HOLLYWOOD: A Celebration of the American Silent Film
March 23rd, 2009
The Thames TV documentary series HOLLYWOOD: A Celebration of the American Silent Film, by Kevin Brownlow and David Gill, was begun thirty years ago. It is out of print, and nowhere to be found that I can see, except for scattered VHS copies for sale. A 4-disc DVD edition that had been planned apparently never went into production, and there is no tentative release date for it.
I am considering posting the complete HOLLYWOOD series, transferred from LaserDisc video. The earliest I would be able to begin doing this is mid-April. If you’re someone who would be interested in seeing this — or you would like to prevent me from putting the series online — please add a comment or drop me a note at the address on my “Contact” page. Thanks.
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26 Comments Add your own
1. ric | May 4th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
I’d be hugely interested for my dad, for whom this is the holy grail he’s been looking for…!
2. Rudi Valentino | May 10th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
Yes, it should be seen. It’s a work of genius, that has been hidden for too long. I’ve read elsewhere that it is unlikely to be released due to claims on some material included. Given that most involved are long deceased, it seems totally unreasonable to stop material being showcased in this great series.
3. Stuart Watson | May 27th, 2009 at 11:06 am
You would be doing fans of this genuinely brilliant documentary series a major favour. Not being able to see this series again is a great personal loss to me.
4. DOuG pRATt | May 27th, 2009 at 2:35 pm
I would have started doing the video capturing by now, but my primary computer is having trouble and needs to be restored to the factory image, which is way back at XP SP2. This will be a painful process, so I’ve been putting it off, but I’ll get to it.
5. Gregory | June 17th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Yes. I loved the series when it was out originally. And it is a magnificent, inspiring educational tool.
6. DOuG pRATt | June 17th, 2009 at 11:37 pm
Well, I’ve got ‘em. Just have to start putting them here.
7. Rick Smoot | July 30th, 2009 at 8:18 pm
I would really like to see this series come out. I truly don’t understand who could object to a nearly thirty year old TV series being released. Unless they very, very, mean.
8. DOuG pRATt | July 30th, 2009 at 8:28 pm
The DVD set was stopped for legal reasons, apparently. Don’t know the specifics. When I get started on this I won’t be blogging it. The installments will just start showing up on a page next to the Art Gallery link. Each program will be in two parts, of about 25 minutes each.
9. Ken Webb | October 11th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
I would gladly pay you for good quality DVD transfers from laserdisc. This is one of the most important TV documentary series ever made and should be made available by whatever means!
10. Ali | October 31st, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Hello - did you manage to upload the Hollywood series by Kevin Brownlow or have you given up on it? Frankly, I was crushed (just a mere few days after first being elated to see the DVD version appear on Amazon UK) when I heard it had been withdrawn.
It is one of those ‘holy grail’ things for me. I kick myself for not picking up one of the last VHS box sets I saw some many years back (around 2003). It was at normal retail price at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square. At the time I though that it was just a matter of months that it would be out on DVD. Then a couple of years later it seemed it was finally happening and then…well you know the rest.
I have been searching on-line to see if it is available as a ‘rapidshare’ or ‘torrent’ download and there seem to be some promising hi-quality downloads but I just can’t get into them.
Any suggestions, any help, would be much appreciated.
11. DOuG pRATt | October 31st, 2009 at 4:00 pm
I briefly had “The Pioneers” posted, but then I found a problem with the video player. After about 35 minutes the picture freezes and sound continues. You can click past that point to continue, but that’s not how it should work.
I have looked into what can be done to get around this problem, and so far haven’t found a completely satisfactory solution. As soon as I finish entering this I’ll put the video back up, so you can see what I’m talking about. Look for “HOLLYWOOD” on the banner. Eventually I’ll get it sorted out and try to get the entire series online.
12. DOuG pRATt | October 31st, 2009 at 10:24 pm
OK, I think I fixed it. Try it now.
13. Ali | November 1st, 2009 at 6:24 am
Many thanks for posting the first episode and also for the very fast response. It is always great to know there are many others out there that recognize this gem of a documentary (or even other such painstakingly put together things). What would we all do if we were only left to the whims and tastes of the masses?
14. DOuG pRATt | November 1st, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Ali — You’re welcome. The second installment is up.
15. Glenn | November 13th, 2009 at 3:56 am
Thanks for what you’ve put up so far. They broadcast every episode ‘Down Under’ about seven years ago. I’ve transferred eight of them onto DVD but had VCR problems resulting in faulty picture quality on the other two. Can’t wait to see them again. Cheers and thanks. Glenn
16. DOuG pRATt | November 13th, 2009 at 9:03 am
Thanks for the thanks. I’m trying to post one per week.
17. Rob | November 21st, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Doug,
Thanks so much for posting these. I’ve been searching to purchase this series for a very long time. A full set hardly ever comes up for sale, and when they do, they are at offered at a crazy price (there is a set currently on Amazon listed at $999 - that is absolutely ludicrous). I am looking forward for the next installments.
Rob
18. DOuG pRATt | November 21st, 2009 at 11:41 pm
Rob — I should have the fifth video up soon. If you have any problems with playback, please let me know.
19. Dirk | December 5th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Thank you so much for these episodes. I really needed this for teaching a high school film class.
20. DOuG pRATt | December 5th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
I’m working on the next one right now.
21. Robbo | December 21st, 2009 at 5:13 pm
Brilliant. Thanks so much. I had the box set of the series on VHS when it was released but the tapes haven’t held up and the image and sound are all screwed up - very wobbly and unwatchable. I feared I’d never get to watch the whole thing again. I’m a huge fan of Brownlow’s work, including the book this series was based on “The Parade’s Gone By” and his other documentary series “The Unknown Chaplin” (also narrated by James Mason) and his earlier dramatic works “Winstanley” and “It Happened Here”. Can’t wait to see the remaining episodes. Thanks again.
22. DOuG pRATt | December 21st, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Only six more to go!
23. Ali | March 7th, 2010 at 5:04 am
Doug, I have to really thank you for keeping this going. It is certainly a lot of effort solely for the benefit of the rest of us and I am very appreciative and I am sure the rest of your readers are too.
24. DOuG pRATt | March 7th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
You’re welcome. Only a couple more to go. As I’ve made a point of telling others via e-mail, the moment I receive a message from a legal type, or someone representing Brownlow, the page will be gone in two seconds.
25. Ali | March 7th, 2010 at 12:58 pm
Well, here’s my message to those legal types:
“If anything, I think that your post has generated added interest to the series and will benefit them more than it will hurt. I saw the episodes back in the mid 80s when they were played on PBS (I believe) and have ever since been enthralled by it and never forgotten it. And, like most if not all who have enjoyed your posting, I will definitely buy it if/when it is released on DVD.” Those who buy these sorts of things are generally “completists” and total fans - they will invariably buy the best version available even if they already own a lesser version. I will even venture to say that many out there who own the VHS set will jump at the chance of buying it on DVD.”
While I missed out buying the VHS set in time before they disappeared, I did manage buy Brownlow’s Cinema Europe on DVD.
26. DOuG pRATt | March 7th, 2010 at 1:58 pm
Thanks, Ali. I agree with you, of course. The merely curious aren’t the ones who would buy anyway. The rest of us will buy no matter what. The remastered Beatles CDs are proof of this.
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