Early Superman

Production photo from Superman (1948)

Before Superman Returns (2006), Superman (1978), and even the television series Adventures of Superman (1952-1958), there was the movie serial Superman (1948), starring Kirk Alyn in the title role. Though it may spoil the magic, this image reveals some of the technical wizardry that allowed him to fly through the air unaided by wires or trampolines. Alyn made a cameo appearance in the 1978 Superman movie as young Lois Lane’s father (they’re on a train together).

October

Poster for October (1927)

This silent Russian film by Grigori Aleksandrov and Sergei M. Eisenstein was commissioned for the tenth anniversary of the Soviet revolution. While Eisenstein’s Battleship Potemkin (1925) is considered to be one of the most innovative films ever made, October is even more daring in its approach.

In a letter to Leon Moussinac dated December 16, 1928, Eisenstein wrote that “in this film that is so much of the ‘people,’ of the ‘masses,’ I allowed myself to experiment.” Later in the letter, he wrote, “October is the dialectical denial of Potemkin! And the main interest of October is in the bits and pieces which do not resemble the ‘Battleship.’”

Popeye with Little Swee’ Pea

Here’s a link to stream an early Popeye cartoon: Little Swee’ Pea (1936). This is one of the Fleischer Studios’ Popeye cartoons, which are far superior to the later ones produced when Dave Fleischer was no longer at the helm. In Little Swee’ Pea, Popeye invites Olive Oly to the zoo — only she’s too busy to go out with him. So Popeye takes Sweet Pea instead. Check out the multi-plane backgrounds that provide a more realistic sense of perspective and movement.

If you prefer to download this classic public domain cartoon, you can visit here.

Woman in the Moon

Photo from Woman in the Moon (1929)

This silent German science-fiction film from Fritz Lang introduced the concept of counting backwards before a rocket lift-off. Lang was looking for a way to dramatize the launch and hit on the idea of having someone count down to zero. The count down procedure became commonplace in both films and novels and was later adopted by NASA for the real thing. This movie also explored the effects of zero gravity in space and accurately predicted a two-stage rocket powered by liquid fuel.

Unknown Film #2

Spielberg’s early test shot of Adolphe Menjou for the part of E.T.? Or maybe the first automated, genetically modified milk-dispensing machine? Does anyone know which movie this photo might be from?

Buster in The Boat

Here’s a link to stream the classic Buster Keaton silent comedy short: The Boat (1921). Buster and his family launch their do-it-yourself project, christened the Damfino. When they encounter rough waters, Buster radios for help. Asked the name of the vessel, Buster replies, “Damfino.”

If you prefer to download this public domain short, you can visit here.

Pure Film?

Françoise Truffaut: Would you say that Psycho [1960] is an experimental film?

Alfred Hitchcock: Possibly. My main satisfaction is that the film had an effect on the audiences, and I consider that very important. I don’t care about the subject matter; I don’t care about the acting; but I do care about the pieces of film and the photography and the sound track and all the technical ingredients that make the audience scream. I feel it’s tremendously satisfying for us to be able to use the cinematic art to achieve something of a mass emotion. And with Psycho we most definitely achieved this. It wasn’t a message that stirred the audiences, nor was it a great performance or their enjoyment of the novel. They were aroused by pure film.

– Alfred Hitchcock, interviewed in 1962 by Françoise Truffaut

My Man Godfrey

Here’s a link to stream one of the best screwball comedies: My Man Godfrey (1936). This was the first film to be nominated for all four acting Oscars: Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actor, and Best Supporting Actress. Coincidentally, it was the first year for the two supporting awards. My Man Godfrey was also nominated for the writing and directing Oscars.

To this day, it’s the only film to be nominated for all six awards and not be nominated for Best Picture. And to this day, it’s the only film to be nominated for all six awards and not win any of them.

If you prefer to download this classic public domain movie, you can visit here.

Holiday

Holiday (1938) is based on a play by the same writer (Philip Barry), has the same director (George Cukor), and features the same two stars (Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant) as The Philadelphia Story (1940). Yet the lesser known (and earlier) movie is actually the better of two.

Conrad Veidt

Russian poster for Lucrezia Borgia (1922)

This silent German film featured Conrad Veidt as Cesare Borgia. In an odd coincidence, he had famously played a character named Cesare just two years earlier in The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920). His best part was probably the title role in The Man Who Laughs (1928), though he is best known for his portrayals of Jaffar in The Thief of Bagdad (1940) and Maj. Strasser in Casablanca (1942).

Our Hospitality

Poster for the 1979 Japanese theatrical release of Buster Keaton’s Our Hospitality (1923)

Hedy Lamarr

The most beautiful movie star ever?

She also helped invent the communication system used today in cellular phones and modern weapons. You can read about this other side of Hedy Lamarr here, here, here, and here.

The Mysterians

One of the first Japanese films to be shot in anamorphic widescreen, The Mysterians (1957) is also the first of a long line of low-budget Toho Studio movies that feature alien invaders.

King of Jazz

Here’s a link to stream the trailer for an early two-color Technicolor feature: King of Jazz (1930). Apparently, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and Chick Webb weren’t invited. Instead, the now campy, grand-scale musical numbers center around Paul Whiteman, the popular orchestra leader who proclaimed himself, King of Jazz.

If you prefer to download this classic movie trailer, you can visit here.

The Lost City

Independently produced by Sherman S. Krellber, The Lost City (1935) was a 12-part low-budget serial that mixed not-so-convincing jungle locales with cool-looking mad scientist laboratory equipment. If the laboratory equipment looks familiar, it may be because Ken Strickfaden also created the electrical effects for Frankenstein (1931) and Bride of Frankenstein (1935).

The Old Man of the Mountain

Here’s a link to stream another terrific Betty Boop cartoon: The Old Man of the Mountain (1933). This one features two songs from Cab Calloway and his orchestra: “The Old Man of the Mountain” and “The Scat Song.” The fluid movements of the old man dancing were based on Calloway’s own dance steps, captured and converted to animated movements via the Fleischer brothers’ advanced rotoscoping techniques.

If you prefer to download this classic public domain cartoon, you can visit here.