The following is a guest post by Jenny Paxson of the Packard Campus.
Thursday, June 14 (7:30 p.m.)
Silent Rarities Double Feature
Cunègonde, the Comedienne With Two Faces But No Name
Around 1912-1913, the French company Société Lux produced comedies featuring Cunégonde as the main character. The surviving films feature the same actress playing either an unruly maid or a ferocious wife. However, the true identity of the actress playing Cunégonde remains a mystery. This presentation by Elif Rongen-Kaynakçi of EYE Filmmuseum will include Cunégonde films as well as what little material is known about the actress. Perhaps screening her films in this presentation will result in discovering more information about the unknown woman. Digital.
Lost and Won (Famous Players-Lasky, 1917)
A wealthy man (Elliot Dexter) makes a bet with his friends that within a year they will fall in love with a girl of his choosing from the slums. The girl (Marie Doro) is conveniently named Cinders for this “Cinderella” story with a newspaper twist. Directed by Frank Reicher, the cast of this melodrama also includes Mayme Kelso, Carl Stockdale, Mabel Van Buren, Bob Gray and Cleo Duveve. Musical accompaniment for both programs will be provided by Ben Model. 50 min. The 35mm print being screened comes from the AFI/Paramount collection at the Library of Congress and was struck in 2000.
Friday, June 15
Señorita (Paramount, 1927)
In this parody of “The Mark Zorro,” Señorita Francesca Hernández (Bebe Daniels) is as skillful at riding, shooting, and fencing as any man. She masquerades as a boy in order to protect her grandfather’s ranch. With William Powell as the villain, the cast of this rollicking adventure, directed by Clarence G. Badger, also features James Hall, Jerry Mandy, and Josef Swickard. The 35mm print is being loaned courtesy Cinémathèque Royale de Belgique and will be introduced by Bruno Mestdagh. Live musical accompaniment by Andrew Simpson. 70 min. The 35mm print being screened comes from the AFI/Paramount collection at the Library of Congress and was struck in 2000.
Saturday, June 16 (7:30 p.m.)
Midnight Lovers (First National, 1926)
While on furlough, a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps (Lewis Stone) marries a spirited woman (Anna Q. Nilsson) and the two have very different ideas on what a long distance relationship looks like. John Francis Dillon directed this romantic comedy that also stars John Roche, Chester Conklin, Dale Fuller, Purnell Pratt and Harvey Clark. This 35mm print comes from the United Artists collection at the Library of Congress and was struck in 1980. Live musical accompaniment by Philip Carli. 70 min. Preceding the feature will be the short film “The Great BK Mystery” (2017), digital. Join Cinematic Archeologist Johnny Sprocketts on a search for the truth about an obscure film in this soon-to-be classic film noir.
For more information on our programs, please visit the website at: www.loc.gov/avconservation/theater/.