Photoplay Productions
Photoplay Productions is an independent film company, based in the UK, under the direction of Kevin Brownlow[1] and Patrick Stanbury.[2] Is one of the few independent companies to operate in the revival of interest in the lost world of silent cinema and has been recognised as a driving force in the subject.[3]
In 2010, Photoplay Productions was the recipient of the Silent Film Festival Award[4]
Documentary production
[edit]Photoplay Productions has been recognised as a driving force in the revival of interest in the lost world of silent cinema.
Amongst its film history documentaries are:
- D. W. Griffith: Father of Film, produced by Kevin Brownlow, David Gill and Patrick Stanbury. Narrated by Sam Wanamaker.
- I'm King Kong! - The Exploits of Merian C Cooper (2005) directed by Kevin Brownlow and Christopher Bird. Narrated by Alec Baldwin
- Garbo (2005) directed by Kevin Brownlow and Christopher Bird. Narrated by Julie Christie
- Cinema Europe: The Other Hollywood (1995) directed by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill. Narrated by Kenneth Branagh
- Universal Horror (1998) directed by Kevin Brownlow. Narrated by Kenneth Branagh
- The Tramp and the Dictator (2002) directed by Kevin Brownlow and Michael Kloft. Narrated by Kenneth Branagh
- Cecil B. DeMille - American Epic (2003) directed by Kevin Brownlow directed by Kevin Brownlow. Narrated by Kenneth Branagh[5]
- Lon Chaney - A Thousand Faces (2000) directed by Kevin Brownlow Narrated by Kenneth Branagh[6]
- So Funny It Hurt – Buster Keaton And MGM (2004) directed by Kevin Brownlow and Christopher Bird. Narrated by James Karen
- Abel Gance – The Charm of Dynamite (1968) directed by Kevin Brownlow. Narrated by Lindsay Anderson
Selected film restoration
[edit]Photoplay Productions has restored numerous feature silent films and shorts, with music by Carl Davis[7][8] including the following titles:
Features
[edit]- Napoleon (1927)[9][10] directed by Abel Gance starring Albert Dieudonné
- The Birth of a Nation (1915) directed by D. W. Griffith starring Lillian Gish and Henry B Walthall
- Greed (1924) directed by Eric Von Stroheim with ZaSu Pitts and Gibson Gowland
- Nosferatu (1922) directed by F. W. Murnau starring Max Schreck
- It (1927) directed by Clarence Badger starring Clara Bow
- Old Heidelberg (1927) directed by Ernst Lubitsch starring Ramon Novarro and Norma Shearer
- Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) directed by F. W. Murnau starring Janet Gaynor and George O'Brien
- Flesh and the Devil (1926) directed by Clarence Brown with Greta Garbo and John Gilbert
- The Mysterious Lady (1928) directed by Fred Niblo starring Greta Garbo and Conrad Nagel
- A Woman of Affairs (1928) directed by Clarence Brown starring Greta Garbo and John Gilbert
- The Blot (1921) directed by Lois Weber starring Claire Windsor and Louis Calhern
- The Crowd (1928) directed by King Vidor starring Eleanor Boardman and James Murray
- La Terre (1919) directed by André Antoine starring Germaine Rouer and Armand Bour
- The Yellow Ticket (1918) directed by Victor Jansen starring Pola Negri
- The Godless Girl (1928) directed by Cecil B. DeMille
- The Wind (1928) directed by Victor Seastrom with Lillian Gish and Lars Hanson
- The Wedding March (1928) starring Erich von Stroheim with Fay Wray
- The Iron Mask (1929) directed by Allan Dwan starring Douglas Fairbanks
- The Thief of Bagdad (1924) directed by Raoul Walsh starring Douglas Fairbanks
- The Eagle (1925) directed by Clarence Brown with Rudolph Valentino and Vilma Banky
- The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse[11] (1921) by Rex Ingram with Rudolph Valentino
- The Big Parade (1925) directed by King Vidor starring John Gilbert and Renee Adoree
- Wings (1927) directed by William Wellman starring Clara Bow, Richard Arlen and Charles "Buddy" Rogers
- The Chess Player (1926) directed by Raymond Bernard starring Pierre Blanchar and Edith Jehanne
- Orphans of the Storm (1921) directed by D. W. Griffith starring Lillian and Dorothy Gish
