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Regular episodes of The Oscar Project are back and this week I'm discussing the 1928 film The Racket. This story is adapted from a play of the same name and was considered one of the most important cop/gangster films of the time when it was released. Listen now to learn about the threats made against the creators and as always, my own thoughts about the film.
Look for more episodes every Monday as I finish out the rest of the films nominated for Oscars at the very first Academy Awards.
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Music for this episode from https://filmmusic.io, "Onion Capers" and "Breaktime" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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Last episode's film was not really available in a full version, but this time around, we have a full film that is readily available, an I have to say, hilarious!
The film Speedy was a box office hit when it was released in 1928. The film was nominated for one Academy Award, in the one-time only category of Best Director - Comedy. There are plenty of thrills and spills in this film and despite the (very brief) appearance of a certain finger gesture and somewhat of a melee near the end of the film, it's a fun film that the whole family can watch. Join me as I discuss Speedy.
Wikipedia: Speedy, Harold Lloyd, Ted Wilde, Ann Christy, Bert Woodruff, Brooks Benedict, Babe Ruth
Silent Era: Speedy All Movie: Speedy IMDb: Speedy Letterboxd: Speedy The Criterion Collection: "Speedy: The Comic Figure of the Average Man" by Phillip Lopate AV Club Review: "Speedy is a good Harold Lloyd comedy, a great peak into New York's past" by Mike D'Angelo Silentfilm.org: "Speedy" by Jeffrey Vance Amazon: Speedy George Eastman Museum: Dryden Theatre Recommends: Speedy
Music for this episode from https://filmmusic.io, "Onion Capers" and "Breaktime" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
When it comes to original naming of a film, A Ship Comes In will never win any awards, and while it didn't win an Academy Award at that first ceremony, it was nominated for one category, Best Actress.
This film is quaint by today's standards and probably feels the most outdated of any that I've watched so far this season. But there are still some themes that carry through and feel relevant in today's society. References
Wikipedia: A Ship Comes In, Louise Dresser, Rudolph Schildkraut, William K. Howard
Silent Era: A Ship Comes In All Movie: A Ship Comes In IMDb: A Ship Comes In Letterboxd: A Ship Comes In
Music for this episode from https://filmmusic.io, "Onion Capers" and "Breaktime" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Season one is back with a full look at the first feature length motion picture with synchronized singing and speech, The Jazz Singer. Featuring Broadway performer Al Jolson in the lead role, it explores the plight of a young Jewish boy from an immigrant family trying to make it big on the Broadway stage while dealing with the legacy of his father's role as the cantor of the local synagogue.
Including six different songs performed by Jolson along with about two minutes of spoken dialogue as part of the synchronized sound track, audiences at the time marveled at the ability to hear the performers on the screen while seeing the pictures move. It was the beginning of a new era of film and The Jazz Singer has maintained a legacy in film history.
Wikipedia: The Jazz Singer, Al Jolson
Variety: The Jazz Singer review Time: The Jazz Singer review AMC Filmsite: The Jazz Singer review Magnificat: Sound Film and American Immigrant Identity in The Jazz Singer Journal of the University Film Association: The Impact of The Jazz Singer on Conversion to Sound Oxford Bibliographies: The Jazz Singer
Music for this episode from https://filmmusic.io, "Onion Capers" and "Breaktime" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Here is the next deep dive episode of season one. Today we are looking at the film Chang: A Drama of the Wilderness, produced and directed by Meriam C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack. Shot completely on location in the jungles of Siam, the film follows a local man and his family trying to eek out a living in the foreboding jungle.
The characters will deal with leopard and tiger attacks, an elephant stampede and plenty of other dangers around every corner. While dated in the way it treats the animals on screen, the film is important as a look at what that part of the world looked like nearly 100 years ago.
Wikipedia: Chang: A Drama of the Wilderness, Merian C. Cooper, and Ernest B. Shoedsack
Silent Era: Chang Silents Are Golden: Chang commentary The Guardian: Chang review BBC: Chang review Simbasible: Chang review Nick's Flick Picks: Chang review SAMIC: Staging Authenticity in the Jungle of Siam by Alexander J. Klemm School of Digital Media and Cinematic Arts, Bankok University: Influences, Methods and Distortion in Film Chang by Jakkarin Thepvong Bankok Post: What's Past is Prologue by Andrew Biggs
Music for this episode from https://filmmusic.io, "Onion Capers" and "Breaktime" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
It's time for the first deep dive episode of season one! This time around, I'm discussing the 1928 Charlie Chaplin film The Circus, a film that was mired in difficulties during the production process and ultimately landed in theaters nearly two years after it should have. This put a wonderfully fun, yet tenderly sad, silent film in cinemas soon after the dawn of the talking picture.
I also bring on a special guest interview in this episode. Take a listen to find out who! There are a number of resources I mention in the episode including reviews and critical articles about the film. I have included them below for reference if you want to dig into the history of the film even further. I have also included the YouTube copy of the film that I used when watching it. The film is also available to purchase from Amazon or stream through Amazon Prime. (Affiliate links) References
Wikipedia: Articles on The Circus and Charlie Chaplin
Silent Era: The Circus Charlie Chaplin Official Website: The Circus David Bordwell in Film Comment: The Circus Little White Lies: Revisiting The Circus: Charlie Chaplin's troubled comic triumph Silents Are Golden: The Circus commentary
Music for this episode from https://filmmusic.io, "Onion Capers" and "Breaktime" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Happy Friday and welcome to the second episode of The Oscar Project Podcast. I hope you checked out episode one earlier this week.
I cover eight films in this episode that are either lost or not available for viewing by the general public at this time. This includes films in museum archives and only available at the Library of Congress. The films discussed today are: Glorious Betsy, Sorrell and Son, The Devil Dancer, The Dove, The Magic Flame, The Noose, The Private Life of Helen of Troy, and The Way of All Flesh.
Music for this episode from https://filmmusic.io, "Onion Capers" and "Breaktime" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
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