programme of shorts displaying original stories. who threatens to sell off the family home and 20th centuries. Novello’s other-worldly the rich diversity held in the BFI National that belonged to her son, lost at sea and beauty and sexual ambiguity is perfect for the Archive. Includes comedies such as The The Clicking of Cuthbert presumed dead. But when the despairing role of the nobleman waking from a state of Cheekiest Man on Earth (1908) and A New Set in the suburban paradise of Wood Hills woman meets a friendly sailor looking for suspended animation. Hat for Nothing (1910), Arthur Melbourne where two rival camps, The Golfers and The lodgings, the two hatch a plan to thwart Dir: Adrian Brunel. With Ivor Novello, Nina Cooper’s mechanical animation Road Hogs Cultured, vie for supremacy. When Cuthbert is her husband’s schemes. The locations and Vanno, Sergio Mari, Christopher Walker. GB in Toyland (1911), to moral tales like A Great forced to retrieve a ball, accidentally smashed cinematography are a delight. 1923, 107mins Temptation (1906) and the Edison Company’s through the window into a literary society Dir: Manning Haynes. Starring: Johnny Butt, adaptation of the Tennyson poem Lady Clare meeting, he falls for the charms of poetess Daisy England, Charles Ashton, Moore Marriott. (1912) filmed at Arundel Castle. 7.15pm | BSFF at 15 Adeline. But she wants an intellectual, so GB 1922, 73mins Presented by Tony Fletcher Cuthbert attends readings of Soviet ‘misery With Gala Screening The First Born Dir: Various. Running time 85mins lit’ by a famous visiting Bolshevik in the hope of becoming one. Rough Seas Around British Coasts A mesmerising film displaying the power of 11am | BSFF at 15 Plus high tides and rough seas. The Imperial War Museum presents The Long Hole GB, 1929, 9mins Women, Film and the Two rival golfers compete for the First World War attention of an 3.30pm | BSFF at 15 A fascinating selection of films attractive young about women’s contribution during woman; they Lady Windermere’s Fan the Great War, including the recently decide to settle The first film adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s restored The Woman’s Portion about the matter with satire on Victorian marriage and society. Lady how to accept separation and loss a round of golf Windermere, convinced that her husband of husbands fighting on the Front comprising a is being unfaithful, is further distressed to (screened with a new piano score by single hole. En discover that the ‘other woman’ has been composer Ian Lynn), with Land Army route, the pair invited to her birthday ball. So she embarks With new musical score from Stephen Horne recruitment propaganda and films are forced to on her own affair to get even. A tour de force of late silent filmmaking and a to encourage the use of National play fast and loose with the rules as they deal Dir: Fred Paul. With: Milton Rosmer, Irene Rooke, heady mix of politics, infidelity, sex and passion, Kitchens. with the mud of an English summer and balls Nigel Playfair, Netta Westcott. GB 1916, 72mins The First Born was adapted by Miles Mander Programme will be presented by Matt Lee and accidentally chipped into motorcars and boats. from his own novel and play with a script by Toby Haggith Dir: Andrew P. Wilson. With: Roger Keyes, Harry 5.30pm | The British Board of Film Alma Reville, Alfred Hitchcock’s talented wife. It Dir: Various. GB 1917-1918. Running time Beasley, Charles Courtneidge, Daphne Williams. Classification at 100! concerns the rocky but passionate relationship approx 80mins GB 1924, 25mins/32mins What the Silent Censor Saw between Sir Hugh Boycott (Mander) and his young bride Madeleine, (Carroll) which founders To celebrate 100 years of film classification 11am 1.30pm | BSFF at 15 when she fails to produce an heir. Recently by the BBFC we look at the history of this restored by the BFI National Archive with its Tansy The Lure of Crooning Water remarkable institution and its decision-making original delicate tinting. processes. Featuring clips from films illustrating Alma Taylor stars as Tansy, a shepherd girl Romance and melodrama mingle in this tale Dir: Miles Mander. With: Miles Mander, various censorship issues – sex, drugs and caught up in a love triangle between two of a city seductress who lures a farmer away Madeleine Carroll, John Loder. GB 1928, 88mins. brothers played out against the backdrop from his wife and family. Ivy Duke plays a bullfighting as well as the witty spoof, Cut it Out: of the Sussex Downs and displaying all the famous actress ordered by her doctor-lover to a Day in the Life of a film Censor. pictorial beauty and naturalism for which take a rest cure at the idyllic Crooning Water Introduced by Lucy Betts of the BBFC and 9.00pm Hepworth was renowned. Farm. But she’s unable to resist flirting with Bryony Dixon of the BFI Reception in the Old Library, Dir: Cecil M. Hepworth. With: Alma Taylor, the unworldly farmer (Guy Newall). Dir: various. Running time approx. 