- Show People (1928) by King Vidor with Marion Davies and William Haines
- The Iron Horse (1924) directed by John Ford starring George O 'Brien and Madge Bellamy
- The Extra Girl (1923) with Mabel Normand
- Ben-Hur – A Tale of the Christ (1925) by Fred Niblo with Ramon Novarro
- The Cat and the Canary (1927) by Paul Leni
- The General (1926) with Buster Keaton
- Our Hospitality (1923) with Buster Keaton
- Speedy (1928) directed by Ted Wilde starring Harold Lloyd
- The Kid Brother (1927) directed by Ted Wilde starring Harold Lloyd
- Safety Last! (1923) directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and Sam Taylor starring Harold Lloyd
- Girl Shy (1924) directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and Sam Taylor starring Harold Lloyd
- Hot Water (1924) directed by Fred C. Newmeyer starring Harold Lloyd
- The Phantom of the Opera (1925)[12] directed by Rupert Julian with Lon Chaney
- The Hunchback of Notre Dame[13] (1923) directed by Wallace Worsley with Lon Chaney
- Heart o' the Hills (1919) directed by Sidney Franklin starring Mary Pickford and John Gilbert
- Mare Nostrum (1926) directed by Rex Ingram starring Alice Terry and Antonio Moreno
- The Wicked Darling (1919) directed by Tod Browning with Lon Chaney and Priscilla Dean
- The Strong Man (1927) directed by Frank Capra starring Harry Langdon
- Broken Blossoms (1919) directed by D. W. Griffith starring Lillian Gish and Richard Barthelmess
- Intolerance (1916) directed by D. W. Griffith starring Lillian Gish, Robert Harron and Constance Talmadge
Shorts
[edit]- The Adventures of Dollie (1908) directed by D. W. Griffith starring Lillian and Dorothy Gish
- The Immigrant (1917) directed by Charles Chaplin
- One Week (1920) starring Buster Keaton
- Get Out and Get Under (1920) directed by Hal Roach with Harold Lloyd
- Giving Them Fits (1915) directed by Hal Roach with Harold Lloyd
- Sword Points (1928) directed by Mark Sandrich starring Lupino Lane
Academy recognition
[edit]In 2010 Photoplay Director Kevin Brownlow was awarded an honorary Oscar for his services to cinema in the role of film historian and film restorer.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ "AWARDS | KEVIN BROWNLOW - MEL NOVIKOFF AWARD | San Francisco Film Festival". Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ "Patrick Stanbury". IMDb. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ "Photoplay – Home Page". photoplay.co.uk. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- ^ Michael Guillen. "SFSFF 2010: THE STRONG MAN (1926)--Kevin Brownlow Introduction – ScreenAnarchy". twitchfilm.com. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ "Cecil B. DeMille: American Epic | DOC NYC". docnyc.net. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ "Cheney special". silentsaregolden.com. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ "Silent Era : People". silentera.com. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ "Special Guests – TCM Classic Film Festival 2016". filmfestival.tcm.com. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ "Abel Gance's Legendary "Napoleon," Restored Again by Kevin Brownlow, Heads to Oakland for Unique Screenings | BLOUIN ARTINFO". Art+Auction. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ "'Napoleon' marches across the big screen again – USATODAY.com". USA Today. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
- ^ "The DVD Journal | Reviews : The Phantom of the Opera: The Ultimate Edition". dvdjournal.com. Retrieved 14 July 2016.
- ^ The Hunchback of Notre Dame
- ^ "Kevin Brownlow | Governors Awards | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences". www.oscars.org. Archived from the original on 18 November 2010.
External links
[edit]- IMDB [1]
- Photoplay Productions – Facebook Page
- Photoplay Productions – Website [2]
- Finding aid authors: James V. D'Arc and John N. Gillespie. "Photoplay Productions documentary research". Prepared for the L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Provo, UT. Retrieved 16 May 2016.