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Event
Tribute to King Baggot @ SLIFF
SLIFF pays tribute to the career of one of St. Louis' unjustly forgotten heroes, actor and director King Baggot, who is considered the first movie star. Born in St. Louis in 1879, Baggot was tall and handsome, a blue-eyed Irish boy with a distinctive white streak through his dark hair. An almost immediate sensation, Baggot was the first actor to have his name featured above the title, and his stardom marked the first time that audiences went to see a movie for a particular actor. At his career's height, Baggot was heralded as "King of the Movies" and "The Most Photographed Man in the World." Not content with just acting, Baggot also established a successful career as a director. The program will feature both the 1913 epic "Ivanhoe," with Baggot in the title role, and the William S. Hart silent Western "Tumbleweeds" (1925), which Baggot directed.
As part of its celebration of King Baggot (see Tribute to King Baggot), SLIFF presents a rare screening of the 1913 version of "Ivanhoe," based on Sir Walter Scott's 1820 novel of romance and medievalism. Filmed at Chepstow Castle in Wales, "Ivanhoe" was the first example of an American studio sending a cast and crew to Europe to film at a remote location. St. Louis native Baggot plays Ivanhoe, the Saxon knight. Returning from the Holy Lands to England, Ivanhoe teams with Robin Hood to rescue his father, who has been captured by the evil Prince John. Leah Baird plays Rebecca, the Jewish maiden who loves Ivanhoe, and director Herbert Brenon co-stars as Isaac of York. The lively and ambitious "Ivanhoe" -- filled with pageantry, lavish sets, costumed horses, epic battle scenes, and swordfights -- was a box-office smash and made Baggot an international star. The screening features a tinted 35mm print on loan from the Museum of Modern Art.
The Western "Tumbleweeds" concludes SLIFF's double bill focused on actor/director King Baggot (see Tribute to King Baggot). The film marked the return of silent cowboy legend William S. Hart after a long screen absence. Hart plays Don Carver, a "tumbleweed" (drifter) who decides to settle down after falling in love with Molly (Barbara Bedford). But before he eases into married life, Don first joins the Cherokee Land Rush of 1889, in which a large tract of Oklahoma was thrown open to the public for the taking. The action sequences in "Tumbleweeds" -- with hundreds of horses, wagons, and riders tearing across the plain -- remain thrilling, and director Baggot used influential and dynamic cutting techniques to generate suspense. "Tumbleweeds" was also unique for its era in its accurate depiction of Native Americans and African Americans. In a recent interview with We Are Movie Geeks, cinematographer King Baggot III said: "'Tumbleweeds' was my grandfather's greatest triumph as a director. It's the picture he'll be remembered for."
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LocationWebster University/Moore Auditorium (View)
470 East Lockwood Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63119
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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