SLAPSTICON 2010!!!

When summer comes there are only 2 things I try to do, stay cool by drinking sangria and work my way down to Rosslyn, Virginia (just over the river from Washington, DC) for the annual SLAPSTICON film festival! After a year's hiatus (the theater was under renovation) the show is back and bigger than ever and will run from Thursday July 15th until Sunday the 18th. I already posted about the lost Charlie Chaplin film "A Thief Catcher" that will make its premier on Saturday night at 8PM, but there is a whole host of other films to keep you cracking up all weekend.

frame grab from "A Thief Catcher" with a cameo by Charlie Chaplin

Personally, I am excited not only the Chaplin rediscovery, but finally being able to see a Clark & McCullough short with an audience as they are running their 1934 flick "In A Pig's Eye". I am a big fan of this duo's work but they are usually maligned by critics who shouldn't take themselves SOOOOOO seriously and miss out on having a good time; THEY'RE FUNNY PEOPLE!!! Also, I'm pretty amped up by the showing of a 35mm print of Abbott & Costello's "Africa Screams". This one has been languishing in Public Domain hell for a number of years so having a chance to see a sharp print, I'm assured I'll be in my seat for this one! Even though this isn't their best film, it's a real good one that moves along pretty quickly and probably one of the pair's first I remember seeing (along with "Buck Privates") when I was a youngster watching old films on Saturday morning TV with my Grandmother.


Many other comedy stars and forgotten heroes will be shown during the four days including films by Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, Charley Chase, Harold Lloyd, Harry Langdon, Snub Pollard, Ben Turpin, Andy Clyde, Lupino Lane, Thelma Todd, etc., etc., etc., including at least one by everyone's favorite pains, Ham & Bud! One of the aspects of Slapsticon I love is there are many instances where the organizers will just throw in an unlisted short just for the hell of it, so just when you think the scheduled program is over, the lights will stay down and another hilarious rarity will be run.

Click HERE to see the schedule of films and I hope to see you at the theater and laugh out loud right along with you!