Day Three

'Where Does The Laughter come from?'
With Neil Brand

'Music in the cinema makes us cry, think, feel, fear but can it make us laugh?   And if so, why? Neil Brand tries to make sense of the mercurial nature of music and comedy with clips from sound films, his own improvisations to clips from comedy shorts and one one-reel comedy he will play live without having seen it before! Pulling in the arts of the writer, actor, composer and critic, Neil takes a sidelong look at the human condition at its most joyous and absurd and discovers in the process how music affects us all.' www.neilbrand.com

Forgotten Laughter I (100mins)
With Paul Merton and David Wyatt

‘Forgotten Laughter’ is an opportunity to experience a selection of masterful comedy shorts from lesser-known silent comics. Films have been sourced primarily from private collections.

Chosen for their skill in comic execution this first selection includes rare screenings of SWORD POINTS (1928) with Lupino Lane. IT'S A GIFT (1923) starring Snub Pollard. Billy Bevan and Sid Smith in LIZZIES OF THE FIELD (1924) and PASS THE GRAVY (1928) with Max Davidson. We close with the Charley Chase classic HIS WOODEN WEDDING (1925). A rare chance to see these excellent comedies.

Silent Jackdaws
With Paul Merton

Contrary to popular belief the great silent clowns of the past, whilst acknowledged masters of their art and great innovators, were not averse to ‘borrowing’ gags or ideas from their fiercest rivals. Using a series of carefully chosen extracts Paul Merton, in discussion with David Robinson, looks at this habit of creative ‘stealing’ among the silent greats including Keaton, Lloyd and Chaplin. From this intriguing and entertaining exploration emerges a greater understanding and appreciation of their art.

Plus: Paul acknowledges his own debt to the silent clowns with a rare screening of his own short comedy: SUICIDAL DOG (2000).