90mins. Emmanuel College. James Carew, Gerald Ames, Hugh Clifton. GB Dir: Arthur Rooke. Starring: Guy Newall, Ivy Duke, 1921, 63mins Douglas Munro, Mary Dibley. GB 1920, 104mins FRIDAY 20 APRIL SATURDAY 21 APRIL 3.30pm 7pm 9am LIVINGSTONE The Bohemian Girl Gala Screening Turksib 9.00am Livingstone Based on William Balfe’s operetta of the With live music from Bronnt Industries Kapital same name, Knoles’ production boasts This masterpiece of Soviet filmmaking A rare screening of this fascinating biopic starring a cast of theatrical luminaries, including describes the construction of the great actor, director and explorer M.A. Wetherell in the rare glimpse of Helen Terry, and stars Ivor Turkestan-Siberia railway as it progresses title role. The film traces Livingstone’s physical Novello as Thaddeus, an exiled Polish officer 1445km through the vast Steppes and deserts and spiritual journey from his humble Scottish who joins a gypsy community in Bohemia to of Kazakhstan. Turin’s film captures the home to Africa and his fight against slavery. Shot escape the Austrian military. Here he meets revolutionary fervour of the endeavour with its on the stunning locations visited by Livingstone and falls in love with Arline, a young woman symphonic form and rhythms, backed by Bronnt himself and with the indigenous African tribes of noble birth brought up as a gypsy. Industries fabulous new score. people playing themselves. Dir: Harley Knoles. Starring: Ivor Novello, ‘A lyrical, humane, superbly edited masterpiece’ Dir: M.A. Wetherell. With: M.A. Wetherell, Molly Helen Terry, Gladys Cooper, Constance Collier. (The Guardian). Rogers, Douglas Cator, Robson Paige. GB 1926, GB 1922, 70mins. Dir: Viktor Turin. USSR 1929, 78mins 62mins Presented in association with the Archive Film Agency 3.30pm | Robert Falcon Scott Centenary. 9pm The Great White Silence Gala Screening Here’s a 9am | BSFF at 15 In 1910, Captain Robert Falcon Scott led what he hoped would be the first Health to the Barley Mow Mist in the Valley successful team to reach the South Pole. A cornucopia of short s from the acclaimed A lonely heiress, played by Alma Taylor runs got a kennel full - driving cars, doing tricks Scott’s decision to include a professional BFI DVD release, Here’s a Health to the Barley away from an unhappy home. She meets her and getting their owners out of scrapes - cameraman in his expedition was a Mow, featuring a century of folk customs from future husband whilst destitute and they soon fun silent comedies for the whole family remarkable one for its time, and it is thanks Mummers and Morris dancers to ancient rural marry. However, their happiness is short-lived as with films from crime-fighting dogs in 1906 to his vision – and to Herbert Ponting’s games and village customs. Live musical her father is murdered and our heroine becomes to Charley Chase trying to bath a Great superb eye – that, a century later, we have accompaniment will be provided by concertina the prime suspect. Dane in 1927, all introduced, explained this astonishing visual account of his tragic player Rob Harbron and Miranda Rutter on Dir: Cecil M. Hepworth. With: Alma Taylor, G.H. and accompanied by Neil Brand. quest. The BFI National Archive restored the fiddle, in what promises to be a unique and Mulcaster, James Carew, Esme Hubbard. UK 1923, Dir: various. Running time approx 80mins film in 2010 with original tints and tones unmissable event. 75mins and a newly commissioned score by Simon Dir: various. GB. Total running time approx Fisher-Turner. 