“He enjoyed making nice medium pictures. Simply, easily, quietly.” Reginald Denny describing his pal, director “Bill” Seiter.
Kevin Brownlow introduced this film – a print from his
own collection - with a description of how he’d met its star Reginald Denny in
1964, many years after the British actor’s silent heyday and after decades of
playing stock English characters in the talkies. Brownlow projected the film
for Denny and his family and, despite the letters fears that the film might
“creak” he was rewarded with an emphatically-amused response.
The same thing happened tonight aided and abetted by John
Sweeney’s effortless period piano precision.
Skinner's Dress
Suit is that rare thing a genuinely charming comedy featuring two vibrant
leads – Denny and the lovely Laura La Plante who cut a rug almost as sharply as
her platinum bob. In thrilling style, the two dance the Savannah Shuffle…. a
variation on the Charleston – before leading a host of society types in trying
to learn the steps.
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| Strictly Come Shuffling |
Directed by William A. Seiter a keen golfer and close
buddy of Denny’s the film never strains and the relaxed humour is testament to
the compatible temperaments of both men: “we never had an argument, never a
cross word, “he told Brownlow, “…and we always brought the picture in within
budget...” Seiter was clearly a very able manager of time and people.
Denny plays Skinner and over-reaching and under-achieving
office worker whose wife, Honey (LLP), keeps egging him on to get a raise. But
Skinner not only doesn’t have the nerve he doesn’t really have the edge being
walked all over by both his juniors and his superiors. Unable to tell Honey
he’s been passed over yet again, he pretends that he’s had a $10 a week raise
and the two start extending their credit starting with a party dress for her
and a dress suit for him.
Both prove very useful after Skinner is taught the new
dance craze, the Savannah, by fellow wage slave Miss Smith (a peppy Betty
Morrissey) and simply everyone at the party they attend wants to learn it.
Social mobility awaits but in keeping up appearances their credit gets
stretched to the limit.
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| Laura La Plante and Reginald Denny |
But gradually they are accepted by their snooty
neighbours, The McLaughlin’s and are invited into higher society…
All comes crashing down when a major contract is lost and
Skinner is the man to be let go… he hasn’t the heart to tell Honey as she
entertains but has to fight off the repro men gathering for their furniture and
the tailor who wants his fine dinner suit back.
There’s just one last chance… an invitation to the party
of the season held by the Colby’s (Hedda Hopper and Henry Barrows) if they can
make an impression Skinner could still save his social standing…Cue Mr Jackson (Lionel Braham) the man who withdrew his
contract with Skinners firm and his wife (Lucille Ward) both eager themselves
to get introduced to society… You can work out the rest but the story is so
well pitched the resolution works as smoothly and reassuringly as you’d hope.
A really enjoyable mainstream slice of silent Hollywood
and just the thing after my week of Vampire Counts and murderous priests!
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| Skinner negotiates with his tailor |
On the undercard tonight was a selection of the really
rare and fascinating a collection of unique 4k high definition scans of
original nitrate prints made by Tony Saffery, taken from his personal
collection. You’ll only find this kind of thing at The Bioscope folks… we are
spoilt rotten!
Rambles around
Mulhausen (c1920) was a genuinely stunning Pathecolour travelogue around
Alsace and Sparta showing slices of the everyday in colour including folk dress
that has “hardly the Bond Street flavour…” and a boy with a pig.
Adventures of
little Nibs (1928) was a cartoon of Itchy and Scratchy style – bullets and
brickes flying through the ultra-violent air of a city. Policemen are wanted
“good pay, as long as you live” and Nib’s pal Mike gets a job meeting the height
required thanks to a bump on his head.
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| The view from south, Mulhausen, Alsace Lorraine |
The Makeshift
Bedroom (1906?) was a bizarre Andre Deed short in which Mr Deeds lives in a
bed in the street… Policemen tiptoe around so as not to wake him and street
lights ae covered before everyone decides to chase him and he floats off into
the harbour on his multi-purpose mattress.
LCC Housing
campaign film (c1921) was a typically British public information film
asking people to do their patriotic duty and buy binds to support house
building. A surreal turn is made when two of the most famous people in the
World, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, join in the call… or at least their
pictures do.
His New Cane
(1912) This film is presumed lost in some quarters but here it was larger than
life – a man sticking his walking device into others business until, again,
there’s a huge chase…
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| Mr Deed in a spot of bother in a later film |
Cinema Lake (1920) was a part live action/part animated
oddity with a drawing board character erasing drawings and actuality alike:
“Just wait till I take away Prohibition…” even now that’s funny!
London Wonder City
(c1921) was indeed a wonder: The Guildhall, Mansion Houise, St Pauls and Fleet
Street as well as Piccadilly Circus in colour at night..
Tommy Marries his
sister (1910) involved the casual brutality of a small boy helping his
sister marry the guy she likes and not the one she’s been given. Well done kid!
A mad-mixed bag and an excellent intiative to share and
brought to life with skilled accompaniment from Meg Morley and Mr Sweeney.
Thankyou Kennington! See you in 2017!
