From the absurd to the sweet to the poignant to the maniacal…
Valentine’s Day is almost here, and with the physical and political temperature of the world right now, it seems like the best and highest purpose for this shoebox with a holesaw and a dream is a rom-com spectacular. But let it get a little weird.
With the news of Canadian comedy legend Catherine O’Hara’s passing on the day we finally clawed this show together, it seemed like a natural fit for a tribute. We have three pieces of her work in this show, grouped together.
We have a few clips from films produced by Danville, Quebec’s own Mack Sennett. Builder of the first fully enclosed film stage in 1912 (known as the Fun Factory). He quickly became known as the ‘King of Comedy’ after producing slapstick classics like the Keystone Cops. His style was one of manic chaos where the story made way for spectacle. Seems perfect for a rainy night. Incidentally if you have a library card a bunch of his films are available on Kanopy, and often are a great way to experience just how very far we have actually come with racial sensitivity over the last 100 years. We are pleased to also present the charmingly weird short film Portraits of Tracy by local filmmaker Aurélien Rosset
- Some feelings can only be expressed through mass synchronised dance movements. It’s 2001’s The Happiness of the Katakuris. [2:24]
- Featuring silent film legend Snub Pollard as “Man Gene Kelly hands his umbrella to”, we feel that this love-struck dance number from 1952’s Singin in the Rain is best viewed whilst standing outdoors in an atmospheric river. [4:46]
- *rerun alert* Love is not always easy, especially when you are an international super criminal with feelings towards an operative of a secret clandestine military organization of highschool girls tasked with hunting you down, its Angela Robinson’s 2004 film D.E.B.S. [2:26]
- A year before dancing the Filibuster for the US Senate, James Stewart learned to dance the Big Apple with his sweetie in 1938’s You Can’t Take It with You. [2:15]
- Some very classical Vaudeville chaos featuring a bawdy parody of the magic flute from 1984’s Amadeus. Now that’s entertainment, and a pretty successful family date night [3:00].
- *rerun alert* Some amazing costumes and great atmosphere in this labyrinth scene from Sally Potter 1992’ film, Orlando. [2:47]
- Some rather acrobatic swingers in the 1933 Mack Sennett production Don’t Play Bridge with Your Wife. [2:16]
- *rerun alert* We cheer for loving who you love in the 1999 conversion camp comedy But I’m a Cheerleader by Jamie Babbit. [2:10]
- The charming Portraits of Tracy by local filmmaker Aurélien Rosset is a fantastical take that blurs the line between romance and art appreciation. [3:00]
- Mustachioed Ben Turpin parlayed his accident-derived crossed-eyes into a successful career in Vaudeville and film, he even had a large insurance policy from Lloyds payable if his eyes uncrossed. Here he stares down a double barrel of shotgun weddings in the 1927 Mack Sennett production The Pride of Pikeville. [3:39]
- If mustaches are your thing, look no further, these ones are worth a million. It’s the 1924 Mack Sennett produced Galloping Bungalows. [2:41]
- *rerun alert* Back by popular request, the dream sequence from Pierre Etaix’s 1969 film Le Grand Amour, where even if your dreams and your love are free, it’s still a good idea to comply with all relevant local traffic ordinances. [4:46]
- Keeping it as French as possible with the blue arrows scene from 2001’s Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain.
- May you find somebody who looks at you the way Joe Pesci looks at Marissa Tomei in this scene from 1992’s My Cousin Vinny [4:51]
- Some underwater romance featuring Australian Vaudevillian Billy Bevan’s mustache in the 1926 Mack Sennett production A Sea Dog’s Tale. [2:04]
- Next we go to Buster Keaton’s 1924 film The Navigator featuring a damp deckhand with a soggy deck. [2:32]
- Here is a date loaded with red flags from 1993’s Groundhog Day. [3:48]
- Mme. Suzanne’s recipe for true love: “Take two regulars, mix them together and let them stew. It never fails.” Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain [2:18] extended cut after 9 pm.
- *rerun alert* Here is a double date in a bougie restaurant with a fantastic cameo from 2019’s Always Be My Maybe directed by Nahnatchka Khan. [3:28]
- The Taxidermist sketch from the 1977 season of SCTV features Catherine O’Hara and John Candy at their unhinged prime. [4:22]
- *rerun alert* We feel that this scene is best understood as an O’Hara – Belafonte duet, with some strong supporting performances. 1988’s Beetlejuice. [2:45]
- Others have observed that one of the stand-out qualities that O’Hara brought to her performances was a sincere sweetness, and we think her voice performance of Sally’s Song in 1993’s The Nightmare Before Christmas is a lovely example. [1:57]