HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-12-13, Page 22•
By John Schedler
A landmark in motion picture history recently passed with little formal
recognition. The 100th anniversary of motion pictures in North America
caused little excitement as most of us now take this unique 20th century
art form for granted thanks to the easy availability of films not only at
theatres but on television and at video stores as well.
With ever-changing delivery methods movies still remain the most
popular of all the various art forms. From "the flickers", as they were
known in the early days of the century through to today's huge screens
with Dolby digital stereo sound, the movies continue to work their magic.
"The Great Train Robbery" in 1903 was the first film to bring all the
familiar story-telling elements together and was hugely popular turning
the fledgling industry into a cultural force to be reckoned with. By 1908
there were over 10,000 nickelodeons in North America with an estimated
weekly attendance of eight million. The time was right for someone to
take control of this new medium and someone did.
A less than successful stage actor by the name of D.W. Griffith made
the first of his over 300, one and two reel films for the Biograph Company
and in the process transformed "the flickers" into a new art form. Griffith's
"Birth of a Nation" in 1915 set the standard for every film that was to
follow and proved beyond a shadow of a doubt the power of the movies.
As important as "The Birth of a Nation" is to film history it is seldom
shown today due in large part to its overt racism. In an effort to answer his
critics Griffith next tackled the subject of intolerance through the ages. An
unreleased small scale film, "The Mother and_the Law" which Griffith had
made before "The Birth of a Nation" provided the basis for "Intolerance"
**** (Kino - $39.95) which remains to this day one of the movie
masterpieces. Totally misunderstood in 1916, and for many years after,
"Intolerance" told four separate stories all interwoven by dazzling rapid
cross-cutting which was far ahead of its time. Kino's new cassette version
has been remastered using variable speed projection and colour tints
making it the best version currently available.
Other interesting silent classics from Kino include Griffith's "Birth of a
Nation" (1915), Mary Pickford's best film "Sparrows" (1926). ''Blood and
Sand" (1922) starring the youthful lover of the silent screen Rudolph
Valentino, "The Hunchback of Notre Dame " (1923) and "Phantom of the
Opera" (1925) starring the man of a 1,000 faces Lon Chaney.
Also worth checking out are two of the Gloria Swanson's epics from
1928, "Sadie Thompson" directed by Raoul Walsh and "Queen Kelly"
directed by the original bad boy of the cinema Erich Von Stroheim. In
addition you will also fmd the works of Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin,
Cecil B. DeMille and many others from this exciting and (today), little
seen era from the movies' formative years.
For a fascinating overview of the silent era the mammoth 13 part
"Hollywood: The Pioneers" series from HBO Video just might be what
you're looking for. Produced by the award winning team of Kevin
Brownlow and David Gill, this series profiles the films and the people
who made them including many of the stars of the day as well as directors,
cameramen and stuntmen. Highly recommended!
The Kino titles are available in Canada from CHV Communications
while the HBO titles can be found at larger video retailers.
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PAGE 22 THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13,1995.
Hallett PS Happenings
Students, staff prepare for Christmas
By Jenni Jackson, Angie Martin,
Stephanie Muehlethaler and
Sharon Hartman
MR. LIVERMORE'S
GRADE 4 CLASS
Mr. Livermore's class is busy
getting the final preparations in
place for their play called "The
Happy Little Christmas Tree" for
the concert.
In Language Arts, the students
are enjoying their Christmas theme
unit, which has many interesting
writing assignments, puzzles,
poems, math ideas and some other
inter-related subject ideas.
In gym the class is having fun
playing a game called, Newcomb
Ball. This is a game in which the
students learn to catch and throw.
GRADE 2 AND 3
The Grade 2/3 class is getting
into the Christmas spirit. They have
been practicing hard for their
Christmas concert number. They
have also been writing letters to
Santa for the newspaper. They put
them on the computers. It was hard
work but they did a gdod job.
The Grade 3s just finished their
research project on Animals of
Canada.
The whole class is really excited
about their trip to the Goderich
Museum on Thursday, Dec. 14 to
take part in "A truly Canadian
ChrisktnAs."
Erica Sturzenegger, Janine
Fischer and Justin Dobie all had
birthdays this week and some next
week. Happy Birthday!
MR. MEDD'S 7/8 CLASS
Mr. Medd's class has had their
second pot luck dinner this year.
Both dinners were excellent. Half
the class brought the food for the
first time and the other half brought
it the second time. Nobody was
hungry after that.
The Grade 6, 7, 8s have been
involved in intramural volleyball.
They picked captains and the
captains picked the teams. The
teams are playing well since they
started playing it.
Grade 7/8 students have been
going to Tech 21, which is held at
the Clinton high school. They have
gone three times so far. It's a lot of
fun and it teaches you how to do
many things. The two classes get to
go six times during the year.
Mr. Medd's class wrote to their
future teacher from Australia. She
is arriving after the holidays and
Mr. Medd will be going to
Australia to teach for a year. The
new teacher's name is Mrs. Moore.
Their class is also having a gift
exchange.
MR. TALBOT'S CLASS
Teachers
put
homework
on TV
Continued from page 21
teacher's help.
Mrs. Perric sent a fax into the
new homework channel, but the
channel is not yet working. This
channel will give you projects and
due dates. This will help parents
support students who have
difficulty getting projects
completed on time.
In Mr. Talbot's Grade 7/8 class
there is a Christmas theme. They
are writing Christmas books full of
poems and short stories, along with
this they are also painting murals to
display in the gym for the concert.
:They are also having a gift
exchange.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT
On Thursday, Dec. 13 the school
concert will be held. The band,
junior choir, Mrs. Bosman's Grade
2/3 class, Mr. Sanders' Grade 3
class, Mr. Livermore's Grade 4
class and Mr. Gingerich's Grade 5
class will be participating.
The other classes will be
involved in the Spring concert. The
dress rehearsal is on Wednesday,
Dec. 12 at 1 p.m. for those who
can't come to the concert.
SKATING
On Friday, Dec. 22 the school is
going skating at the Blyth arena
from 1 to 2:30.
This is also the last day of school
before the Christmas holidays.
Have a Merry Christmas!
Whether you have a gathering of 5
or a group of 50, you can enjoy the
magical yuletide atmosphere of the
Benmiller Inn nestled by Sharpe's
Creek just west of Goderich.
A perfect setting for your company
or family Christmas party.
... Group Christmas Menus ...
Salsa Shrimp with Feta Cheese
' Prime Rib of Beef with
Yorkshire Pudding &
Mixed Vegetables
Chocolate Mousse
' Coffee or Tea
• Bottomless Mixed Green Salad
' Stuffed Turkey Roulade with
Mashed Potato & Mixed Vegetables
served in a Cranberry Orange Sauce
Individual Pumpkin Pie
with Whipped Cream
Coffee or Tea
and for your Special Holiday Celebrations
Thursday, Dec. 14 & Thursday, Dec.
If your holiday celebrations for 2 or more, Benmiller Inn
has set aside some special evenings just for your party.
We will host a welcome hot cider reception, and offer the
----„\buffet menu for the Special price of 5179 5
Festive
Celebrations
Benmiller Inn
R.R. #4 Goderich
524-2191 or 1-800-265-1711