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FerdinandVonGalitzien's rating
Even a German count so distant from the Basque Country as this Herr Graf knows well that inhabitants of that place have always had serious problems with flirting. That's precisely the subject of the short comedy "Atanasio Busca Novia" (1925) directed by Félix González Berenguer "Lisfe-Gon-Ber".
In this mad Basque silent comedy, youngster Herr Atanasio; a madcap womanizer wants to flirt with Frau Consuelo, but unfortunately, the latter already has a suitor, Herr Benjamin who obviously doesn't appreciate Herr Atanasio's loving intentions towards his fraulein. Frau Consuelo's father favors Herr Benjamin and will assist in keeping Herr Atanasio away from the sphere of action surrounding his daughter. Immediately a frantic chase begins, extending around the town where many people are seen hunting Herr Atanasio. Finally our hero manages to escape his pursuers, ending the story with a triumphant carriage ride through town, Frau Consuelo at his side.
"Atanasio Busca Novia" is slapstick comedy; that is it has every subject of such a film's sub-genre; a catalogue of classic film gags that since the beginning of comedy have always worked. Consequently there are in this short film; a mad chase, pies in the face, pratfalls, overacted and mimicked performances, everything necessary to easily provoke laughter from the audience.
To have to resort to such classic gags seems too late for a film made during the mid 20's; a comedy formula that certainly always works, the slapstick, ja wohl!, but certainly not very original. Such lack of creativity can be forgiven due to its sincere aim to simply entertain and amuse the audience without any false pretension of a higher art form.
And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must breakfast a delicious Basque tuna pot.
In this mad Basque silent comedy, youngster Herr Atanasio; a madcap womanizer wants to flirt with Frau Consuelo, but unfortunately, the latter already has a suitor, Herr Benjamin who obviously doesn't appreciate Herr Atanasio's loving intentions towards his fraulein. Frau Consuelo's father favors Herr Benjamin and will assist in keeping Herr Atanasio away from the sphere of action surrounding his daughter. Immediately a frantic chase begins, extending around the town where many people are seen hunting Herr Atanasio. Finally our hero manages to escape his pursuers, ending the story with a triumphant carriage ride through town, Frau Consuelo at his side.
"Atanasio Busca Novia" is slapstick comedy; that is it has every subject of such a film's sub-genre; a catalogue of classic film gags that since the beginning of comedy have always worked. Consequently there are in this short film; a mad chase, pies in the face, pratfalls, overacted and mimicked performances, everything necessary to easily provoke laughter from the audience.
To have to resort to such classic gags seems too late for a film made during the mid 20's; a comedy formula that certainly always works, the slapstick, ja wohl!, but certainly not very original. Such lack of creativity can be forgiven due to its sincere aim to simply entertain and amuse the audience without any false pretension of a higher art form.
And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must breakfast a delicious Basque tuna pot.
Many times, an entire life once filled with merit and achievement quickly becomes forgotten after just one mishap. That's precisely what happened with film maker Herr Ricardo Baños, known primarily today for his pornographic silent films ( a minor sin secretly commissioned by His Highness Alfonso XIII of Spain ).
But certainly, before such nonsense occurred, Herr Baños had both an interesting and prolific career during the earliest Spanish silent years. In these primitive oeuvres, Herr Baños skillful inventiveness shines through. Keeping in mind the scarce resources of the very early films, the quality of his work stands out for what was such a small Spanish Film making industry during that early period ).
The true merit of Herr Baños' work can be seen in "Don Pedro El Cruel" (1911), in where another Spanish king is involved; Herr Pedro of Castile, known as Peter the Cruel. Here, the film is filled with more earthly worries to deal with and solve in comparison with Herr Baños' later work ( idle and lecherous decadence seen in the flesh films mentioned above ).
The film's theatrical nature can be seen at the beginning, a historically realistic drama that introduced the actors themselves to the camera during the first minutes followed by ( static camera ) filmed scenes in a pure theatrical manor of acting and décors. But soon after, everything changes; the action takes place in an outdoor setting where can be seen some medium-length shots, careful art direction, and a solid cinematographic continuity for the parameters of such an early time certifying Herr Baños' true artistic concern for his work.
Unfortunately the second reel is missing so we cannot completely appreciate Herr Baños's skillful inventiveness at its full length; although you can certainly know what happened with Herr Peter of Castile and the conspiracy against him by his three bastard brothers ( if you have a dusty reference library at hand ). In spite of such inconvenience, the surviving reel has enough remarkable film achievement to restore to Herr Baños' his lost silent honor as a very important Spanish pioneer film director, and not simply the one who ( in a moment of weakness ), once directed some little pornographic films.
And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must conspire against one of his Teutonic rich heiresses.
Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/
But certainly, before such nonsense occurred, Herr Baños had both an interesting and prolific career during the earliest Spanish silent years. In these primitive oeuvres, Herr Baños skillful inventiveness shines through. Keeping in mind the scarce resources of the very early films, the quality of his work stands out for what was such a small Spanish Film making industry during that early period ).
