Photoplay Productions

Photoplay Productions is an independent film company, based in the UK, under the direction of Kevin Brownlow^[1] and Patrick Stanbury.^[2] Is one of the few independent companies to operate in the revival of interest in the lost world of silent cinema and has been recognised as a driving force in the subject.^[3]

In 2010, Photoplay Productions was the recipient of the Silent Film Festival Award^[4]

Documentary production[]

Photoplay Productions has been recognised as a driving force in the revival of interest in the lost world of silent cinema.

Amongst its film history documentaries are:

• , produced by Kevin Brownlow, David Gilll and Patrick Stanbury. Narrated by Sam Wanamaker.
• (2005) directed by Kevin Brownlow and Christopher Bird. Narrated by Alec Baldwin
• (2005) directed by Kevin Brownlow and Christopher Bird. Narrated by Julie Christie
• Cinema Europe: The Other Hollywood (1995) directed by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill. Narrated by Kenneth Branagh
• Universal Horror (1998) directed by Kevin Brownlow. Narrated by Kenneth Branagh
• (2002) directed by Kevin Brownlow and Michael Kloft. Narrated by Kenneth Branagh
• (2003) directed by Kevin Brownlow directed by Kevin Brownlow. Narrated by Kenneth Branagh^[5]
• (2000) directed by Kevin Brownlow Narrated by Kenneth Branagh^[6]
• (2004) directed by Kevin Brownlow and Christopher Bird. Narrated by James Karen
• (1968) directed by Kevin Brownlow. Narrated by Lindsay Anderson

Selected film restoration[]

Photoplay Productions has restored numerous feature silent films and shorts, with music by Carl Davis^[7][8] including the following titles:

Features[]

• Napoleon (1927)^[9][10] directed by Abel Gance starring Albert Dieudonné
• The Birth of a Nation (1915) directed by D. W. Griffith starring Lillian Gish and Henry B Walthall
• Greed (1924) directed by Eric Von Stroheim with ZaSu Pitts and Gibson Gowland
• Nosferatu (1922) directed by F. W. Murnau starring Max Schreck
• It (1927) directed by Clarence Badger starring Clara Bow
• Old Heidelberg (1927) directed by Ernst Lubitsch starring Ramon Novarro and Norma Shearer
• Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927) directed by F. W. Murnau starring Janet Gaynor and George O'Brien
• Flesh and the Devil (1926) directed by Clarence Brown with Greta Garbo and John Gilbert
• The Mysterious Lady (1928) directed by Fred Niblo starring Greta Garbo and Conrad Nagel
• A Woman of Affairs (1928) directed by Clarence Brown starring Greta Garbo and John Gilbert
• The Blot (1921) directed by Lois Weber starring Claire Windsor and Louis Calhern
• The Crowd (1928) directed by King Vidor starring Eleanor Boardman and James Murray
• La Terre (1919) directed by André Antoine starring Germaine Rouer and
• The Yellow Ticket (1918) directed by Victor Jansen starring Pola Negri
• The Godless Girl (1928) directed by Cecil B. DeMille
• The Wind (1928) directed by Victor Seastrom with Lillian Gish and Lars Hanson
• The Wedding March (1928) starring Erich von Stroheim with Fay Wray
• The Iron Mask (1929) directed by Allan Dwan starring Douglas Fairbanks
• The Thief of Bagdad (1924) directed by Raoul Walsh starring Douglas Fairbanks
• The Eagle (1925) directed by Clarence Brown with Rudolph Valentino and Vilma Banky
• The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse^[11] (1921) by Rex Ingram with Rudolph Valentino
• The Big Parade (1925) directed by King Vidor starring John Gilbert and Renee Adoree
• Wings (1927) directed by William Wellman starring Clara Bow, Richard Arlen and Charles "Buddy" Rogers
• The Chess Player (1926) directed by Raymond Bernard starring Pierre Blanchar and Edith Jehanne
• Orphans of the Storm (1921) directed by D. W. Griffith starring Lillian and Dorothy Gish
• Show People (1928) by King Vidor with Marion Davies and William Haines
• The Iron Horse (1924) directed by John Ford starring George O 'Brien and Madge Bellamy
• The Extra Girl (1923) with Mabel Normand
• Ben-Hur – A Tale of the Christ (1925) by Fred Niblo with Ramon Novarro
• The Cat and the Canary (1927) by Paul Leni
• The General (1926) with Buster Keaton
• Our Hospitality (1923) with Buster Keaton
• Speedy (1928) directed by Ted Wilde starring Harold Lloyd
• The Kid Brother (1927) directed by Ted Wilde starring Harold Lloyd
• Safety Last! (1923) directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and Sam Taylor starring Harold Lloyd
• Girl Shy (1924) directed by Fred C. Newmeyer and Sam Taylor starring Harold Lloyd
• Hot Water (1924) directed by Fred C. Newmeyer starring Harold Lloyd
• The Phantom of the Opera (1925)^[12] directed by Rupert Julian with Lon Chaney
• The Hunchback of Notre Dame^[13] (1923) directed by Wallace Worsley with Lon Chaney
• Heart o' the Hills (1919) directed by Sidney Franklin starring Mary Pickford and John Gilbert
• Mare Nostrum (1926) directed by Rex Ingram starring Alice Terry and Antonio Moreno
• The Wicked Darling (1919) directed by Tod Browning with Lon Chaney and Priscilla Dean
• The Strong Man (1927) directed by Frank Capra starring Harry Langdon
• Broken Blossoms (1919) directed by D. W. Griffith starring Lillian Gish and Richard Barthelmess
• Intolerance (1916) directed by D. W. Griffith starring Lillian Gish, Robert Harron and Constance Talmadge

Shorts[]

• The Adventures of Dollie (1908) directed by D. W. Griffith starring Lillian and Dorothy Gish
• The Immigrant (1917) directed by Charles Chaplin
• One Week (1920) starring Buster Keaton
• Get Out and Get Under (1920) directed by Hal Roach with Harold Lloyd
• Giving Them Fits (1915) directed by Hal Roach with Harold Lloyd
• (1928) directed by Mark Sandrich starring Lupino Lane

Academy recognition[]

In 2010 Photoplay Director Kevin Brownlow was awarded an honorary Oscar for his services to cinema in the role of film historian and film restorer.^[14]

External links[]

• IMDB [1]
• Photoplay Productions – Facebook Page
• Photoplay Productions – Website [2]
• Finding aid authors: James V. D'Arc and John N. Gillespie. "Photoplay Productions documentary research". Prepared for the L. Tom Perry Special Collections, Provo, UT. Retrieved 16 May 2016.

References[]