The Matinee Idol, 1928 + Frank Capra's American Dream (DVD, 1999)

Description: The Matinee Idol, 1928 (Silent Film) + Frank Capra's American Dream, documentary narrated by Ron Howard. (DVD, 1999) Very good condition. See pictures for more details. Shipped promptly and with care by The Thoughtful Cats. Early Capra Comedy/Great Documentary: "THE MATINEE IDOL is a Frank Capra silent comedy made shortly after he came to Columbia in 1928. While certainly not top drawer it already deals with many themes which Capra would expand on as his career progressed. Comic bits, sentiment, and the determination of "the little guy" to succeed are well blended in this short but entertaining feature about a top Broadway star and the country acting troupe he brings to New York as a joke until he falls for their leading lady. The performances by Bessie Love and the now forgotten Johnnie Walker are quite good while Lionel Belmore (the Burgomaster in FRANKENSTEIN and subsequent films) steals the show as the troupe leader. Unfortunately the dated nature of some of the material in which the star performs in blackface (to cash in on the success of THE JAZZ SINGER the year before) does not play well with today's audiences. Although it's tastefully done (what Capra film isn't), it remains a product of its time and should be viewed as such. The real story here is the rediscovery and digital restoration of the film. It is beyond remarkable. The DVD comes with an insert which chronicles the extensive work necessary to bring this film back to life.The added bonus on this disc is FRANK CAPRA'S AMERICAN DREAM, a superb documentary that no student of film or fan of Capra should be without. An important release for the documentary and for the restoration job of the film itself." - Reviewed by C. Kaufmann

Price: 7.97 USD

Location: Van Nuys, California

End Time: 2025-01-26T03:25:34.000Z

Shipping Cost: 4.63 USD