All you have to do is print it out!
Happy New Year Everybody!
Christmas with Lionel Barrymore
Merry Christmas, folks. I am reposting this from my Facebook group, Silent Films Today. Enjoy!
Christmas with Lionel Barrymore
– Mr. B’s many versions of “A Christmas Carol” are all over the Internet (thankfully) but here are two commercial recordings of less well-known performances he made in 1950:
Arliss Alert! OLD ENGLISH (1930) Thurs Dec 15 @ 6:30 PM EST
TCM is running Mr. A’s great stage hit OLD ENGLISH, written by John Galsworthy, this Thursday, December 15, 2016, at 6:30 PM EST. Admittedly an odd story, Mr. A is memorable as Old Heythorp, an octogenerian who plans his own special exit from this world, outsmarting his adversaries in the process.
This film was almost not made because Galsworthy refused to sell the film rights to his plays and novels. But Warner Bros. was persistent and Galsworthy finally agreed but with one important stipulation: George Arliss must have total control of the production. Any changes, additions or deletions to the script had to be personally approved by Mr. A. This condition was fine with Warners since Mr. A already had two successful talkies to his credit with DISRAELI and THE GREEN GODDESS.
Arliss “regulars” in the cast included Doris Lloyd…
…and of course Ivan Simpson:
A page from the souvenir program:
More pages:
This is a rare showing so don’t miss it!
THE IRON DUKE (1934) – Mr. A’s First UK Film
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Britain regarded her native son as “an American actor” because all of his successes in the theater and films were based in America. But motion pictures made him an international star and Mr. A increasingly received offers from British film companies. He initially balked at such offers because he felt that the early English sound films were technologically inferior to their American counterparts. With the success Alexander Korda’s THE PRIVATE LIFE OF HENRY VIII in 1933, the British film industry assumed its rightful place next to Hollywood. Mr. A signed with the venerable Gaumont-British Pictures in Shepherds Bush, London. Since he somewhat specialized in portraying historical figures, it was mutually agreed that his first UK film would cast him as the Duke of Wellington.
Gladys Cooper and Mr. A in an IRON DUKE original color lobby card:
The film did not ignore Wellington’s reputation with women:
Mr. A takes a lunch break on an adjoining set with cast members:
Mr. A and friends enjoy a private screening of THE IRON DUKE:
Now you can enjoy a private screening of your own! I suspect that a pristine 35mm print exists at the British Film Institute so let’s hope that one day it receives a DVD/Blu-ray release.
Gala Hollywood Premiere for THE HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD – March 14, 1934
Grauman’s Chinese Theater was the place to be on the night of March 14, 1934. The occasion was the Grand Premiere of THE HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD and the Hollywood celebrities of the day turned out. Studios moguls Darryl Zanuck, Louis B. Mayer, Sam Goldwyn, and even old Carl Laemmele of Universal Pictures were among those attending. Lots of movie stars too, some of whom I can’t quite identify but maybe you can. They are treated like royalty regardless.
Of course, the center of attention was the film’s star – George Arliss. Here is Mr. A being flanked by Darryl Zanuck on the left and Sid Grauman on the right. The color is by Moi:
The scenes you are about to see is “raw” footage and in some cases catch the same action from two different camera angles. There is no sound but you can clearly see attendees speaking into a microphone, strongly suggesting a live radio broadcast. The white-haired gentleman who seems to be the radio host is veteran actor Lawrence Grant, who was apparently “moonlighting” when he wasn’t making films. Mr. A gives him a big handshake. I have added captions to note various individuals that I could recognize. I added a music track starting with the opening music of the film itself.
A conceit of your blogmeister: through the magic of Photoshop I am taking the place of Sid Grauman in the photo from above. A little bit of time travel:
Arliss Alert! THE KING’S VACATION (1933) Tuesday, Sept. 27 on TCM at 6:30 AM EDT
Arliss Alert! THE KING’S VACATION (1933)
– starring George Arliss, Patricia Ellis, Dick Powell, Florence Arliss, Marjorie Gateson and Dudley Digges.
TCM (US) Tuesday, September 27 @ 6:30 AM EDT
An Ernest Paschal story written especially for Mr. A showing that you can’t go home again, or can you?
George Arliss Grave Site Restored!
It is with great pleasure that we can announce at long last the restoration of the final resting place of George and Florence Arliss. Their grave site at Harrow Weald Cemetery, located outside of London at Middlesex, has long been in need of refurbishment and its restoration has been a long-cherished ambition of your blogmeister. Now on the 70th anniversary of Mr. A’s passing, this project has been accomplished. Many thanks are due to the help and cooperation of Mr. Andrew Hall, a relative of Mr. A, especially with his providing the family permission to the cemetery to enable the work to be performed. Funding was provided through the generosity of an American funeral company, Service Corporation International. My request for its support was readily granted and I shall always be grateful to the officials of this company.
Now for the unveiling, at least electronically. To dramatize the restoration we shall show Before and After photographs. I am sure you will know which is which:
Many thanks should also to be given to the fine work of the stonemasons, P. Brant and Sons, Ltd.
Arliss Alert! – ALEXANDER HAMILTON (1931) on TCM (US) Sunday, June 12, 2016 at 8:30 AM EDT
ALEXANDER HAMILTON (1931) – George Arliss, Doris Kenyon, Montagu Love, June Collyer, Dudley Digges, Lionel Bellmore.
Turner Classic Movies (TCM) has nicely timed this showing to coincide with the current hit Broadway musical, HAMILTON that is rapidly collecting every award known to humanity. But Mr. A covered this territory a century ago (1917) in his Broadway hit (co-authored with Mary Hamlin) also called HAMILTON. The film’s title was lengthened to ALEXANDER HAMILTON. This film is not shown very often so don’t miss it!
Arliss Alert! A SUCCESSFUL CALAMITY (1932) with Mary Astor & Randolph Scott – Monday, May 3 @ 6:30 AM EST
Mr. A stars in this gossamer-light comedy of a wealthy man who feigns poverty so his family will stay home with him evenings. Mary Astor plays his wife(!) and much is made of the big difference in their ages. And is Mary playing around with her Italian music teacher?
Mr. A has a daughter played by Evalyn Knapp:
and a son played by William Janney:
Will the family rally around Mr. A? All I’ll tell you at this point is that Mary Astor leaves and takes her jewelry with her, leaving behind a note for Mr. A. How will Mr. A resolve this dilemma?
Now enjoy the original preview trailer and catch the feature on Monday morning, May 3, at 6:30 AM eastern time!
Happy Birthday, George Arliss! – April 10, 1868
Birthday greeting to our favorite actor, author, playwright and filmmaker
– and broadcaster too!
Mr. A with Edward Arnold at the January 17, 1938 live broadcast of DISRAELI that was heard around the world and on ships at sea via shortwave.
A Commemorative postmark for Mr. A’s 70th the Birthday in 1938:
To celebrate, let’s watch what happens to Boris Karloff when he tries to take on Mr. A in this excerpt from THE HOUSE OF ROTHSCHILD:
One word sums it up:
ARLISS ARCHIVES 
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