The true merit of Herr Baños' work can be seen in "Don Pedro El Cruel" (1911), in where another Spanish king is involved; Herr Pedro of Castile, known as Peter the Cruel. Here, the film is filled with more earthly worries to deal with and solve in comparison with Herr Baños' later work ( idle and lecherous decadence seen in the flesh films mentioned above ).
The film's theatrical nature can be seen at the beginning, a historically realistic drama that introduced the actors themselves to the camera during the first minutes followed by ( static camera ) filmed scenes in a pure theatrical manor of acting and décors. But soon after, everything changes; the action takes place in an outdoor setting where can be seen some medium-length shots, careful art direction, and a solid cinematographic continuity for the parameters of such an early time certifying Herr Baños' true artistic concern for his work.
Unfortunately the second reel is missing so we cannot completely appreciate Herr Baños's skillful inventiveness at its full length; although you can certainly know what happened with Herr Peter of Castile and the conspiracy against him by his three bastard brothers ( if you have a dusty reference library at hand ). In spite of such inconvenience, the surviving reel has enough remarkable film achievement to restore to Herr Baños' his lost silent honor as a very important Spanish pioneer film director, and not simply the one who ( in a moment of weakness ), once directed some little pornographic films.
And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must conspire against one of his Teutonic rich heiresses.
Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/
Herr Augusto Genina was a prolific Italian Silent film director almost from the beginning of the new invention. This gave him the opportunity to direct films of every genre, even direct the same film again ( in different years ), yet at times, his directing could be very ambivalent. Still, for any worthy silent film fan, he will always be the person who directed "Prix De Beauté" (1930), that early pseudo-talkie film starring the great actress, Frau Louise Brooks.
Although "Prix De Beaute" could be a very complicated subject in itself, this Herr Graf will try to focus his aristocratic attention on another Herr Genina's film. It happens that recently, "Addio Giovinezza!" ( Goodbye To Youth! ) (1927), was shown in the Schloss theater.
This film was a kind of initiation film; the story from a successful play by Herr Sandro Camasio und Herr Nino Oxilia ( who had directed his own film version in 1913 ). It depicts the life of young student, Herr Mario, a model son from a Turin family, who, besides his studies, from time to time will be in love with a seamstress; Frau Dorina, the daughter of his housekeeper, with all three living on a top floor of his home, separated only by a door. Such an idyllic love story will be put in peril when an idle bourgeois Fraulein appears; Frau Elena, for whom Mario is simply an enjoyable way to pass time.
So, it would seem there's nothing new under the silent film sun. Certainly, it's the same old love-triangle story about troublesome relationships, with a University, hormones, youthfulness and sexiness as its background in a somewhat tired attempt to depict again the process of maturity. Unfortunately, Herr Genina's direction fails due to his much too conventional and predictable approach of the subject.
The most interesting aspect of the film about the daily life of Frau Dorina and Herr Mario is their lodging; a credible indoor scenario in contrast with the typical dullness of the student Mario's life, as old fashioned as Herr Erasmus himself. The leading actresses, Frau Carmen Boni and Elena Sangro gave their characters personality, while Herr Walter Slezak as Mario, a mostly insensitive character, gave the three-some scenes in the film that were delightful. However, this was hardly enough for a film lacking any artistic ambition ( due probably to its dependence on the original theater play ).
And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must try to remember if he was ever a youngster?.
Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/
Although "Prix De Beaute" could be a very complicated subject in itself, this Herr Graf will try to focus his aristocratic attention on another Herr Genina's film. It happens that recently, "Addio Giovinezza!" ( Goodbye To Youth! ) (1927), was shown in the Schloss theater.
This film was a kind of initiation film; the story from a successful play by Herr Sandro Camasio und Herr Nino Oxilia ( who had directed his own film version in 1913 ). It depicts the life of young student, Herr Mario, a model son from a Turin family, who, besides his studies, from time to time will be in love with a seamstress; Frau Dorina, the daughter of his housekeeper, with all three living on a top floor of his home, separated only by a door. Such an idyllic love story will be put in peril when an idle bourgeois Fraulein appears; Frau Elena, for whom Mario is simply an enjoyable way to pass time.
So, it would seem there's nothing new under the silent film sun. Certainly, it's the same old love-triangle story about troublesome relationships, with a University, hormones, youthfulness and sexiness as its background in a somewhat tired attempt to depict again the process of maturity. Unfortunately, Herr Genina's direction fails due to his much too conventional and predictable approach of the subject.
The most interesting aspect of the film about the daily life of Frau Dorina and Herr Mario is their lodging; a credible indoor scenario in contrast with the typical dullness of the student Mario's life, as old fashioned as Herr Erasmus himself. The leading actresses, Frau Carmen Boni and Elena Sangro gave their characters personality, while Herr Walter Slezak as Mario, a mostly insensitive character, gave the three-some scenes in the film that were delightful. However, this was hardly enough for a film lacking any artistic ambition ( due probably to its dependence on the original theater play ).
And now, if you'll allow me, I must temporarily take my leave because this German Count must try to remember if he was ever a youngster?.
Herr Graf Ferdinand Von Galitzien http://ferdinandvongalitzien.blogspot.com/