![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Welcome and thank you very much for gracing us with your presence here on the Oasis! Congratulations, on the success of the festival, and continued well wishes. I'm sure that it is a monumental undertaking organizing such a large event and you are to be highly commended for all your wonderful achievements.
This is a rare opportunity to make a few inquires and possible suggestions, for scheduling that I hope that you might take under consideration. Must say, I was gratified that Harold Lloyd's legendary
SAFETY LAST! along with
METROPOLIS was featured this year, and to see that you have not ignored the Silents, which are really my passion. I just can't help but ask about the possibility of seeing the restored version of King Vidor's
THE BIG PARADE (1925) at the event in the future? Hopefully, in 2011. It is probably my favorite film, rather Silent or Sound. We are still awaiting the debut of the new master on TCM after the better part of a decade, not to mention that long promised DVD edition that has yet to materialize.
I was so pleased that you presented a
fragments showcase featuring the snippets of the lost works of
Colleen Moore and
Clara Bow this past April. For years I have waited to see the restored
HER WILD OAT (First National, 1927) and hoped it would pop up on TCM. But I would certainly be happy with any of Colleen's sadly neglected Silent features. She is an absolute obsession of mine. Being arguably the biggest Silent Star, (save for maybe the Talmadge's) who's films are never seen on TCM. This despite the fact that Warner's technically owns much of her surviving material. So I hope that will change soon, and she will finally receive her due. I consider Colleen Moore to be the Female Harold Lloyd. Regrettably, I have heard nothing additional about the planned restorations of her final two Silent films with Vita-phone tracks
SYNTHETIC SIN and
WHY BE GOOD? With any luck those may be forth-coming before long now. I Both lost of which had been feared lost for decades until about 5 years ago. I am obviously concerned whenever any film is still Nitrate only, about it being lost again, and this time forever.
HER WILD OAT which also features among the earliest appearances of
Loretta Young, or perhaps
LILAC TIME (FN, 1928) would be ideal for the festival in 2011. With Clara Bow, the one film I have frustratingly never been able to see is
CHILDREN OF DIVORCE (Paramount, 1927) with Esther Ralston and
Gary Cooper. Potentially a terrific double-bill with the restored LILAC TIME since
both have Coop, and these seem to be the two films that really jump-started his career as well.
Another film I have drummed up some support for is
Howard Hawks FIG LEAVES (Fox, 1926) with Olive Borden, and George O'Brien. Recently restored, it is just a delightful comedy and a real crowd pleaser. A great early example of Hawks delightful satiric works that is not all that well known today. Indeed many are probably not even aware that Hawks had been a director during the Silent Era. I am so excited that TCM will be running the early Talkie
SUNNY SIDE UP with Janet Gaynor and Charles Farrell in December, after it was featured at the festival this past April. This movie has not been televised in any form in probably about 25 years.
Right now, I assume that the first Silent film that you are likely looking at for the festival would be
John Ford's UPSTREAM, since it was discovered in New Zealand earlier this year. Although, with any luck there will be a few others.
In any event, Continued success with the TCM Classic Film Festival in 2011 and well beyond. Maybe there is a chance I might be able to make it next year.