80mins. 1.30pm 11am Dir: Herbert G. Ponting. With: Capt. Robert Fante Anna (Gypsy Anna) Falcon Scott. GB 1924, 108mins Fun Before the Footlights: The Presented in association with The Norwegian Film Institute and Lillehammer University, Origins of Undergraduate Humour 5.30pm The British tradition of absurdist humour didn’t this is one of the great Norwegian silents. start with The Goons, Pete and Dud, or Monty Anna, a gypsy child is discovered in the A Couple of Down and Outs Python – not by a long chalk. The slightly silly arms of her dead mother by a farmhand In this timely reprise for the War antics of the so-called intelligentsia are to be and adopted by his employers. As the years Horse of its day, a man recognizes found in a series of short films of the 1920s which pass, Anna falls in love with her stepbrother the horse that he tended on the delight in anti establishment cheek and a desire to but Jon, the farmhand, has also fallen for the battlefields of the First World take the mick out of cinema itself (outrageous!). free-spirited Anna. This newly restored film is War as it is being led off to the With an introduction by Jo Botting (BFI) here presented by composer Halldor Krogh knacker’s yard. Man and horse go whose new symphonic music score will be Dir: various. Running time 90mins on the run in a beautifully told tale ANIMAL played with the film. of official brutality and individual STARS OF Presented in compassion. THE SILENT 11am | Family Matinee. association with Print courtesy of the EYE Film SCREEN Silent film fun with Animal The Norwegian Film Institute Amsterdam. 11.00am Institute and Dir: Walter Summers. With: Rex Davis, Stars of the Silent Screen Lillehammer University Edna Best. GB 1923, 64mins The Artist’s ‘Uggie’ proved how important it is to Dir: Rasmus Breistein. With: Asta Neilson, have a clever dog in your silent movie and we’ve Einar Tveito, Johanne Bruhn. Norway, 1920 SATURDAY 21 APRIL SUNDAY 22 APRIL wrong when an accident at the London Ian Christie is a film historian, critic and Coliseum threatens to ruin her life. Includes a curator, who teaches at Birkbeck College and few Cambridge locations! regularly appears in television coverage of Dir: Michael Curtiz. With: Lily Damita, Jack film history. He wrote the BBC Centenary of Trevor, Hermann Leffler, Nils Asther. Germany Cinema series, The Last Machine, presented 1926, 95mins by Terry Gilliam, and curated the BFI DVD of R W Paul’s collected films. 1.30pm Short film programme 5.30pm at The West Road Concert Hall Gala Screening accompanied by The Dodge A selection of British silent shorts, probably Brothers not seen here since their original release a century ago, from the Desmet Collection at EYE The Ghost That Never Returns in the Netherlands. It includes amongst others, In an Didums and the Bathing Machine, the mad-cap unnamed Tilly girls in Tilly in a Boarding House, A Canine South Sherlock Holmes, and Picture Palace Pie Cans. American THE Dir: various. Running time approx 80mins country, BLACKGUARD Jose Real 9.00am is jailed for | 1.30pm BSFF at 15 his activism Kipps: The Story of a Simple Soul at an oil A sensitive adaptation of H. G. Wells gentle refinery. 9am 11am | Illustrated panel discussion comedy of social manners with a near perfect, Exasperated at his popularity with the prison The Blackguard Ask the Experts: Silent natural performance by George K Arthur inmates, the authorities decide to eliminate him by promising him one day’s freedom Based on Raymond Paton’s 1923 novel about (which was praised by Charlie Chaplin who Film in the 21st Century and then sending an assassin to follow him. Based on Raymond Paton’s 1923 novel about attended the preview with H. G. Wells himself) The worldwide success of The Artist has Together they ride trains and track across a penniless and wounded violinist who saves in the lead role. Other things to enjoy are focused attention on silent cinema like never desert landscapes in a deadly game of cat a young Russian princess from execution the nicely photographed seaside locations before but is it the result of increased interest and mouse that only one can survive. The during the 1917 Russian Revolution. A and the intriguing possibility that Josef Von in silent cinema rather than a cause? In this Dodges breathe rhythmic life into a classic fine example of the Film Europe ideal,The Sternberg was involved with the production. panel session specialists from the ‘British of Soviet cinema; a movie you may never Blackguard was shot at UFA’s Babelsberg Dir: Harold Shaw. With: George K Arthur, Edna Silent Film Festival’, explain their passion have heard of but after seeing it, one you will Studios in Germany as a co-production Flugrath, Teddy Arundell. GB 1921, 88mins for silent film, look at other examples of never forget. with Gainsborough and is noteworthy for silent film in the 21st century and trace the Hitchcock’s contribution as Art Director. Dir: Abram