Capitolfest Celebrates its 20th with Mary Astor

It is the time of year when I praise the cinephile’s dream that takes place in Rome, New York. Capitolfest, the film festival that offers as authentic a film experience as one can get for an entire weekend, will celebrate its 20^th iteration from August 11 to August 13, 2023.

If you search Capitolfest on this blog, you will get the details I have shared through the years as to why you should be in Rome the second weekend in August. I will not repeat all the reasons here, but will gush about what I’m looking forward to most on this year’s schedule, it’s shining stars – the glorious 1,700-seat 1927 Capitol Theatre and the 1928 Möller organ – the rare features and shorts, most in 35MM, and the people who love the entire Capitolfest package as much as I do.

As Capitolfest does every year, they celebrate a featured star as she is a doozie – the great Mary Astor. I could not be more excited. Among the short subjects to be screened this year are Astor’s first three movies, Philip Carle’s Brother of the Bear and My Lady O’ the Pines, and Herbert Blaché’s The Beggar Maid, all from 1921. The Beggar Maid was Astor’s first critically acclaimed role. She was 15 years old and so impressive from the start that (it is said) that Lillian Gish, who directed Astor’s first screen test, shot a thousand feet of her. 

As intriguing as Mary Astor’s life was I’ve always been fascinated by her extraordinary talent. Hers was a range few other actors could boast delivering performances that evoke lasting images ranging from heart-warming matriarchs to the most duplicitous of murdering dames. In short, Astor was a wonder, a beauty and a survivor. On and off-screen. It is with excitement and curiosity that I look forward to seeing her early work.

Aside from getting know young Mary Astor, the rarities spotlighted at Capitolfest never cease to surprise. I am usually wrong about the movies I think I will love. That said, there are three pictures noted on this year’s schedule preview that stand out: Marion Gering’s Jennie Gerhardt (1933) with Sylvia Sidney, Donald Cook, Mary Astor, and Edward Arnold; Cyril Gardner’s Reckless Living (1931) with Ricardo Cortez, Mae Clark, Norman Foster, Marie Prevost, Slim Summerville; No Time to Marry (1938) directed by Harry Lachman with Mary Astor, Richard Arlen, Lionel Stander, and Virginia Dale.

No doubt there are plans for the 2023 festival, the 20^th anniversary of Capitolfest I am not aware of, but I am looking forward to the extraordinary talents of the organists who accompany the silent movies. There are four this year, Dr. Philip C. Carli, Ben Model, David Peckham, and Avery Tunningley. If you have not had the good fortune of experiencing a silent film in a movie palace with one of these artists playing along on a 1928 organ, you simply have not experienced silent movies in all their glory.

I want to extend luck and congratulations to Dr. Philip Carli who launched the Silent Movie Salon website recently. Go look. It’s fantastic. From Capitolfests past I can tell you that when Dr. Carli accompanies a film you are sure to get goose bumps and his webpage allows you to experience some of that virtually.

Another sincere congratulations goes to my friend Ben Model whose Undercrank Productions just celebrated its tenth anniversary. Undercrank Productions is Ben’s boutique home-video label, which highlights rare silent era gems. I honestly do not know anyone who promotes and celebrates silent movies as does Mr. Model. Aside from being an accompanist, historian, presenter, and leader of Undercrank’s catalog, Ben also kicked off the weekly Silent Comedy Watch Party in 2020 with partner Stave Massa. It is still going strong. Mr. Model also hosts the Silent film Music podcast, which is dedicated to silent film accompaniment. And those are just a few of Ben Model’s projects. He will dazzle in Rome as he always does.

Yes, the film music is vital to the Capitolfest experience, but you would not even need it without the film. For the first time in Capitolfest history, there will be three projectionists using their magic hands in the Capitol this year: Bob Hodge, Phil Williams, and Matt Hidy. They will get an ovation for their work in Rome, but I wanted to show my appreciation here as well.

Before I go, remember there will be a dealer’s room at Capitolfest where you can find classic movie related collectibles of many varieties. And – the deadline for personalized badges is Friday, July 28. Advance sale tickets will still be available and ticket holders will be given a Capitolfest 20 badge, but it will not include the ticket buyer’s name. Get your tickets!

That’s all for now. Here’s hoping for a Eugene Pallette screen appearance and…to see you in Rome. Mary Astor awaits.

IT’S A VACATION NOT A MARATHON