Kennington Bioscope presents a fun-packed day of vintage film comedies from the 1930s, on the big screen. A spin-off from the ever-popular Silent Laughter events, this all-dayer will feature some of the very best talking comedians in a hilarious selection of shorts, features and rarities.
We’ll also be spotlighting the work of silent comedians who transitioned to sound, with classic shorts from Laurel & Hardy, Charley Chase and W.C. Fields, plus the rare chance to see a fantastic Buster Keaton feature that captures the essence of his silent work. Introductions and presentations by film comedy experts will spotlight the work of key performers and studios, and there will be plenty of screenings on celluloid! So come along and enjoy the sound of laughter as we celebrate one of film comedy’s greatest decades.
Ticket prices, as well as the full programme of films and special guests will be announced shortly. The following programme running order may be subject to change.
10.00 Sound Beginnings
The coming of sound brought new opportunities in cinema for comedians specialising in verbal humour, nonsense patter and musical comedy. From the zany antics of the Marx Brothers and Clark & McCullough to the sly humour of Mae West, or songs and patter of Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, there was a dazzling array of fresh talent. This programme will showcase the best of the new guard, through short films and excerpts.
11.30 Rookery Nook (1930)
Ben Travers’ series of Aldwych Farces were some of the most popular British films of the 30s. Featuring the wonderful dynamic between disreputable Tom Walls, silly-ass Ralph Lynn and nervous Robertson Hare, the films set a benchmark for situation comedy. The first of the farces to be filmed, Rookery Nook was voted the best comedy of 1930, but has rarely been screened since. This is a rare chance to see the farceurs at the top of their game in one of their classic films. Rookery Nook will be screened on 35mm, from the BFI collection, introduced by British film expert and author, Geoff Brown.
13.15 Lunch
14.00 The Talkie Fun Factories
The comedy two-reeler was a mainstay of cinema programmes throughout the 1930s. Here we spotlight the efforts from specialist comedy studios, including Mack Sennett and RKO. Titles shown TBC, but expect some hilarious shorts featuring the likes of W.C. Fields, Harry Gribbon & Edgar Kennedy.
15.30 Le roi des Champs-Élysées (1934)
Legend has it that Buster Keaton’s sound films are all horrors that allowed him no creative control, but that’s not completely true. While MGM may have mis-used his talents, independent studios gave him much better opportunities – albeit on a low-budget. In 1934, Keaton travelled to France to make this indie feature for producer Max Nosseck. Within the story of an amateur actor who gets mixed up with gangsters, Keaton creates new silent comedy routines and shows off his acting chops in a dual role – all set against great location backdrops of Paris in the 1930s. A rare chance to see this charming and funny film on the big screen. In French, with English subtitles. Introduced by Keaton expert David MacLeod.
17.00 Sound Survivors
Another film comedy myth is that the lion’s share of silent comedians were out of work when sound came in. Actually, many of them remained busy and continued to produce some great comedy. Here we spotlight some of the finest – and rarest – sound films from performers such as Harry Langdon, Lupino Lane , Lloyd Hamilton and Billy Bevan.
19.00 Dinner
20.00 The Lot of Fun: Laurel & Hardy & Co
The Hal Roach studios were the gold standard for comedy studios in the 1930s, turning out wonderful and charming short films. This programme will show some of the finest comedies featuring Charley Chase, Thelma Todd, Our Gang, and – of course – Laurel & Hardy. The programme will conclude with L & H’s Academy Award winning classic The Music Box (the one with the piano!), which we’ll be showing on 35mm. A fitting end to a day filled with the sound of laughter!
TICKETS & PRICING
To be announced.
