Keeping silent cinema alive, showing the films of the era at the right speed and in their original image format, and having a pianist accompany them with respect, is all part of the normal work of a film library. But at a time when electronics is offering filmmakers new ways of making their images, it is even more relevant to periodically recall how eloquent were the images of the so-called silent era of film history. Silent cinema is therefore an essential component of the Cinémathèque's programming. And it is not a bad thing to remember that these are the works and filmmakers who made modern cinema possible, not to mention that it is always pleasant to be able to return for a few hours to the era of images that speak.
Accompanied on piano by Roman Zavada
Played by Harold Lloyd, Speedy works casual jobs in New York, including driver, which leads him to take Babe Ruth to Yankee Stadium. His lover's grandfather owns the last of the horse-drawn streetcars, and there's a plot to get him out of the business. Speedy does everything in his power to help him out. Lloyd's last silent film, Speedy is a major work of burlesque cinema of the 1920s, and presents the American metropolis of the time in brilliant fashion.
Ted Wilde
Ted Wilde was a comedy writer and director during the era of silent movies, though he also directed two talkies released in 1930. He was born in New York City. His initial career was as a member of Harold Lloyd's writing staff. His final film as a director was Clancy in Wall Street.
