Slapstick | Horror-On-Sea
The mechanics and dynamics of silent comedy didn’t die with the advent of the talkies – just look at last year’s Shaun The Sheep Movie. A breadth of remit allows this silent and classic comedy film festival to stray beyond the confines of early cinema, although it always manages to find more of that out there. New (re)discoveries this year include Mancunian comedies (from the studio once known as “Jollywood”), silent westerns and a Soviet menage a trois. In addition you get sound-assisted slapstick such as Cary Grant’s breakthrough The Awful Truth (introduced by comedian Lucy Porter), and guests including Stephen Merchant, Ken Dodd, Tim Vine (on Sgt Bilko), and Marcus Brigstocke in conversation with the makers of Shaun The Sheep. And if all else fails, you can’t go wrong with an orchestrally accompanied screening of Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid.
Continue reading...
The mechanics and dynamics of silent comedy didn’t die with the advent of the talkies – just look at last year’s Shaun The Sheep Movie. A breadth of remit allows this silent and classic comedy film festival to stray beyond the confines of early cinema, although it always manages to find more of that out there. New (re)discoveries this year include Mancunian comedies (from the studio once known as “Jollywood”), silent westerns and a Soviet menage a trois. In addition you get sound-assisted slapstick such as Cary Grant’s breakthrough The Awful Truth (introduced by comedian Lucy Porter), and guests including Stephen Merchant, Ken Dodd, Tim Vine (on Sgt Bilko), and Marcus Brigstocke in conversation with the makers of Shaun The Sheep. And if all else fails, you can’t go wrong with an orchestrally accompanied screening of Charlie Chaplin’s The Kid.
Continue reading...
- 1/15/2016
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
Here's a treat for Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy fans: previously unseen material is being performed live this very week...
Previously unseen Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy material is to be exclusively performed at a comedy book festival that kicks off later this week. And the good news is that tickets are still available.
Writer Jem Roberts has unearthed reams of previously undiscovered archive material from Douglas Adams as part of his research for a new biography, The Frood. His stash includes unfinished drafts of a second Hitchhiker TV series that never got made, reams of printed notes for an abandoned Dirk Gently book, A Spoon Too Short, and numerous abandoned chapters for Mostly Harmless.
But the cornerstone of the performance at the Chortle Comedy Book Festival will be a chapter from Life The Universe & Everything that was ditched before publication. In the extract, Angst In Space, Zaphod Beeblebrox faces a court interrogation.
Previously unseen Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy material is to be exclusively performed at a comedy book festival that kicks off later this week. And the good news is that tickets are still available.
Writer Jem Roberts has unearthed reams of previously undiscovered archive material from Douglas Adams as part of his research for a new biography, The Frood. His stash includes unfinished drafts of a second Hitchhiker TV series that never got made, reams of printed notes for an abandoned Dirk Gently book, A Spoon Too Short, and numerous abandoned chapters for Mostly Harmless.
But the cornerstone of the performance at the Chortle Comedy Book Festival will be a chapter from Life The Universe & Everything that was ditched before publication. In the extract, Angst In Space, Zaphod Beeblebrox faces a court interrogation.
- 11/5/2014
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
The Queen Of Versailles + Q&A | Nick Abrahams | Slapstick 2013 | Loco London Comedy Film Festival
The Queen Of Versailles + Q&A, London
Few recent documentaries have summed up the craziness of our times as well as Lauren Greenfield's The Queen Of Versailles. It focused on the wealthy Siegel family and their matriarch Jackie, whose attempts to build one of the largest private homes in America were stalled by the sub-prime meltdown. The film-makers and the Siegels apparently fell out, too. But what happened next? This one-off screening is the chance to find out, with both Greenfield and Jackie Siegel attending the Q&A.
Ritzy Picturehouse, SW2, Wed
Nick Abrahams, London
He recently received an award for his gorgeous Sigur Rós short film (in which Aidan Gillen, pictured, is guided by a talking snail), but Abrahams has been experimenting visually for the coolest bands for decades, including Huggy Bear, Stereolab, Leftfield,...
