Not to lose: centenary films return to the cinema rooms

Almost silently, as it seems consistent in the case of a silent movie, “The chimera of gold”, of Charles Chaplinhas just been reset in Salas in Argentina and more than 70 countries around the world. The film is already a hundred years old, its premiere was exactly on August 16, 1925 in the US and just a week later, on August 22, in Argentina.

In 1942, full sound cinema, Chaplin He attached a music composed of himself, a funny narrative in off, tenderly ironic, and some shots that had been left out. Then he did “The Circus”, “Modern Times” and “Lights of the city”, beautiful, went to the sound with “The Great Dictator”, “Monnsieur Verdoux” and “A King in New York”(Each more painful and sharp than the other) and said goodbye., The only one that was failed.

By then he was already exiled and half retired and that decided to retire at all. But the character he had created, Carlitos Chaplin The vagabon, he continued walking, untouched, perhaps eternal, with that mixture of laughter and tears, of mischief and nobility, who did it unique. For something, this year the Cannes Festival opened its classic section with a fully restored version of “The gold chimera”the same that we see now.

Attention, for those who believe that all their films end with the poor vagabundo moving away, without a copper, or home or future, that happens only in three of their stories, and in another, it is true that he leaves without a copper and without major future, but of the arm with the beautiful Paulette Goddard, for envy of the whole world. And in “The gold chimera” He does not leave, but he returns, happy and happy. It is worth seeing on a large screen, that film is full of memorable moments, such as the dance of the paneclos, which Johnny Depp He imitated him in one of his youth films.

More glories of 25

Not only does this work of Chaplin, but several others from the same era are now restored and honored. Weeks ago, in the old Post Palace (today Libertad Cultural Center) could be seen “The battleship potmkin”of Sergei Eisensteinin a copy restored by Cinemateca Argentina, Mosfilm Studies, of Russia, and Dialog Consulting Group. For greater glory, the projection was accompanied by live music by the National Youth Symphony Libertador San Martin, directed by Santiago Chotsouriangood connoisseur of music for mute movies.

And from 16 to 30, in Sala Lugones of the San Martín Theater, there will be two weeks of silent films of the year 1925. Four are famous: “The Opera Ghost”of Rupert Julianwith Lon Chaneyand the dance scene in primitive technicolor, “The black eagle”of Clarence Brownadventure and romance with the divo Rodolfo Valentino, “The Great Parade”of the teacher King Vidorwith John Gilbertoverproduction with a melodramatic look at World War I, and “The Lost World”of Harry Hoytwith Wallace Beerydinosaurs and other bugs created by Willis O’Brien And the appearance of the author of the original novel, serves Arthur Conan Doylebetter known as creator of Detective Sherlock Holmes.

But there are two others that are a real rediscovery. One is “the spiritualist”, also called “Zara the mystique”, History of scammers directed by Tod Browningthe same one that would do later “Dracula” and “Freaks.” The other, even more rare, is “Body and soul”, From the filmmaker and writer Oscar Micheaux film entirely made by and with African Americans, for its own market. It was not given in “whites” cinemas, but in others it was a success.

And even more rare, the protagonist, making two opposed characters, was Paul Robesonlater famous under consecrated baritone worldwide and still remembered for its interpretation of “Old Man River” In the two versions of “Showboat”(The first, 1936, is the best at the cinematographic level).

Are we talking about old things that already have a long century (and are still alive)? Well, within a few weeks it is restrained “The rebel novice”which is barely 60. And we are waiting for in December, or before, return “Shark” To the rooms. It already has 50.