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Home , All You Need Is Cash, Fred Karno, Will Hay

Welcome to 2010 THE FESTIVAL BEGINS! Our sixth edition, bringing laughter to Bristol just when it’s most needed. THURSDAY Along with films from the never-to-be excelled classic era of silent , this year we feature who have shown that SLAPSTICK GALA WITH great visual comedy did not disappear with the coming of sound - from the incomparable Something Almost Completely Different to Kenny Everett, and the Bonzos, and the team. THURS 21 JAN 1930hrs Venue: Colston Hall Michael Palin himself - legendary traveller, author, actor and Python - launches Slapstick Bristol’s Slapstick Silent Comedy Festival invites you to a star-studded evening of classic 2010 at Colston Hall with a unique programme of on-stage chat and classic comedy that comedy and live entertainment for its Sixth Slapstick Gala. This unique event presents concludes with one of the supreme achievements of the great era of comedy, comedy legend and national treasure Michael Palin onstage to discuss his illustrious career Buster Keaton’s THE NAVIGATOR. in comedy with fellow writer/performer Graeme Garden. On screen - in homage to Palin’s Other comedy giants on show include W.C.Fields, Harold Lloyd and traveling legacy – we present one of Buster Keaton’s greatest THE NAVIGATOR in a selection of classics and rarities. Extending our international reach we have (1924), set to the world premiere live musical accompaniment by The European Silent René Clair’s AN ITALIAN STRAW HAT from France and THE HOUSE ON TRUBNAYA, Screen Virtuosi. This newly formed five-piece musical ensemble features triple Oscar- a delightful and funny comedy from the unlikely source of revolutionary Russia. winning film animator and jazz cornetist Richard Williams and world-acclaimed silent film maestro Günter Buchwald on violin and piano, along with their international friends. We offer the world premiere of a recently rediscovered college film by Neil Innes, With other celebrity guests both on stage and on screen including Neil Innes, this is featuring the inimitable Vivian Stanshall, and featured in “The Bonzo Dog Scrapbook a once-in-a-lifetime event not to be missed! Early booking is recommended to avoid Show” (Arnolfini, Saturday). Jesters comedy store host the final night events, featuring, disappointment. on stage, four national treasures of comedy art, Neil Innes, , Tickets: £16.00/£12.00 concessions and Bristol Silents members Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden. Book via Colston Hall: 0117 922 3686 or visit www.colstonhall.org.uk All in all an extravaganza four days packed with classic film comedy to leave you laughing, all brought to life by an unprecedented line-up of special guests. In 2010 we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Bristol Silents and after six years this Slapstick promises to be our best yet! FRIDAY THE ITALIAN STRAW HAT (U) I hope you will join us. with live accompaniment by Barbara Lenz Chris Daniels Director FRI 22 JAN 1740hrs Venue: Arnolfini Slapstick Festival Dir. René Clair, France / Germany, 1928, 1h 25m Booking your tickets and the Slapstick A hilarious misadventure, heralding the beginning of ‘screwball comedy’, this early classic of French cinema is full of wonderful character gags and situation comedy. On the way to Festival Pass: his wedding Ferdinand (Albert Préjean) discovers that his horse has eaten the straw hat of Please book all screenings and events directly with the venue as a married woman (Olga Tschechowa) canoodling in the bushes with her lover, Lieutenant detailed on back page: Tavernier (Geymond Vital), and his big day begins to go rapidly downhill. All events are held at Arnolfini and Watershed except our Gala event: Tickets: £7.00/£5.00 concessions and Bristol Silents members Michael Palin: Something Almost Completely Different which is at Colston Hall and Desert Island Slapstick and : All you GIRL SHY (U) Need is Cash which are at Jesters Comedy Club. with live accompaniment from The Slapstick Boys You can save money off the total ticket price by FRI 22 JAN 2000hrs Venue: Arnolfini purchasing a Slapstick Festival Pass for all Watershed and Arnolfini events (except Cinékids) for £55.00 Dir: Fred Newmeyer, USA, 1924, 1h 22m full/£40.00 concessions & Bristol Silents One of Harold Lloyd’s finest and funniest, this rich character comedy about a bashful members. Available from Arnolfini Box stutterer who is chronically shy of women is packed with extraordinary sight gags, brilliant Office only. intertitles and hilarious performances. Including live musical accompaniment from The Slapstick Boys, four of the finest musicians in Europe for silent film accompaniment, this Join Bristol Silents to save money at screening will also feature an onstage discussion with film historian and filmmaker Kevin www.bristolsilents.org.uk Brownlow and avid Lloyd fan, Withnail and I actor Paul McGann. An unmissable medley of fine silent comedy, exhilarating music and discussion!