The Queen Of Versailles + Q&A, London
Few recent documentaries have summed up the craziness of our times as well as Lauren Greenfield's The Queen Of Versailles. It focused on the wealthy Siegel family and their matriarch Jackie, whose attempts to build one of the largest private homes in America were stalled by the sub-prime meltdown. The film-makers and the Siegels apparently fell out, too. But what happened next? This one-off screening is the chance to find out, with both Greenfield and Jackie Siegel attending the Q&A.
Ritzy Picturehouse, SW2, Wed
Nick Abrahams, London
He recently received an award for his gorgeous Sigur Rós short film (in which Aidan Gillen, pictured, is guided by a talking snail), but Abrahams has been experimenting visually for the coolest bands for decades, including Huggy Bear, Stereolab, Leftfield,...
- 1/19/2013
- by Steve Rose
- The Guardian - Film News
From Batman to Spider-Man, Wireless to Green Man and Carousel to Götterdämmerung, the Observer's critics pick the season's highlights. What are you most looking forward to? Post your comments below
Download a pdf of this calendar here
July
1 Pop The Stone Roses
The third resurrection of the Roses has already swung from thrill to farce. Fans gibbered with joy at their surprise Warrington gig in May, but by Amsterdam Ian Brown and Reni were at loggerheads. This last of three homecoming gigs at Manchester's Heaton Park will not be uneventful.
3 Film The Amazing Spider-Man
Marvel Comics' flagship superhero, the red-and-blue clad "web-slinger" Spider-Man, gets a Hollywood reboot not 10 years after the character was last blockbuster-ised. Impressive Brit Andrew Garfield plays Spidey this time; Marc (500 Days of Summer) Webb directs. Early reviews: amazing.
4 Dance Dance Gb
English National Ballet, Scottish Ballet and National Dance Company Wales join forces in a high-velocity...
Download a pdf of this calendar here
July
1 Pop The Stone Roses
The third resurrection of the Roses has already swung from thrill to farce. Fans gibbered with joy at their surprise Warrington gig in May, but by Amsterdam Ian Brown and Reni were at loggerheads. This last of three homecoming gigs at Manchester's Heaton Park will not be uneventful.
3 Film The Amazing Spider-Man
Marvel Comics' flagship superhero, the red-and-blue clad "web-slinger" Spider-Man, gets a Hollywood reboot not 10 years after the character was last blockbuster-ised. Impressive Brit Andrew Garfield plays Spidey this time; Marc (500 Days of Summer) Webb directs. Early reviews: amazing.
4 Dance Dance Gb
English National Ballet, Scottish Ballet and National Dance Company Wales join forces in a high-velocity...
- 7/2/2012
- The Guardian - Film News
Threatened by funding cuts, Bristol's Slapstick Festival is 'the most important celebration of this kind of comedy in the world'
Comedians including satirist Marcus Brigstocke and impressionist Rory Bremner are staging a benefit concert to save a festival dedicated to a brand of humour that is a century old – silent movie slapstick.
The one-night show aims to shore up the finances of Bristol's Slapstick Festival, after a cut in funding threatened to end the annual four-day extravaganza of silent comedy films. Also on the Stand Up For Slapstick bill on 24 June are Arthur Smith, Lucy Porter and veteran writer and performer Barry Cryer.
"The Slapstick Festival has grown during eight years to become perhaps the most important celebration of this kind of comedy anywhere in the world," said former Goodie and organiser Graeme Garden, a patron and director since 2007. "Silent comedy marks the start of modern humour. But, more importantly,...
Comedians including satirist Marcus Brigstocke and impressionist Rory Bremner are staging a benefit concert to save a festival dedicated to a brand of humour that is a century old – silent movie slapstick.
The one-night show aims to shore up the finances of Bristol's Slapstick Festival, after a cut in funding threatened to end the annual four-day extravaganza of silent comedy films. Also on the Stand Up For Slapstick bill on 24 June are Arthur Smith, Lucy Porter and veteran writer and performer Barry Cryer.
"The Slapstick Festival has grown during eight years to become perhaps the most important celebration of this kind of comedy anywhere in the world," said former Goodie and organiser Graeme Garden, a patron and director since 2007. "Silent comedy marks the start of modern humour. But, more importantly,...
