revival cinema
Welcome to revival cinema, devoted to screenings of films that are outside of a current release. Revival cinemas (or repertory houses as they are also called) had their heyday in the 1960s and 70s before the rise of VHS, DVD, and TCM. James Wolcott, cultural critic for Vanity Fair says it best, “Revival houses were where epiphany-seeking cinephiles and less exalted film junkies could dip into the dark for a few hours and cut their Dracula fangs on Hollywood golden oldies, the latest foreign craze, avant-garde provocations, and camp treasures with cult followings.”
There are still many of these celebrated revival cinemas in existence today (think Film Forum in New York) and the occasional new one opening up (Metrograph in New York).
The Spanish Dancer
Director: Herbert Brenon Run Time: 95 min. Release Year: 1923
Starring: Adolphe Menjou, Antonio Moreno, Kathlyn Williams, Pola Negri, Wallace Beery
Pola Negri was already an international star. Antonio Moreno was her equal in terms of talent and sex appeal. The director Herbert Brenon was one of the greatest directors of his day and he was assisted by his cinematographer, James Wong Howe.
Together, they created one of the great romance epics of the silent era. The composer of the new orchestral score, Bill Ware is “a vibraphonist, bassist, composer, pianist, educator, and creative adventurer. His genre-bending career, well into its fourth decade, has been nothing short of riveting. A founding member of the Jazz Passengers and Groove Collective, he’s also collaborated with Steely Dan, John Zorn, JD Parran, Marc Ribot, Bobby Sanabria, Deborah Harry, the BBC Concert Orchestra, Chico Mendoza, Bobby Previte, Joe Henderson, Jerome Harris, the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Minnesota Symphony, Elvis Costello, Arturo O’Farrill, Andy Summers, Marshall Crenshaw, Pink Floyd’s David Gilmore and many more.”
Restored by the Eye Filmmuseum, THE SPANISH DANCER is a joy to behold on the big screen. The film is action-packed, witty, and romantic with huge sets and a cast of thousands. Brenon keeps the adventure going full steam ahead while Negri and Moreno show why they were huge stars of their day.
This screening is part of Silent Movie Day – An annual day dedicated to celebrating, preserving and creating access to silent movies! Read more about it here.
