- Subscribe - Join Our Mailing List
- News
- Hot Splice: NWFF's Blog
Trader Joe's Silent Movie Mondays: The First Oscars
Trader Joe's Silent Movie Mondays: The First Oscars
At the Paramount Theatre!
Co-Presented by Seattle Theatre Group
STG presents Trader Joe’s Silent Movie Mondays First Academy Awards at The Paramount Theatre featuring TEMPEST on January 23, STREET ANGEL on January 30, LAST COMMAND on February 6 and WINGS on February 13, 2012. This all-classic film series, First Oscars, is accompanied by live music from the historic Mighty Wurlitzer organ, one of the last three remaining organs of its kind to reside in its original environment, played by critically acclaimed organist Jim Riggs.
Interest in the Academy Awards has always run high, though not at today's fever pitch. The first ceremony was a black-tie banquet that drew 270 people to the Blossom Room of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel and received little media attention. There were no "and the envelope, please" moments as the recipients were announced three months earlier - quite a difference from today.
The Academy’s first president, silent film actor Douglas Fairbanks, handed out the statuettes to winners, who included Janet Gaynor for Best Actress, for three different films including STREET ANGEL. German-born Emil Jannings won for Best Actor for twon films including THE LAST COMMAND. Best Picture honors went to WINGS, the World War I drama directed by William Wellman. Even art direction had its own category, with TEMPEST, a lavish and beautifully produced Hollywood confection. While the films that won that year remain well regarded, many have virtually disappeared from sight. This silent film series First Academy Awards returns these statue winners to their original glory by presenting them once again on the big screen!
PURCHASE SERIES PASS>
Tempest
At the Paramount Theatre
Jan 23
(Sam Taylor, 1928, USA, 35mm, 102 min)
Tempest is a feature silent film directed by Sam Taylor. V.I. Nemirovich-Dantchenko wrote the screenplay and William Cameron Menzies won an Academy Award for Best Art Direction for his work in the film in 1929, the first year of the awards ceremony. The film is set during the final days of Czarist Russia and revolves around a peasant who rises through the ranks of the Russia army ending up a Lieutenant.
Street Angel
At the Paramount Theatre
Jan 30
(Frank Borzage, 1928, USA, 35mm, 102 min)
Street Angel is a 1928 silent film about a spirited young woman, played by the beautiful Janet Gaynor. This is a beautiful and charming film with a romantic depth that could never be equaled today. Angela (Gaynor) finds herself destitute and on the streets before joining a traveling carnival, where she meets a vagabond painter.
The Last Command
At the Paramount Theatre
Feb 06
(Josef von Sternberg, 1928, USA, 35mm, 88 min)
The Last Command is a silent film from1928. The film starts in 1928 Hollywood director Leo Andreyev (William Powell) looks through photographs for actors for his next movie. When he comes to the picture of an aged Sergius Alexander (Emil Jannings), he pauses, and then tells his assistant to cast the man. Sergius shows up at the Eureka Studio and is issued a general's uniform.
Wings
At the Paramount Theatre
Feb 13
(William A. Wellman, 1927, USA, 35mm, 139 min)
Wings is a 1927 silent film about World War I fighter pilots, produced by Lucien Hubbard, directed by William A. Wellman. Wings was the first film, and the only silent film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. Jack Powell (Rogers) and David Armstrong (Arlen) are rivals in the same small American town, both vying for the attentions of pretty Sylvia Lewis (Ralston). Jack fails to realize that "the girl next door", Mary Preston (Bow), is desperately in love with him.