- 6/17/2012
- by Christopher Stevens
- The Guardian - Film News
As The Inbetweeners, the movie about a lads-only holiday, opens with record box-office takings, four British comedians recall their own youthful travels
Lucy Porter
When I was 16, my mate Carmel persuaded her uncle to lend a group of us his Spanish villa. We were all quite shy girls and not that popular at home, so we thought that abroad we could get tanned and kiss boys. We had loads of planning meetings and I put our travel documents in a folder with "Five Go Mad in Marbella" in bubble writing on the front. Unfortunately, the villa wasn't actually in Marbella, it was miles outside, up a steep hill. Thanks to my staff discount at Ravel, we'd all bought new plastic sandals. We walked into town once and were crippled.
After that, we stayed put and tried to sunbathe, but the place was riddled with flies and the retired British policeman...
Lucy Porter
When I was 16, my mate Carmel persuaded her uncle to lend a group of us his Spanish villa. We were all quite shy girls and not that popular at home, so we thought that abroad we could get tanned and kiss boys. We had loads of planning meetings and I put our travel documents in a folder with "Five Go Mad in Marbella" in bubble writing on the front. Unfortunately, the villa wasn't actually in Marbella, it was miles outside, up a steep hill. Thanks to my staff discount at Ravel, we'd all bought new plastic sandals. We walked into town once and were crippled.
After that, we stayed put and tried to sunbathe, but the place was riddled with flies and the retired British policeman...
- 8/29/2011
- The Guardian - Film News
Greta Gerwig on her Fawlty Towers obsession, and a Will Self short story is set for the big screen
Greta's towering ambition
Actress Greta Gerwig as an offbeat charm. Once the queen of the "mumblecore" indie scene, she has now moved into the mainstream with appearances in the Natalie Portman/Ashton Kutcher rom-com No Strings Attached and, now, taking over the Liza Minnelli role as Arthur's love interest in the Russell Brand remake of Arthur.
Although neither of these films could claim comic greatness, Gerwig attributes her taste for comedy to growing up with the complete set of Fawlty Towers on VHS. "I didn't watch much American TV," she told me. "My dad had these Fawlty Towers tapes and I watched them over and over. When all my friends were quoting off American comedies, I couldn't really join in. I'd just say things like, 'He put Basil in the...
Greta's towering ambition
Actress Greta Gerwig as an offbeat charm. Once the queen of the "mumblecore" indie scene, she has now moved into the mainstream with appearances in the Natalie Portman/Ashton Kutcher rom-com No Strings Attached and, now, taking over the Liza Minnelli role as Arthur's love interest in the Russell Brand remake of Arthur.
Although neither of these films could claim comic greatness, Gerwig attributes her taste for comedy to growing up with the complete set of Fawlty Towers on VHS. "I didn't watch much American TV," she told me. "My dad had these Fawlty Towers tapes and I watched them over and over. When all my friends were quoting off American comedies, I couldn't really join in. I'd just say things like, 'He put Basil in the...
- 4/23/2011
- by Jason Solomons
- The Guardian - Film News
A new weekly, subscription-based video game show will launch on the UK PlayStation Network this spring. The show, entitled FirstPlay, will feature content, such as reviews and previews, produced by the Official PlayStation Magazine, as well as experts from Sky and the BBC, with voiceover work provided by Lucy Porter. FirstPlay will launch in the UK this spring at a cost of 99p per episode, with a three month subscription costing £8.99. Sce boss Ray Maguire said: "As PlayStation 3 moves the gaming experience to a more social and competitive online environment (more)...
- 2/15/2010
- by By Liam Martin
- Digital Spy
A new weekly, subscription-based video game show will launch on the UK PlayStation Network this spring. The show, entitled FirstPlay, will feature content, such as reviews and previews, produced by the Official PlayStation Magazine, as well as experts from Sky and the BBC, with voiceover work provided by Lucy Porter. FirstPlay will launch in the UK this spring at a cost of 99p per episode, with a three month subscription costing £8.99. Sce boss Ray Maguire said: "As PlayStation 3 moves the gaming experience to a more social and competitive online environment (more)...
- 2/15/2010
- by By Liam Martin
- Digital Spy
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.