Tickets: £7.00/£5.00 concessions and Bristol Silents members

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Watershed Box Office (0117) 927 5100 Arnolfini Box Office (0117) 917 2300 www.watershed.co.uk www.arnolfini.org.uk Colston Hall Box Office (0117) 922 3686 Jesters Box Office (0117) 909 6655 www.colstonhall.org www.jesterscomedyclub.co.uk

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In Partnership with: H SILENT COM OL’S SIXT EDY FEST BRIST IVAL 21 - 24 JANUARY 2010 Follow us on Twitter: @Slapstick2010 and Facebook: Slapstick 2010 for the latest updates! WEEKEND EVENTS WEEKEND EVENTS

Girl Shy SATURDAY SUNDAY SLAPSTICK INTERNATIONAL: PORDENONE SILENT FILM WILL HAY – MASTER OF COMEDY FESTIVAL ITALY: THE HOUSE ON TRUBNAIA STREET PG SUN 24 JAN 1100hrs Venue: Watershed Cinema 1 With live accompaniment by Günter Buchwald and Lee Mottram Will Hay was Britain’s best known film of the 1930s and 40s and SAT 23 JAN 1100hrs Venue: Watershed Cinema 1 his film OH MR PORTER one of the funniest of the period. Join David Wyatt Dir: Boris Barnet, Russia, 1928, 1h 04m and Graham Rinaldi, author of the recent Will Hay biography, as they discuss and explore his films and theories while showing extracts starring Hay, and The big surprise hit of the 2009 Pordenone Silent Film Festival in Italy was this some of his favourite comedians such as Chaplin, W.C. Fields, and Laurel & delicious comedy from (improbably) the classic era of Soviet cinema. True to The Italian Straw Hat Hardy. Rarities will include silent footage from Hay’s 1922 revue show, on melodrama tradition, a simple peasant girl (along with an obstreperous duck) the set outtakes and their new unfinished documentary on the making of OH arrives from the country, a ripe victim for all the perils of the big city. Exploited MR.PORTER – NEXT TRAIN’S GONE. Discover the delights of one of Britain’s by a stingey hair-dresser and his odious wife, she uses the new social order to finest comedians. A book signing will follow the event. turn the tables. A uniquely entertaining piece of work. With special introduction from the Director of Pordenone Festival, David Robinson. Tickets: £6.50/£5.00 concessions and Bristol Silents members Tickets: £6.50/£5.00 concessions and Bristol Silents members BARRY CRYER: THE LOST GENIUS OF KENNY EVERETT LAUREL & HARDY: CLASSICS & RARITIES SUN 24 JAN 1400hrs Venue: Arnolfini SAT 23 JAN 1400hrs Venue: Arnolfini Already one of Britain’s most successful radio DJs, Everett rose to national acclaim with the Kenny Everett video show, showcasing his With an eclectic programme of classics & rarities from the ‘two minds without Will Hays unique, anarchic humour. As part of Slapstick after Silents, this is a special a single thought’, Graeme Garden (The Goodies) & silent comedy expert event with one of his closest working collaborators, the legendary comedy David Wyatt demonstrate why Stan and Ollie are now considered amongst writer and Sorry I Haven’t a Clue Star, Barry Cryer. With insights from Cryer, the best comedy teams ever. They will divulge the duo’s influence on other who was Everett’s comedy writing partner for over a decade, and onscreen comedy teams including ‘The Goodies’, and introduce films and clips of the footage of Kenny, join Slapstick 2010 in celebrating the work of this innovative rarest of all L & H appearances in Charley Chase’s ‘Now I’ll Tell One’ (1927) visual comedian. and a complete screening of their classic silent short ‘Putting Pants on Philip’ (1927). Tickets: £7.00/£5.00 concessions and Bristol Silents members Tickets: £7.00/£5.00 concessions and Bristol Silents members SLAPSTICK INTERNATIONAL: SAN FRANCISCO: THE REAL SO’S YOUR OLD MAN PG SAT 23 JAN 1600hrs Venue: Watershed Cinema 1 Introduction by Chris Serle Tim Brooke-Taylor and Tony Staveacre (author of ‘Slapstick!’) investigate SUN 24 JAN 1600hrs Venue: Watershed Cinema 1 the legacy of the Exeter-born showman and impresario, Fred Karno. Credited Dir. Gregory la Cava, USA, 1926, 1h 07m with discovering Chaplin, and even the pie-in-the-face gag, he The Navigator has pioneered a tradition of physical comedy which still flourishes today. Another festival triumph, this time from the 2009 San Francisco Silent Film Their presentation will include rare archive footage of the great man himself Festival. Mostly remembered for his nasal wheeze and acidulous one-liners, as well as clips of his alumni, including Sandy Powell, Flanagan & Allen, Will W.C.Fields is here revealed as one of the great silent visual comics, just as Hay, Denny Dennis, George Carl, Stan Laurel and . A rare funny without sound. He plays the bibulous Mr. Bisbee whose plans to launch opportunity to discover the genius of this master showman. his