Room. With: B. Ferdinandov, development of silent film in the 20th century 3.30pm Olga Zhizneva, Maksim Stralikh. USSR 1929. Dir: Graham Cutts. With: Jane Novak, Walter to explain its enduring appeal. Performance will last approx 80mins. Rilla, Frank Stanmore. GB/Germany 1925, Includes Otto Kylmälä’s short filmThe Force that The Annual Rachael Low Lecture 80mins through the Green Fuse Drives the Flower (2011) Presented by Ian Christie Britain could make it! Fifteen years of British 8.30pm | Closing event on the rooftop 9.15am Silents discoveries, and why we need to dig terrace of the Varsity Hotel 11am further into the mysterious ‘teens . Highlights of the British Silent Film Owd Bob When the British Silent Festival began fifteen The Golden Butterfly/Der Over the past 14 years the British Silent Edwards’ charming tale of love and rivalry in years ago, very little was known or seen from Film Festival has uncovered a host of the Cumbrian hills. With his loyal dog Bob Goldene Schmetterling the silent era in British production beyond fascinating films almost unknown by the close by his side, young farmer James Moore Our final P.G. Wodehouse adaptation is very Hitchcock. Now silent film is booming, and British public. This selection of feature films, is new to the valley, much to the annoyance different from his golfing tales. Directed by it is clear that Britain had some outstanding actualities, animations, comedies, local of long-standing landowner Adam McAdam. the legendary Michael Curtiz, this is the talents, even though many of the films are films, travelogues, nature and exploration However, real trouble comes to this close-knit story of a young restaurant cashier (Damita) lost. In this Rachael Low lecture, Ian Christie films aims to inspire you to know more community with the discovery of the bodies of who longs to be a dancer. A handsome will be looking back at some of the Festival’s about the first 35 years of your film heritage. savagely killed sheep. impresario promises to make her a star, so 15 years of discoveries, and taking a closer With live music. Dir: Henry Edwards. With: Ralph Forbes, James she abandons her job and the boss who has look at the period we still know least about: fallen in love with her. But things go horribly the mysterious ‘teens. Carew, J. Fisher. GB 1924, 68mins SUNDAY 22 APRIL Booking Timetable information Thu 19 April Full Festival Pass £95 9am onwards – Registration (£65 concessions) 10.30am A Bachelor’s Baby + Ordeal by Golf Festival Day Pass £40 1.15pm The Only Way (£30 concessions) 1.30pm Young Woodley 3.30pm Grand Guignol programme Delegate passes allow access 5.30pm The Boatswain’s Mate + A Will and a Way to all screenings and events 7pm Visages d’Enfants in all venues, including a 10% discount on all drinks and Friday 20 April food at the Arts Picturehouse 9am The Ones that Got Away – short film programme Cafe Bar 11am Imperial War Museum programme Individual events* 11am Tansy 1.30pm The Long Hole + The Clicking of Cuthbert Adult £9 1.30pm The Lure of Crooning Water APH Member £7 3.30pm The Head of the Family + Rough Seas Around Concession £8 British Coasts Child £6 3.30pm Lady Windermere’s Fan 5.30pm What the Silent Censor Saw Family £25 5.30pm The Man Without Desire (2 adults and 2 kids) 7.15pm The First Born. Gala Screening *Excluding gala screenings – 9pm Reception in the Old Library see below 10.30pm Silent Comedies in the Cafe Bar Gala Screenings £12 (£9 concessions) Saturday 21 April 9am Livingstone HOW TO BOOK 9am Mist in the Valley ONLINE* 11am Fun Before the Footlights: the Origins of www.picturehouse.co.uk Undergraduate Humour BY TELEPHONE* 11am Animal stars of the silent screen 0871 902 5720 1.30pm Gypsy Anna/Fante Anna IN PERSON 3.30pm The Great White Silence At any till at the Picturehouse 3.30pm The Bohemian Girl 5.30pm A Couple of Down and Outs *£1.60 charge per transaction 7pm Turksib. Gala Screening for telephone and internet 9pm Here’s a Health to the Barley Mow. Gala bookings (Members exempt). Screening HOW TO FIND US Sunday 22 April 38-39 St Andrew’s Street, 9am The Blackguard Cambridge CB2 3AR 9.15am Owd Bob 11am Ask the Experts: Silent Film in the 21st Century 11am Der Goldene Schmetterling 1.30pm British Short films from the Desmet Collection 1.30pm Kipps: the Story of a Simple Soul 3.30pm The Annual Rachael Low Lecture by Ian Christie 5.30pm The Ghost that Never Returns with the Dodge Brothers. Gala Screening 8.30pm Closing event. Highlights of the British Silent Film