I learned something on New Year's Day!

I

was watching the Twilight Zone Marathon on Sci-Fi, and decided to look and see what was coming on TCM (Turner Classic Movies). I saw 2 movies that were described as silent and I was checking to see if they had Charlie Chaplin in them. I wasn't going to watch them if they didn't, but they both had "negro" in the description, so I recorded them.

I had no idea that black people had done silent movies! This was in the 20s!!

I was going to watch both of them, but about 10 minutes into "Within our Gates", I decided that 1) I didn't like the 'subtitles' and 2) The music was more irritating that the usual silent movie score.

With Within our Gates, they put up the cards (the ones that usually show the dialogue) to introduce people. It was confusing for me and I couldn't figure out which woman was supposed to be the one that was mistaken for white because they looked too much alike (to me).

I just got irritated too quickly.

I haven't watched "The Symbol of the Unconquered" yet. It's only an hour, so I should be able to stick with it, even if it sucks.

The reviews for both movies (on IMDb) are not good, LOL.

But, at least I'll be able to say "Yes, I've seen a black silent movie." It will be one of "Angelika's Firsts". :-)

Speaking of firsts, I did a search for Jeff Goldblum and the title "Mini's First Time" popped up, so I recorded it.

Mini's First Time
Starring: Alec Baldwin, Carrie Anne Moss, Jeff Goldblum
Director: Nick Guthe
Genre: Comedy Crime Drama
Plot from IMDb: A rebellious girl hooks up with an escort agency where her stepfather is a client.
Should you see it? Sure
Rating (out of 5 hearts): ♥♥½
My Comments: The plot from IMDb really doesn't tell you what the movie is about. Mini is the daughter of an alcoholic (Moss). She lives her life trying to have a new "first" every day. So, she decides to become an escort and on her first night, she finds out that her step father (Baldwin) is a client. They fall in love (or he does, anyway) and proceed to try to get Mini's mother out of the way without a divorce because there was no prenup.

Mini is an evil genius. She's funny/fun to watch. You'll probably guess the "twist" way before the end, but it is entertaining when it is revealed.

Chaplin Video

My favorite part in this video comes at approx 4:40. He's been working tightening bolts so long that even when he walks away, he's still doing it, LOL.

Ok, I'm officially a Chaplin Fan!

I

started watching Chaplin's movies yesterday on TCM because nothing else was on. Once I saw one, (The Gold Rush) I wanted to know if that particular silent film was the exception (because I liked it) or the rule. I watched several of them. Stayed up all night watching them, actually.

Today I watched "The Great Dictator", his first "talkie". "Modern Times" was released the technology was available for voice, be he still chose to be "The Tramp" and didn't say anything.

Y'all, if you've never seen a Chaplin movie, you NEED TO! I don't mean "If you get the chance" or "If you're bored". I mean you MUST see this man in action.

It's not only his movies, but who he was that has me loving Chaplin.

In between movies, they told some stuff about his real life. Like the fact that reporters always asked if he was Jewish (he wasn't) and he said "I prefer not to answer."

How cool is that?!?! WW2 Era, and this man won't say "No, I'm not Jewish."

I just finished watching "The Great Dictator", which is the movie where he spoofed Hitler & Mussolini. Excellent. The "TCM Guy" said that some people had called it preachy, but I found it inspirational in between the comedy bits.

Chaplin was a genius.

Here are the movies you should definitely see, IMO (Movie Plots are from IMDb.com):

City Lights (Silent) - A "romantic" comedy where The Tramp (Chaplin) struggles to help a blind flower girl he has fallen in love with. The ending was so sweet. That silly Tramp Smile is...I can't even find the words. It made me tear up a little bit. :-)

The Great Dictator - In Chaplin's satire on Nazi Germany, dictator Adenoid Hynkel has a double... a poor Jewish barber... who one day is mistaken for Hynkel. Chaplin's "German" is hilarious!

Modern Times (Silent) - The Tramp struggles to live in modern industrial society with the help of a young homeless woman. So good. He goes to jail for a crime he didn't commit, foils an escape attempt, and then tries to get back into jail after they pardon him.

I seriously wonder if there was anything that Chaplin couldn't do! He sang the Title Song for one of his movies, juggled, roller skated, etc. You name it, he seems to have done it. His writing was so clever. It's all the "little bits" & unexpected things that made his movies great.

You know the excitement you feel when you find something new that you LOVE? That's what I feel. I wish it was Charlie Chaplin MONTH on TCM!

Here's one of my favorite clips from Modern Times. The Tramp is hired as a singing waiter (with no experience) and he can't remember the words to the song. The woman writes them on his cuff, but then when he's dancing his cuffs fly off. This is the best clip that I could find. Enjoy!



Oh! And here's the part from The Great Dictator where he's allegedly "preachy".

Charlie Chaplin day on TCM!

T

oday is Charlie Chaplin Day on TCM (Turner Classic Movies).

I was halfway through "The Gold Rush" when Evan decided he needed to watch his shows, so I'm recording it.

The 45 minutes I've watched have me understanding why Chaplin was such a big deal back in the Silent Movie days.

I never thought I'd enjoy silent movies because the clips I've seen of other ones (not starring Chaplin) had that ridiculous music and every other frame was the card telling what someone had said.

I don't know about the other movies that will be coming on today, but this one had a narrator, so I was able to just enjoy the comedy.

Definitely check it out if you have nothing else to do today! :-)