Oddity Archive: Episode 284 - Surréalist Sinéma (Silent Movie Day 2024)

[@jasonhaman4670]

You really knocked it out of the park with this one -- all-caps'ed,, bolded, reverse-italicized, and overlined (underlined would be too normal) the 'oddity' in Oddity Archive. Probably some strikethru, upside-down, back-to-front, and a really bizarre font as well. A porterhouse steak of oddity, if you will. Added several things to my to-do list of things I want to find and watch. Excellent episode.

[@TobiasCruelty]

I look forward to this day every year! Much love Ben to you, your Mom and Dad. Keep your chin up!

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

I first saw "It's a Bird" at the home of a film collector in 1999 when it was virtually impossible to find. Later I rented that Bowers DVD collection from the cool local video store that had everything and I debated the merits of those films via the video store's online reviews section with another reviewer who liked them far less than I did. I remember seeing the French surrealist films, first in college around 1982 then later on VHS where the public library, among other places, had most or all of them. My favorite is one you briefly alluded to, Bunuel's L'Age D'Or. That is a savage movie and a great one. Thanks for tackling one of the more interesting tangents of film history.

[@JontyMaster]

13:33 Yeah, and according to Roger Ebert, Bunuel claimed to have a pocket of stones “to throw at the audience in case of disaster.”

[@y00t00b3r]

possibly your best work ever

[@edwardburek1717]

"Avant Garde An Idea" - dammit, I was going to use that as a title for my pretentious art criticism programme!!

[@matthewlawrenson3628]

I'd love to see Le Chien Andalou synced up to "The Canyons Of Your Mind" or "11 Mustachioed Daughters". I can see the influence of "Ballet Mecanique" on Bob Godfrey's "Do It Yourself Cartoon Kit" and a couple of Jim Henson's industrial films from about 40 years later.

[@SecretShopKeep]

Great episode. I live in NJ around were Mr. Bowers passed away, and this is the first I've heard of him.

[@Bucky749]

You did it you got the special out on international silent movie day congratulations

[@ratmadness4858]

Cool Stuff! Ballet mécanique is on the youtuber. Haven't look for the others

[@brianhebert6152]

Imagine Raymond Rohauer getting his hands on any of these...

[@Mchannnel]

Happy 100th Anniversary Surrealism🎉🎉🎉

[@walterfechter8080]

"Manos: The Hands of Fate" "The Touch of Torgo"

[@y00t00b3r]

"Since nuance of performance was not exactly a high priority..." -- LOL!

[@ilikedoom2707]

The late, great Ryuichi Sakamoto did a semi-concept album on the futurism movement which has a song called Ballet Mechanique in it in reference to the movie. Very good album unfortunately not on most streaming platforms

[@vortextube]

Thanks again! Take it easy man.

[@Mode-7]

This is absolutely fantastic.

[@sf-dn8rh]

Pretty cool episode. I remember taking music appreciation in college for my humanities credit.

[@MrRaulstrnad]

what can I say-somewhat an unusual topic for this channel but a great job done

[@Bucky749]

Gave a shout out on my community page you’re public domain theater episode for Eeagh watched it last night

[@iainlaurence]

Who would have thought the Silent Films would have so much lore behind them?

[@mightyfilm]

So basically the first filmmaker made the first KZbin Poop well before pictures even had sound. I guess no one hates artists like other artists.

[@matthewpaul6904]

where is my sad clown flipping a pancake in slow motion?

[@y00t00b3r]

lol, noon on Sunday? OK, I'll take it.

[@jaydensvhsarchive3.095]

Nice video! Could you do a Cult VHS video on United Home Video or Unicorn Video?

[@yvonnerogers6429]

👍🏻

[@unklejohn8575]

Got me a movie, I want you to know Slicin' up eyeballs, I want you to know Girlie so groovy, I want you to know Don't know about you But I am Un Chien Andalusia I want to grow up and be Be a Debaser!

[@mariteaux]

Glad someone put it in the comments!

[@LentaChorum]

I actually prefer the “pretentious” shorts of Buñuel and co., sincerity is very hard to come by in today’s cinematic landscape.

[@Bucky749]

Sergi ( walks in dressed as Bob Ross ) (title card ) boss man made me wear this I wanted to be magnum T.A. Ben (enters dressed as herald Lloyd) (the fresh men version ) Card (the pro wrestler Magnum T.A ? ) Sergi (shocked ) (title card ) he was a pro wrestler as well I thought he just fight crime in Hawaiian shirt I have so much to learn boss man .) Ben (holds up two pics labeled ) Magnum T.A is the pro wrestler and Magnum P.I is the T.V show . Sergei (nods ) (title card I get now boss there brothers I see the family resemblance) ( both get hit with pies fade out .)

[@Kurzov]

lol

[@RickinBaltimore]

I guess it's a culture thing, but people rioted over these films?

[@OddityArchive]

People rioted over Stravinsky's music, so I don't see why not.

[@jasonhaman4670]

@@OddityArchive That reminds me of how, in the Communist bloc, some classical music could be deemed subversive, counter-revolutionary, etc. Granted, I'm no musician, but it's beyond me how someone can get something concrete/specific enough from purely instrumental music that it could be considered political or offensive. Some of my favorite music is classical, instrumental jazz, and other instrumental music, so I don't mean that in any negative way towards that music; I just don't get how they got that from it. I suspect they just wanted to find something to be offended by, or to persecute.

[@OddityArchive]

I think (especially classical) audiences of the time expected far more "conservative" music. I could see where frequent, hard dissonance would've triggered people 100+ years ago. I could also see some lunkheaded politician (or dictator or operative) thinking that unorthodox music might give people what they saw as unacceptable ideas.

[@thebonemanahf]

not being exclusively negative, video was excellent, but the intro did seem a bit too long