IT CAME FROM THE BOTTOM SHELF!

In recent years, Kickstarter has proven to be an effective tool to aid the restoration and release of rare films on DVD and Blu-ray.  This week, two separate projects were announced via Kickstarter to bring forgotten silent comedies to home video — The Alice Howell DVD Project (from composer Ben Model and his DVD label, Undercrank Productions) and Monty Banks in A Perfect Gentleman (1928) + 2 Shorts (from Grapevine Video).  Unless you are a silent comedy film nerd (like me), you probably haven’t heard of comedians Alice Howell or Monty Banks; but, trust me, these are crowdfunding projects well worth supporting.

I have copied the main details of the Kickstarter projects below, but click the links for more info and, more importantly, to support these efforts!  I’m hoping both projects meet their stretch goals in order to bring even more classic comedy shorts to each finished disc.

The Alice Howell DVD Project – 6 rare silent comedies

This Kickstarter will fund a project that brings 6 extremely rare Alice Howell silent comedy shorts to DVD, made from 1915-1925, selected by me (Ben Model) and by silent comedy film historian Steve Massa. The films that will be on the DVD will be seen in new digital scans of archival 35mm and 16mm materials preserved by the Library of Congress, and will be scanned by the Library of Congress’ lab. I will create a brand new custom musical score for each film.

All of the films will require exposure adjustments and some may need new intertitles or main titles.

The DVD box art will be created by professional graphic designer and silent era aficionado Marlene Weisman. The DVDs will be professionally authored and they will be made available for sale on Amazon.com, as I have been doing using successfully for 18 of my DVD releases, and will be publicized.

This Kickstarter covers all costs for the DVD’s production and release, as well as of the making of and shipping of backer DVDs.

Films scheduled to be on the DVD (subject to change):

• How Stars are Made (1916)
• In Dutch (1918)
• A Convict’s Happy Bride (1920)
• His Wooden Legacy (1920)
• Distilled Love (1920)
• Under a Spell (1925)

Stretch Goals: There are twice as many films available for inclusion on this DVD as there is room for them on the disc. If the funding goal of $4500 goes over by a few thousand it is possible that the possibilities of expanding to a 2-disc set as well as digital clean-up can be considered.

Monty Banks in “A PERFECT GENTLEMAN” + two shorts

Monty Banks in the 1928 comedy feature A PERFECT GENTLEMAN plus two Monty Banks comedy shorts on DVD and Blu-ray!

Help fund Grapevine Video’s latest silent movie release: The 1928 Monty Banks comedy ‘A PERFECT GENTLEMAN’ presented with two comedy shorts starring Monty Banks.

Transfers of each film will be completed in high-definition. The features and shorts will be made available on both DVD-R and Blu-ray (BD-R), with a color cover and disc print utilizing artwork from original lobby cards and it will be accompanied by a theater organ score performed by the late David Knudtson.

We’ve already started on this project and have completed a high-definition transfer of the feature. However the print had some flaws that we feel requires more intensive work before being released. If successful the Kickstarter will allow us to give time and attention to the film’s digital restoration as we prepare it for release. We also have sourced a second print of the feature with additional footage which will be included to make the release as complete as possible.

The Feature

A PERFECT GENTLEMAN (1928)

In this comedy feature Monty Banks is a bank clerk who can’t keep out of trouble! He shows up drunk for his own wedding, to the boss’ daughter no less. Then while trying to reunite with his fiancée on a transatlantic cruise he discover that he has been framed for stealing funds from the bank. The last half of the picture takes place on the ship with his doubting fiancée, a jealous husband and gangsters after the bank’s money leading to many outrageous and hilarious scenes! Directed by Clyde Bruckman with Ruth Dwyer and Arthur Thalasso co-starring.

The first print has a running time of about 42 minutes. We expect the additional scenes sourced from the second print will add a few minutes.

The Shorts

THE BELLES OF LIBERTY

A late L-KO Kompany slapstick comedy form 1918. “The Famous L-KO Beauty Girls” Eva Novak and Carolyne Wright receive top billing with Monty Banks playing the paramour of one of the girls who gets into all sorts of silly hijinks. It has a running time of about 11 minutes.

LE COIFFEUR IMPROVISÉ (THE HAIRDRESSER IMPROVISED)

Sourced from a French print we’re still trying to identify the original title, we believe this may be the alternate title of the 1923 short: TAXI PLEASE. Monty Banks is a wild taxi driver who tries to help his sweetheart when her drugstore is in trouble. It has a running time of about 16 minutes. French intertitles will be translated to English.

Stretch Goal: We have some other Monty Banks comedy shorts available and with a successful Kickstarter that exceeds our initial goal we will be able to add an additional short or two. Additional titles to be announced.