unbreakable windscreen are somewhat complicated by a glamorous visiting princess, a pony, a demanding family and his own taste for sarsaparilla and Tickets: £6.50/£5.00 concs and Bristol Silents members spirits. Great characters make up a sharp view of small-town life – and Fields manages to slip in his famous vaudeville golf routine. A real discovery! Tickets: £6.00/£4.50 concessions and Bristol Silents members Slapstick Festival Special event Laurel & Hardy An evening with Neil Innes THE SEVENTH PYTHON (PG) SLAPSTICK at JESTERS NEW VENUE SAT 23 JAN 1850hrs Venue: Arnolfini SUN 24 JAN Doors open from 5.45pm Venue: Jesters Dir: Burt Kearns, USA, 2008, 1h 34m 1830hrs Desert Island Slapstick 12 This UK premiere is a recent documentary based on the life, work and 2115hrs The Rutles: All you Need is Cash unplanned career of musical satirist Neil Innes. The Seventh Python traces one Bristol’s Slapstick Silent Comedy Festival proudly present a double bill man’s winding path of whimsy as he flirts with destiny at the edge of fame with evening of classic comedy, film, music and special guests at Jesters, a incredibly influential and unusually lasting work that keeps one foot planted in delightful silent cinema, built in 1914 and now home to Bristol’s premiere the worlds of comedy and the other in rock ‘n’ roll. Neil Innes has proven to be music and comedy venue. the greatest musical comedy satirist of the past fifty years. He has brought us Make sure you pre-order your food before the first act and you can enjoy the delights from the Bonzo Dog Doo - Dah Band, Monty Python and The Rutles. fine food and drink of Jesters during the break between performances. With contributions from , , , Michael Palin and Also available are meal inclusive tickets through Jester’s website and box office. Slapstick regular Phill Jupitus. So’s Your Old Man In between, please enjoy Jester’s fantastic food and drink menus Tickets: £3.00/£2.00 concessions and Bristol Silents members Tickets: £12.00/£10.00 concessions and Bristol Silents members – Includes both events. ‘An evening with Neil Innes’ is followed by: Book via Jesters: 0117 909 6655 or visit www.jesterscomedyclub.co.uk THE BONZO DOG BAND FILM AND TV SCRAPBOOK DESERT ISLAND SLAPSTICK with NEIL INNES Chaired by David Robinson SAT 23 JAN 2040hrs Venue: Arnolfini If you were stuck on a desert island with only one silent comedy to keep you 40 years on from the split of the original Bonzos Slapstick 2010 welcomes company, which would you choose? The first act of Slapstick’s hilarious double you to a celebration of all things ‘Innes’ with a special focus on the visual bill is our ever popular celebrity panel show Desert Island Slapstick. Join three and musical lunacy of The Bonzo Dog Do-Dah Band. Celebrating the Dadaist of Britain’s best loved television and radio personalities as they each in turn creative insanity of the Bonzo’s, Neil Innes is the inspired creator of many choose their favourite silent comedies for our viewing pleasure. This year’s of their best known numbers including Equestrian Statue, Urban Spaceman panel features three members of Radio 4’s I’m Sorry I Haven’t Clue team and Death Cab for Cutie. Neil is joined onstage by Culture Show’s Matthew including festival regulars Tim Brooke-Taylor and Graeme Garden plus for the Sweet and using extracts from the band’s anthology will together explore the first time at Slapstick festival illustrious comedy writer and performer Barry incredible influence of this one band revolutionary force on both music and Cryer. What will they choose? comedy. As if all this wasn’t enough, Neil will be screening the premiere of his recently discovered student art film from 1965 featuring footage of THE RUTLES: ALL YOU NEED IS CASH 12 Viv Stanshall performing his famous mock strip tease. An evening of the finest Dir: Eric Idle & Gary Weis, UK / USA, 1978, 1h 16m filmic and musical hilarity not to miss! One of the first films of its kind, The Rutles is primarily a series of skits and Tickets: £7.00/£5.00 concessions and Bristol Silents members gags that each illustrate a different part of the fictional Rutles story, closely following the chronology of ’ story. The cohesive glue of the film is the acclaimed soundtrack by Neil Innes, who created 19 more songs for the film, each an affectionate pastiche of a different Beatles song or genre of songs. Introduced in person by Neil Innes AKA Rutle Ron Nasty, this is a unique opportunity to see the inspiration for successful Rob Reiner cult comedy film, This Is Spinal Tap which followed in 1984. And as a grand finale to the festival, if we can persuade him, Neil Innes may just play us a Rutle hit or two live! 2O1O

www.slapstick.org.uk 21ST - 24 JANUARY 2010